| Vintage cars are generally defined as cars | | | | hence their categorization as classics according to the |
| manufactured till the end of the First World War. | | | | club. |
| There are some variations though, as the cut-off is | | | | Other definitions are not that strict, legally in the |
| 1925 in America whereas it is 1930 in Britain. Cars | | | | United States any car older than 15 years than the |
| were in a state of transition during the vintage period | | | | current year can be termed as classic. The Antique |
| hence particular models are rarities which are worth | | | | Automobiles Club of America defines the period as 25 |
| collecting. People with a strong sense of history or an | | | | years. In the United Kingdom the cutoff date is |
| affiliation with that time period are generally | | | | January 1, 1973. The term 'modern classics' has been |
| interested in vintage cars. Due to the great demand | | | | coined for cars which are 15-25 years old and are not |
| for vintage cars they are pretty expensive, especially | | | | recognized as classics by the Classic Car Club of |
| if they are maintained in a great condition. | | | | America. |
| The time period of vintage cars is characterized by | | | | The break occurs between vintage cars and classic |
| the introduction of many features which made the | | | | cars because there was a definitive change in the |
| cars more comfortable and heralded the transition in | | | | styling trends of cars in that era. During the World |
| automobiles. These features include the likes of | | | | Wars much focus was directed towards building |
| Antifreeze; to allow cars to be used all year round, | | | | tanks and artillery rather than automobiles for the |
| four-wheel braking, as well as the use of hydraulically | | | | public. However, after the end of the Second World |
| actuated brakes and power steering; for better | | | | War the traditional discrete replaceable-fender |
| handling. Octane rating of fuel was also introduced to | | | | treatment was replaced by the 1946 Crosley and |
| enable people to compare between fuels. | | | | Kaiser-Frazer. Some of the features which |
| Classic cars are cars that may belong to a period a | | | | categorized classic cars before the Second World |
| little later than that of vintage cars but the exact | | | | War are removable fenders, trunk, headlights and a |
| period for these cars is not clearly defined. The | | | | usual vertical grill treatment. These features almost |
| Classic Car Club of America, however, holds that only | | | | disappeared after World War II. The Classic Car Club |
| cars manufactured before 1948 can be deemed to | | | | of America uses these features to strictly categorize |
| be classic. The club maintains a list of all classic cars | | | | cars as classics. |
| and members can file a petition to include other cars | | | | Vintage cars and classic cars are collector's items and |
| in the list, after scrutiny from the club. Classic cars | | | | often it is a matter of pride for people to drive them. |
| are generally expensive with factors such as engine | | | | However, they should be extremely careful as some |
| displacement, custom coachwork and luxurious | | | | of the basic safety features of all modern cars are |
| accessories affecting the price. For the Classic Car | | | | nonexistent in these cars. These include seat belts, |
| Club of America the cars recognized as classics were | | | | crumple zones or rollover protection. The handling and |
| built in limited quantity and were relatively expensive | | | | braking of these cars is also not as efficient as that |
| when they were new. They are said to represent a | | | | of modern cars. |
| pinnacle of engineering, styling and design of that era | | | | |