“Classic”, “vintage”, “antique – these terms are often used interchangeably for cars but in reality, they all have very different meanings. These distinctions are given to cars based on their age and the history of the model and each has very specific guidelines. So which class does your car fall in?
Vintage Cars
In the general sense, a vintage car is any old car. Among collectors, however, the term vintage refers only to cars produced between 1919 and 1930.
Classic Cars
Classic cars are the most specific category and are defined by the Classic Car Club of America and must meet three standards. They must be “fine and distinctive cars”, produced in the United States or abroad between 1925 and 1948, and must have originally been a high priced car.
The CCCA has a list of cars that meet their standards to be classic cars listed on their website. Classic Car Club members may petition for another car to be added to the list, however it is rare for these petitions to be passed. According to the research of a CCCA member, 1,366,843 classic cars were produced in America.
Milestone Cars
Some groups call the ’55, ’56, and ’57 Chevrolets classic cars, but the Classic Car Club of America maintains that these are not classic cars. Instead, the CCCA dubs this group milestone cars because they were a significant influence on the market when they were produced. However, this terminology differs between organizations.
Antique Cars
Generally the standard for antique is that it must be at least 30 years old, but the Antique Automobile Club of America originally defined antiques to be vehicles that are at least 25 years old. Most states and provinces will not issue historic or vintage plates to cars under 30 years old.
Late Model Cars
The definition of late model cars varies but it is generally used to describe newer cars. It is often used to describe cars that have been recently designed or manufactured. Among collectors, it is acknowledged that some cars in the 20-30 year old range can be of great value despite the fact that they are not yet antiques. These cars are considered to be late model cars.
Collector Cars
The term collector is used to describe any car that can be of value to a collector. Cars from each of the previously mentioned groups can be collector cars as well as relatively new cars. Collector cars do not have to be old, for example, the Ford GT from 2006 pays homage to Ford’s ’60 GT sporty race cars, making it a very collectible car.
No matter what category your car falls within, we know that your car means a lot to you. That’s why here, at Paradiso Insurance, we work with you to get you the best insurance coverage for your Connecticut antique, classic, vintage, and collector cars! Contact us today for a free quote.