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