| The term Antique Classics is used in | | | | |
| reference to old cars. According to Antique | | | | 1. 1934-1940 Bugatti Type 57. The Type 57SC |
| Automobile Club of America, an antique car is | | | | has become the singular classic car. |
| generally defined as a car over 25 years of | | | | |
| age. However, the exact legal definition for | | | | 2. 1934 Citroën Traction Avant. Has the |
| the purpose of antique vehicle registration | | | | distinction of being the first mass-produced |
| varies widely from State to State. | | | | front-wheel drive car, |
| | | | |
| With about 12 years being the normal design | | | | 3. 1936 MG T series, a sports car meant |
| life of modern cars, 25 years is about double | | | | especially for American soldiers fighting in |
| and therefore a car that's reached 25 is a | | | | the war. |
| rare survivor, and probably not economic to | | | | |
| maintain as regular transportation. | | | | 4. 1938 Volkswagen Beetle, the most-famous |
| | | | automobile of all times. It was a pre-war |
| The term Classic Car is often used | | | | design that continues to exist even in the |
| synonymously with the term Antique car, but | | | | present times. |
| the formal definition of that term is | | | | |
| restricted to specific high-quality vehicles | | | | The CCCA Club keeps a thorough list of the |
| from the pre-World War II era which began | | | | vehicles they consider Classics, and while |
| with the Great Depression in 1930 and ended | | | | any member may petition for a vehicle to join |
| with the recovery after World War II in 1948. | | | | the list, such applications are carefully |
| The Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) | | | | scrutinized and very rarely is a new vehicle |
| defines the term Classic as a "fine" or | | | | type admitted. They also acknowledge the fact |
| "distinctive" automobile, either American or | | | | that their rather exclusive definition of a |
| foreign built, produced between 1925 and | | | | classic car is by no means universally |
| 1948. A Classic was high-priced when it was | | | | followed and hence they generally use terms |
| introduced and was built in very limited | | | | such as "CCCA Classic" or the trademarked |
| quantities. Although, by 1930's most of the | | | | "Full Classic" to avoid confusion. |
| manufacturing technologies had already been | | | | |
| invented, certain factors like including | | | | After 1930 the number of auto manufacturers |
| engine displacement, custom coachwork and | | | | came down sharply, as the industry |
| luxury accessories, such as power brakes, | | | | consolidated, and developed after the war |
| power clutch, and automatic lubrication | | | | more advances in engine design were made, |
| systems, help determine whether a car can be | | | | like the compression V8 engines and modern |
| considered a Classic. | | | | bodies from General Motors, Oldsmobile and |
| | | | Cadillac brands. |
| Some exemplary pre-war Antique Classics are: | | | | |