Types of 'Classic' Car
‘Classic’ is one of those catch-all words that can describe any number of different sorts of cars, whether they are vintage pre-war or modern ‘classics’. Knowing what make or period you’re interested in is important – you want to be certain you’re buying a car you will love, and you also want to be sure you’re paying the right price. Researching the particular make you favour will give you a good idea of the selling prices for the make, and will also help you clarify how difficult it will be to maintain or repair if needed.
Some of the most popular ‘classic’ cars fall into two or three broad regional categories, ‘English’, ‘European’, and ‘American’. Enthusiasts and classic car clubs may stick with one regional category, so if you are looking to join a club keep your eyes open for the one that fits best with your interest. The ‘English’ category of classic car includes such famous makes as Bentley, Aston Martin, Austin, Austin-Healey, MG, Triumph and Rolls Royce – pretty high standards, to say the least! European classics include Ferrari, Porsche and Mercedes, while American classics include the Corvette, Cadillac, Mustang and Chevrolet.
Aside from the regional classifications, you may find that you prefer to stick with a particular period, or perhaps a specific technological advance. For example, there are a number of car clubs which concentrate on pre-War makes, just as there are many enthusiasts who prefer the sports coupe style. Of course you can be interested in ALL classic cars, but because the description is so broad many within the industry will deal with one particular period, make, or style.