Right folks I've been churning this subject over in my head this evening, what exactly is the definition of a classic car? Is it purely based on age or is it a popularity thing? it was just an idle thought I had that I could say that my 16 year old felicia could be classed as a classic car in a few years..

so... What makes a car classic or not??

I just think its age - I would say now about 25 years+ is a classic. A bit like the threshold when they brought in the tax free exemption for all pre 1972 cars in 1997 - only they've never rolled it forward with the years [sigh] else my 924 would be tax free being an 82

IMO its impossible to define a classic car. It can't be something rare because of Minis and MGs etc. you could go by age, but some people view new Astons as Classics and there's also that "brand new" MGB LE 50 that costs £60k

but some people view new Astons as Classics and there's also that "brand new" MGB LE 50 that costs £60k

Not a "classic" car (either) in my opinion. Definitely purely age for me.

Agreed, I don't think new cars are "classic" either, but I think its difficult to find a cut off point. For example, is a 1990s Reliant Scimitar Sabre a classic, when its a development of the SS1 which was launched in '84?

Re: The definition of more than 25 years old:

This would mean that the Morris Marina is considered a classic. :p

Could a particular trim be considered "classic" compared to the rest of the model? e.g. Sapphire Cosworth vs. Sapphire 1.6 LX.

To be honest Tom mate, I think this is far too subjective a thing to get a black and white definition of what qualifies as a 'classic car'.

SImilar to yours, mine is on a P reg, so she'll be 17 this year. Would the general public consider it a classic car? Never... Would they consider, say, a 1985 Nissan Bluebird a classic car? Very probably not, but how about a mini of the same age? I say they would.

Some cars just have that classic appeal. I'm not sure the Felicia, or the Favorit ever will in the short-term future at least. To us eccentrics, perhaps, but to be brutally honest, most people don't see them to be of any worth. There isn't really anything iconic about them I reckon, which just unfairly bars it from the hypothetical list of classic cars.

In my opinion, age has little influence on the matter, but you wouldn't call a Citroen DS3 (beautiful cars in my opinion) a classic car (bear with me). To me personally, it has charm, looks and style, and ultimately everything it needs to be potentially be a future classic. May divide opinion on this too but I think there may be a place for the Rover 75? (Sorry!)

Obviously, there has to be some date set for car tax purposes, but how they came to decide upon that date, well who knows?

May divide opinion on this too but I think there may be a place for the Rover 75?

Yes there is. It's called a scrap yard. ;)

I think there are two stages to becoming a classic car. A car first has to go through a stage of being 'retro' which is a little less 'rope backed driving gloves' than a true classic and definately more cool. I agree with the 25 year thing but I recon it has to be from when they stopped making the model rather than an individual car. Felicia mk1 & 2s are the same car with different headlights and grill, so I wouldn't consider a felly a classic unitl 2025 or so. At the moment it is retro, but not classic. I think the 'classic' mini is only considered a classic because they have stopped making it 20 years before they did!

Wikipedia is your friend.

Classic car

Indeed, Wiki makes it as clear as mud:

"There is no fixed definition of a classic car."

"HM Revenue and Customs define a classic car for company taxation purposes as being over 15 years old and having a value in excess of £15,000.Additionally, popular acclaim through a large number of classic car magazines plays an important role in whether a car comes to be regarded as a classic. It is all subjective and a matter of opinion"

"In the UK the Modern Classic definition is open to the discretion often by Insurance Brokers and Insurance Companies who regard a Modern Classic as a vehicle that is considered collectible regardless of age."

Like the definition of "cool", it's all in the eyes of the beholder.

Before I even read the thread, I was going to say that it was a mixture of age, desirability, brand image and rarety.

I don't know that Favorits and Felicias have made it there yet, but all the RWD Skodas have.

well, the insurance company laughed when i told them it was a classic anyway, it will be one day, they are starting to decline in numbers now so within a few years they will be rare as donkey doo.

Indeed, Wiki makes it as clear as mud:

"There is no fixed definition of a classic car."

That is a very straight answer. Humankind didn't agree on a definition. It is not the first or last thing, concept, principle, paradigm or other fancy categories that are left to different interpretations. Can you live with that? If not, pressure HM to clear this for you.

That is a very straight answer.

Oh, people usually quote Wikipedia as a source of new or informed opinion, not about stuff we already knew.

Yes there is. It's called a scrap yard. ;)

Pahaha, knew it. I just knew it. :moon:

So based on the theory of increasing rarity will the Fun soon qualify? Or will it always be just too whacky & yellow !! :wonder:

Yes there is. It's called a scrap yard. ;)

Hey, enough of that! Your name's going on my list . I have nice MG ZT-T in Trophy Yellow, one of the few cars yellower than a Felicia Fun. Admittedly I was tring to sell it but no-one seems to want it so I've decided to keep hold of it for now. I also think it qualifies as a classic car, mainly because it breaks down as much as my 44 year old Triumph. Lovely when it works though and, I thihk, the last Great British car, though admittedley probably at least partly responsible for the demise the British car industry.

So based on the theory of increasing rarity will the Fun soon qualify? Or will it always be just too whacky & yellow !! :wonder:

By the "rarity" definition, the Felly L&K would be ahead of The Fun. And The Teflon Specials would be ahead of those.

The Foreman Fun would be there too.

Some cars just have that classic appeal. I'm not sure the Felicia, or the Favorit ever will in the short-term future at least. To us eccentrics, perhaps, but to be brutally honest, most people don't see them to be of any worth. There isn't really anything iconic about them I reckon, which just unfairly bars it from the hypothetical list of classic cars.

I would say they are the last proper Skoda, which should help them in years to come. I know there's VW money in a Felly but it is essentially a reworked Favorit and still a Skoda design.

Hey, enough of that! Your name's going on my list . I have nice MG ZT-T in Trophy Yellow, one of the few cars yellower than a Felicia Fun.

Ah, but would you class the whole of the 75 range "classic" or just the specials?

I know the Rovers don't stand out as much as the MG's but there is a strong following and I reckon the survival rate will be fairly high. Not sure if that makes them classics yet though.

It's in the eye of the beholder.

For me it's something a little different, pretty rare and before 1994ish.

Edited 28 February, 201313 yr by TehRin

I think the Felicia may have some appeal as a future "classic" as its fairly easy to work on for a car of its time. A big part of the classic car hobby for many enthusiasts is working on their cars.

There also seem to be quite a lot of fairly low mileage ones still out there perhaps originally bought by older drivers which should potentially be motoring in many years time.

People are certainly now considering Marinas, Cortinas and Vivas etc as classics which were considered very average cars in their time.

Maybe a classic car can be defined as any old car where the owner is willing to spend (or has spent) more than its worth to keep it going and restore it to former "glory".

Perhaps surprisingly this even works for old supercars as it costs more to restore than to buy restored...

By the "rarity" definition, the Felly L&K would be ahead of The Fun. And The Teflon Specials would be ahead of those.

The Foreman Fun would be there too.

True true Rainbow, perhaps the good old Fun will be viewed as such one day, providing of course there's enough surviving with sufficient structural integrity !