classic car

[On_a_Roll]

Any car if left in good condition will be a classic car - I mean even the last Cavalier if rediscovered in mint condition in 100 years would be sought after.

The better test is, is it still desirable after perhaps 2 or 3 replacement models? Say 20 years?

[soulman]

defo the dolomite sprint !

mk1 capri....

[csl]

obviously an m3 e30 would be considered classic because they are so rare

Don't fully agree there as around 17000 of the things were made.The reason an E30 M3 would be considered a classic is because of its racing pedigree(amongst other things).I can understand where you are coming from thou.

Nobody will come up with right or wrong answers here thou,as the word "classic" means diffrent things to diffrent people.

[Bikemanjai]

That is so true. In most cases people think different things will be classics to include their cars however some people with cars we would call classic, just think they are 'their' cars as they have had them from new. I went to look at 78 Mini Clubman estate, and the guy didn't even consider it to be sought after for being classic, as he was only replacing s had been given a car from a relative, and had been running/repairing the other since new as that made sense to him than buying another car !

[Falkster]

I think he was meaning rare now though!!

17000 worldwide and that was atleast 19 years ago. Imagine how many have been stoved or rusted away...they are rare.

I used to have the figures of what colours came to our country and how many.

The racing pedigree was always going to guarantee cult/classic status hence why you can now get an E46 M3 for less than an E30.

[csl]

I would define a classic car - as anything over a certain age well looked after and maintained bodywork in mint condition!

The company i worked for were restoring a Jag SS100.It was fooked.However,it was imho a classic,even when we pulled it out from its shed.

[Bob_S]

cars with certain historic relevance are classics.. cavs, are, and always will be, rusty and fruitless.

[Bikemanjai]

yeah but a nice original mark 1 cav ....

okay fair enough its still a vauxhall i guess.

[Bladerider]

As mentioned,

The "correct" answer used to be considered as 25years as thats when a vehicle was entitled to tax exempt "classic car" status. But that law changed and now only applies to cars made before 1973, which is also weird when you think about it as the same car in 1972 is now tax free whereas its identical brother from 1974 pays £195 year in tax !!

As alot of people have mentioned the "intent" of the term classic car tends to be for iconic cars, which doesnt just mean performance or motorsport heritage, the Traction Avant Citroen invented FWD cars, the Ferrari Testarossa (Miami Vice style) had those famous sidestrakes, and the Austin Maxi gave us one box design, hydrolastic suspension and 5gears in a family saloon, all classics of a kind but some perhaps more desirable than others !!!

(I know Im clutching at straws a bit with the Maxi !!)

[csl]

I think he was meaning rare now though!!

17000 worldwide and that was atleast 19 years ago. Imagine how many have been stoved or rusted away...they are rare.

I know what your saying there and yes they are more thin on the ground these days but its all relative again to an individuals perception of a word. My opinion of the word "rare" is a bond mini 875 estate !

I used to have the figures of what colours came to our country and how many.

I still have these .....somewhere......Mr Falkster

[powelly]

triumph dolomite sprint nice looking car? (black)

Is a black Sprint a personal preference??? Only as a BL nerd I feel I have to inform you that the Sprint was never made in black, the only dolomite to be made in black was the 1500 SE, it also sported some silver decals, grey velour seats and a walnut dash.

I'll get my coat

[capri_rob]

Rover SD1 V8 - Yes
Triumph Stag - Yes
Triumph Dolomite - Yes ( Including 1500HL & 1850HL as well as Sprint )

Mk1 Cav ? Probably not - just not interesting enough to attract any sort of following - and as far as I know there weren't even any "Sport" versions to get peoples interest.
The Opel Manta on the other hand - I would say the GTE is a definite classic.
Vauxhalls are a strange one because its only the sports versions of the old cars that get saved - no one has any interest in preserving a 1.3 Chevette or 1.6L Cavalier.
I really like the old 3.0 Senators and Monzas but I don't think they're classics - just old cars with big engines

[capri_rob]

i think anything old, which is quite rare is considered a classic... obviously e30s are a lot rarer than they used to be and will potentially soon become classic status.. obviously an m3 e30 would be considered classic because they are so rare, things like ford cortinas also.. etc

Not quite true - there were squillions of Sierras on our roads until a few years ago - yet there's hardly any left now. So a 1.6GL thats still on the roads is a "rare" car. Not a classic by any stretch of the imagination though. There has to be more to it than that. The first mondeo's came out on a K Reg - I can't see it becoming a classic anytime soon - even the Si or Ghia models.

[SkyRocketeer]

From dictionary.com :

classic”‚”‚
”“adjective
1. of the first or highest quality, class, or rank: a classic piece of work.
2. serving as a standard, model, or guide: the classic method of teaching arithmetic.
3. of or pertaining to Greek and Roman antiquity, esp. with reference to literature and art.
4. modeled upon or imitating the style or thought of ancient Greece and Rome: The 17th and 18th centuries were obsessed with classic ideals.
5. of or adhering to an established set of artistic or scientific standards or methods: a classic example of mid-Victorian architecture.
6. basic; fundamental: the classic rules of warfare.
7. of enduring interest, quality, or style: a classic design; classic clothes.
8. of literary or historical renown: the classic haunts of famous writers.
9. traditional or typical: a classic comedy routine.
10. definitive: the classic reference work on ornithology.
11. of or pertaining to automobiles distinguished by elegant styling, outstanding engineering, and fine workmanship that were built between about 1925 and 1948.

Hmm. Might want to dispute the last point.

IMO, a classic is either rare (through age, rather than production number) or of particular significance in automotive development.

I'd suggest that a mk1 capri could be a classic cos there ain't many left, but a 1.6 auto mondeo in beige prolly ain't a classic cos nobody wanted to buy it in the first place.

[capri_rob]

I think a classic firstly has to be rare-ish - so it can be a mass produced model, but usually the higher spec more "exclusive" stuff, and also it has to have that certain something that makes people want to preserve and keep it on the roads. This will mean different things to different people - but commonly "I wanted one since I was a kid", or "my dad had one" etc etc
Pre '70s classics are quite easy to define - because its only the classics really that are left. Stuff from the 80's onwards is more difficult because a lot of scrap that isn't classic - just old but soldiering on - still survives on our roads.

[Bladerider]

This is hilarious !!

All these people saying it has to be "exclusive" or "rare" or have a certain "je ne sais quoi" lol

You do know what an Austin 7 was dont you ???

I also have to laugh at finding the official description on wikipeadia or wherever and then calling into question the ONLY part of the description that specifically relates to cars !! I agree that its probably wrong but you gotta love the internet for finding an answer and then denying its correct !! lol

J.

[capri_rob]

LOL - if you're saying that an Austin 7 is a classic but its not exclusive, rare or whatever by that definition you're saying that any old car can be a classic !

The Austin 7 was mass produced and basic. Doesn't interest me in the slightest but if people want to call it a classic thats up to them.

I wait with interest to see how many people have put away base model 90's Ford Escorts in 20 Years time.

[andyp]

here is a pic taken at brands hatch when we went last week, ours is the white one along the line

[andyp]

how about this, a one off because of the length

[andyp]

some of these make more money than M3s

[Falkster]

Now thats a beauty. Its pointless mentioning Mk1/2s as classic because its obvious and they have been for many years only now the price tags are becoming totally unbelievable!!!
I do have the chance to buy an aubergine 1600e Mk2 Cortina though....not in the same league but still always wanted one.

[andyp]

back in a min

[andyp]

like this one, just had to go outside and take the pic,

[Falkster]

Yeah exactly like that!!! That is so cool. Only one I'd rather have over that is the Mk2 Lotus.....never liked Mk1 'Tinas

[Bladerider]

I think you'll find most people would consider an Austin 7 to be a true "classic" in the flatcappers and general publics view !!

And I have seen Citrine Mondeo 24v's and original Sierras ala 3 door Cosworth shape with few miles a big pricetags, so as always, something well cared for, original and with low miles will always have a certain value !!

J.

[DaveD]

[quote="Falkster"
I do have the chance to buy an aubergine 1600e Mk2 Cortina though....not in the same league but still always wanted one.[/quote]

I had them once..from new and loved them...a white one and a light orchid (nipple pink) ...soooo much better than the mk 3...

as to classic cars the state of Pennsylvania defines it as "A motor vehicle, but not a reproduction thereof, manufactured at least 15 years prior to the current year which has been maintained in or restored to a condition which is substantially in conformity with manufacturer specifications and appearance."

seems a good definition to me

[capri_rob]

I think you'll find most people would consider an Austin 7 to be a true "classic" in the flatcappers and general publics view !!

And I have seen Citrine Mondeo 24v's and original Sierras ala 3 door Cosworth shape with few miles a big pricetags, so as always, something well cared for, original and with low miles will always have a certain value !!

J.

Agree with all of the above fella - but the reason Citrine Mondeo 24v's have high pricetags was because they were the top of the range and not exactly plentiful in numbers !

As for 3dr Sierras non-rusty ones will be sought after in order to re-shell 3dr Sierra Cosworths - in the same way that many of the Mk2 Escort RS2000's and Mexicos that are now commanding stupid money were re-shelled in the late 80's and 90's using 2dr base model and low spec shells which could then be picked up for next to nothing.
The 3dr Base model Sierras were never popular and had a short production run - some people might want to preserve them in their original form but not many - the value is in the shell to use for a Cosworth build/rebuild.

[djk]

It's all a matter of opinion - one man's meat is another man's poison. It causes a heck of a lot of argument though! The definition I prefer, not because I'm 'money-centric' especially, but because it is a good barometer of supply and demand, is that a classic is something that is worth more now than it once was taking into account inflation. Non-M3, non-Sport/Motorsport E30s are just beginning to fall into this bracket, along with various other mass produced 80s cars - mkI & II Golfs, 205s etc. Even the cooking models of these have their devotees - indeed in a recent Classic & Sports Car, the author of a feature on 205s argued the case for the 205 XS being in many ways preferable to the GTIs for its simple nature and eager carbed 1400 allied to beer money pricetags. I do have a lot of sympathy for this point of view - there is a lot to be said for cars with just enough power for entertainment but not enough to get you into trouble, allied to a lack of frills. My M20B20 fetish is related to this - for me they give the car a totally different, and in some ways, for me anyway, preferable character. I actually like the fact that they have to be revved to make them go, and I have to say I find the standard 325i gear ratios exceedingly annoying, especially the cavernous feeling gap between 2nd and 3rd that is so awkward in slow moving traffic.

[Bladerider]

I didnt mean 3 door per se, I meant that early shape with the flat panel between the headlights as opposed to the later ones and sapphires etc !!

edit....first thing I found on Autotrader !!


http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/ww ... RegLetter=

which would also buy you this....

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/ww ... egLetter=Y

or this....

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/ww ... RegLetter=

And I have seen 1985 boggo sierra with like 15k miles go for more than this !!!

J.

[capri_rob]

Thats not a bad way of looking at it Doug - a classic therefore could be said to be something which has depreciated from its new price until its price has bottomed out at a few hundred quid - usually around the 15+ Year old mark at which point a lot will have been fragged - and those that are left in good condition which then start to increase in value could be deemed as classics.

I guess the other thing that makes a car a classic is whether it has any sort of following from enthusiasts. Someone in Practical Classics mag was trying to sell 80's Rover 200 a couple of months ago for a couple of grand with next to no miles on it - classic ? er no. There's a reason there's virtually none left on the roads - they were sh1t !

[capri_rob]

I didnt mean 3 door per se, I meant that early shape with the flat panel between the headlights as opposed to the later ones and sapphires etc !!

edit....first thing I found on Autotrader !!


http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/ww ... RegLetter=

which would also buy you this....

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/ww ... egLetter=Y

or this....

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/ww ... RegLetter=

And I have seen 1985 boggo sierra with like 15k miles go for more than this !!!

J.

£3k for an '88 Sierra Sapphire

Wonder how long its been for sale?

Even if he does get somewhere near £3k for it would it have made that much money if it was a 1.6L in with the same miles and condition ? Probably sub £1k at best.

[Bladerider]

Theres none on the road cos their owners are all having hips replaced and cant drive at the mo !!!

pmsl !!

[miffa]

i wished i`d never asked lol

[RM2186]

like this one, just had to go outside and take the pic,

My second car!! Oh the memories

[andyp]

i had one at 15 years old, used to drive myself to school in it sometimes when i went. ive had this one about 20 years now