Classic Car United States legal definition
Legally, most states have time-based rules for the definition of “classic” for purposes such as antique vehicle registration; for example, 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.”
Antique Automobile Club of America
The Antique Automobile Club of America defines an antique car as 25 years old or older.
Classic Cars United Kingdom
There is no fixed definition of a classic car. Two taxation issues do impact however, leading to some people using them as cutoff dates. All cars built before January 1, 1973, are exempted from paying the annual road tax vehicle excise duty. This is then entered on the license disc displayed on the windscreen as “historic vehicle” (if a car built before this date has been first registered in 1973 or later, then its build date would have to be verified by a recognized body such as British Motor Heritage Foundation to claim tax free status). The HM Revenue & Customs define a classic car for company taxation purposes as being over 15 years old and having a value in excess of £15,000.
Modern classics
These vehicles are generally older, anywhere from 15–25 years, but are not accepted as classics according to the Antique Automobile Club of America.
Classic car styling
There was a worldwide change in styling trends in the immediate years after the end of World War II. The 1946 Crosley and Kaiser-Frazer, for example, changed the traditional discrete replaceable-fender treatment. From this point on, automobiles of all kinds became envelope bodies in basic plan. The CCCA term, “Classic Car” has been confined to “the functionally traditional designs of the earlier period” (mostly pre-war). They tended to have removable fenders, trunk, headlights, and a usual vertical grill treatment. In a large vehicle, such as a Duesenberg, Pierce-Arrow, or in a smaller form, the MG TC, with traditional lines, might typify the CCCA term. Another vehicle might be a classic example of a later period but not a car from the “classic period of design”, in the opinion of the CCCA.
Classic Car Safety
Drivers of classic cars must be especially careful. Classic cars often lack what are now regarded as basic safety features, such as seat belts, crumple zones or rollover protection. Vehicle handling characteristics (particularly steering and suspension) and brake performance are likely to be poorer than current standards, hence requiring greater road-awareness on the part of the driver. In certain parts of the US, using a classic car as a daily vehicle is strongly discouraged and in some places even prohibited.
It is recommended to retrofit classic cars with seat belts. Retro-styled (color-coded with chromed buckles) 2-point and 3-point seat belts are manufactured according to current safety standards. Wearing a light bicycle helmet is also a suggested option for drivers and passengers of older cars with no airbags. Fitting modern tires is also a suggestion to improve the handling.
Some classic cars owners are reluctant to retrofit seat belts for the loss of originality this modification implies. There have also been instances of cars losing points at shows for being retrofitted with seat belts.
Despite these concerns, classic cars are involved in relatively very few accidents.
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