| The term Antique Classics is used in reference to old | | | | whether a car can be considered a Classic. |
| cars. According to Antique Automobile Club of | | | | Some exemplary pre-war Antique Classics are: |
| America, an antique car is generally defined as a car | | | | 1. 1934-1940 Bugatti Type 57. The Type 57SC has |
| over 25 years of age. However, the exact legal | | | | become the singular classic car. |
| definition for the purpose of antique vehicle | | | | 2. 1934 Citroën Traction Avant. Has the distinction |
| registration varies widely from State to State. | | | | of being the first mass-produced front-wheel drive |
| With about 12 years being the normal design life of | | | | car, |
| modern cars, 25 years is about double and therefore | | | | 3. 1936 MG T series, a sports car meant especially |
| a car that's reached 25 is a rare survivor, and | | | | for American soldiers fighting in the war. |
| probably not economic to maintain as regular | | | | 4. 1938 Volkswagen Beetle, the most-famous |
| transportation. | | | | automobile of all times. It was a pre-war design that |
| The term Classic Car is often used synonymously | | | | continues to exist even in the present times. |
| with the term Antique car, but the formal definition | | | | The CCCA Club keeps a thorough list of the vehicles |
| of that term is restricted to specific high-quality | | | | they consider Classics, and while any member may |
| vehicles from the pre-World War II era which began | | | | petition for a vehicle to join the list, such applications |
| with the Great Depression in 1930 and ended with | | | | are carefully scrutinized and very rarely is a new |
| the recovery after World War II in 1948. The Classic | | | | vehicle type admitted. They also acknowledge the |
| Car Club of America (CCCA) defines the term Classic | | | | fact that their rather exclusive definition of a classic |
| as a "fine" or "distinctive" automobile, either American | | | | car is by no means universally followed and hence |
| or foreign built, produced between 1925 and 1948. A | | | | they generally use terms such as "CCCA Classic" or |
| Classic was high-priced when it was introduced and | | | | the trademarked "Full Classic" to avoid confusion. |
| was built in very limited quantities. Although, by 1930's | | | | After 1930 the number of auto manufacturers came |
| most of the manufacturing technologies had already | | | | down sharply, as the industry consolidated, and |
| been invented, certain factors like including engine | | | | developed after the war more advances in engine |
| displacement, custom coachwork and luxury | | | | design were made, like the compression V8 engines |
| accessories, such as power brakes, power clutch, and | | | | and modern bodies from General Motors, Oldsmobile |
| automatic lubrication systems, help determine | | | | and Cadillac brands. |