When Does A Car Become A Classic Car?

The answer to this question is both defined and subjective.

The Government tends to define a car as a classic at forty years old - both tax and MOT exempt motoring (see our previous journal entry on whether this is actually a good idea; spoiler alert, it isn’t) apply at forty - perhaps life does really begin then?

As with all interesting subjects though, the answer lies in the grey.

Some will argue that classic car status has much to do with aesthetic. I can understand their perspective here, few could argue that the E Type Jaguar is anything less than absolute art. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, and historically each country uses the cars it makes as a metaphor for it’s very culture. The svelte Italian Ferrari 250, the brutal 1960’s Mustang Fastbacks, the clean and somewhat clinical lines of the Mercedes 300SL, the quirky, unmistakeably Japanese Toyota 2000GT: All beautiful, and all undeniably classics reflecting the culture of the engineers and designers that made them.

But what about the Mini? The Fiat 500? The Lamborghini Countach? The various incarnations of Rolls Royce and Bentley models. The Mercedes Grosser? The Defender? All icons, quintessential classics, and none of them beautiful. Pretty, elegant, brutish, cute, desirable for sure - but beautiful? No.

Nor is it related to performance. Sporting credentials help, but in amongst the collection at the Vault is a Subaru 360 - again, certainly a classic, but the 360cc two stroke engine and bizarre suspension geometry make the car unlikely to break any records around the Goodwood circuit.

Age must be a factor, by definition - and I’m at odds with the DVLA, I believe classic status is attained at 25 years of age. But not of production of the car, rather introduction of the model - all Defenders have classic status, right up to the end of production in 2016. Classic car insurance providers tend to agree with me there, too; relatively modern vehicles with an enthusiast club often qualify for the cherished vehicle policies we all enjoy. It’s debatable and controversial, but some are instant design classics and will be revered for years to come - consider the Jaguar F Type, the Alpine A110 and the Maserati MC20 to name a few - but we shall see how kind the years are to them.

Beyond all of that though, classic status is in the eye of the beholder. If you’re wondering if your car is a classic, as far as I’m concerned, it has to fulfil two criteria. 1) I suppose we must consider the age of the vehicle as a factor - if it is a Millennial or more senior, that’s good enough for me. And 2) Do you turn your head and look back at it when you park up and walk away?

If it ticks those boxes, it’s a classic. If you love it, we love it.

Twenty years into the future, however, I feel we may have to add a third criteria: Is it powered by an internal combustion engine...?