| Owning an old car is something that many people use | | | | going from state to state without having to |
| as a marker to demonstrate that they have | | | | negotiate bumpy, poorly maintained tracks. |
| “made it”. This should be clarified – in this | | | | A hallmark of vintage cars is their greater level of |
| respect, ten years old is not “old”. When | | | | comfort when compared to cars that went before. |
| discussing old cars, most of the time we are talking | | | | Before the 1920s, it was unheard of to have in-car |
| about antique, vintage or classic cars. These titles for | | | | heating. This was changed, as well as the addition of |
| groupings of motor vehicles are all the more | | | | an in-car radio system allowing the passenger to |
| confusing due to the fact that individuals have vastly | | | | travel not only in comfort but in a great deal of style. |
| differing definitions for each. Witness, for example, | | | | Along with these developments on the passenger |
| the fact that some view an antique car as any that | | | | side of the matter, there were changes which made |
| was built between 1880 and 1916, while the Antique | | | | life easier for the driver – not least of which was |
| Automobile Club of America rates as antique any | | | | the implementation of a foot brake in most cars. Prior |
| vehicle that was built more than a quarter of a | | | | to this development, the hand brake lever was the |
| century ago. | | | | only means of slowing a car down. Anti-freeze was |
| A vintage car is, in most people’s view, one that | | | | invented allowing cars which were cooled by a |
| was built during a golden age that occurred between | | | | radiator to be operated all year round. |
| the World Wars. Between 1916 and 1919 very few | | | | Vintage cars have a certain look to them that will be |
| cars were produced in much of the world, because | | | | familiar to enthusiasts. With large, front-mounted |
| the war effort directed resources away from the | | | | headlamps and spoked wheels, along with a |
| automotive industry and towards the development | | | | canopy-style roof, there is an element of gentility to |
| of military vehicles. There are differing views on | | | | a vintage car that is often depicted in films set during |
| when the vintage car era ended, but most are | | | | the post-war era. For some people, this was the |
| agreed that it began in 1919, the year after the First | | | | golden age of automotive development, as it saw |
| World War ended. With the knowledge that came | | | | cars go from being something which only a few |
| back from the war, manufacturers were able to | | | | people had to being something familiar. It allowed not |
| make enhancements to road cars that would be | | | | only the way people traveled to change, but also the |
| used for day to day purposes. Also during the | | | | distances they would travel and the way that towns |
| post-war period there were many states which built | | | | and cities were set out. If you are in possession of a |
| paved roads, opening up the possibility for drivers of | | | | vintage car – you will know. |