Enthusiasts differ on the exact definition of how old a car must be to qualify as a classic car.
Classic in the US is defined as a motor vehicle, but not a reproduction thereof, manufactured at least 20 years prior to the current year and in the UK there are two definitions. Some say they are cars built before January 1, 1973, all of which are exempt from paying the annual vehicle excise tax, while others say any car over 15 years old qualifies.
Anything from the iconic little three-wheeled bubble car seen on UK roads in the 1960s to the mini and the many low-slung sports cars from the Austin Healey to the Aston Martin driven by the fictional agent of the James Bond secret service in the movies. about his exploits can be a classic car. The more common family cars, like the Ford Cortina and the Morris Minor, also have their own enthusiast clubs and rallies.
Whichever definition is chosen, there is no doubt that enthusiasts are passionate about finding them, restoring them, meeting other enthusiasts, displaying them at shows and exhibitions, and taking them to rallies.
Consequently, there are over 800 annual classic car shows in the UK, of which one of the largest is held at the National Exhibition Center in Birmingham in November and attracts over 1,000 models for display each year. .
Restoring a classic car can be an absorbing passion and many people who have done it, often for many years, take particular satisfaction in returning an old wreck that has been dug up, rusty and neglected, from the depths of an old barn or building. attached to its former gleaming glory and roadworthy.
However, completing the restoration is not the end of the story. Most enthusiasts will want to enjoy driving the car and share it with other enthusiasts interested in that particular make or model at a specific rally or show.
For some, it’s likely to be a summer or weekend activity because as engine technology has developed and changed, some of the drawbacks of previous models can be a problem, such as if the car is heated and how efficient it is.
A beautifully restored classic car can also be worth a significant amount of money, especially if it is a rare model of which many were not originally made. The car is likely to be less fuel efficient than modern vehicles, so it can also be an expensive activity to drive any distance.
There are also safety considerations, as most older cars were not equipped with the now mandatory seat belts, which can restrict where and when you can drive on public roads.
The owner of a classic car may also not want to risk any damage by exposing it to daily traffic on today’s busy roads after the many hours spent restoring the vehicle.
However, owning a classic car is a social activity and most owners will want others to see the results of all their hard work by displaying it at a classic car show.
Taking the car to a show if it is not going to be driven will mean using some sort of carrier and for a particularly rare model the owner may prefer to keep the car protected by using an enclosed carrier.
Closed or covered transport also has the advantage that it can protect a rare and valuable model from the possibility of theft and from being seen before it takes pride of place at the fair or exhibition where it will be revealed in all its glory.
