There’s a lot of misunderstanding about the word ‘classic’. And for such a controversial word, petrol heads and general lovers of cars and bikes use the word perhaps more than any other. In a noble attempt to clarify our terms at the start of our ‘classic’ feature thread, we thought we’d consult the good book: and find examples out there in the real world that exemplify the various definitions of the ‘C’ word. Tell us what you think of our choices, and please, feel free to suggest your alternatives.
Classic (adj) (as defined by Collins Dictionary 1991)
1 ‘of the highest class’ : The Rolls Royce Phantom Coupé
Synonymous with the highest possible ideals of motoring perfection, many believe that Rolls Royce has reached new heights with the latest range of models. Combining as it does superlative performance with bespoke tailoring, could the Phantom Coupé be the most classic Rolls ever?
2 ‘serving as a standard model of its kind’: The Honda Civic Type R
In its many and various manifestations the Civic Type R has set the standard by which all hot hatches are measured. They are engineered with the perfect balance of fun-focused emotion and workaday reliability – and that’s what Hot Hatches – the icon of the everyman – are all about.
3 ‘adhering to an established set of principles’: The Morgan Plus Four
Sticking with a formula of hand-wrought production values in a self consciously retrospective style, a Morgan is instantly recognisable. Though that self-conscious styling plays on deep-lying popular ideas of what constitutes a classic (falling perhaps into cliché), it achieves its aim every time.
4 ‘characterised by simplicity, balance, regularity or purity of form’: Harley Davidson Sportster
Love them or hate them, the perennial popularity of the simple but burly V-Twin form is the core of one of the strongest brands mankind has ever known. As such, the consistently pure idea that is the Harley will continue to rumble into legend.
5 ‘of lasting significance or interest’: McLaren F1
In 1998 the McLaren F1, setting a still rarely matched top speed of 243 MPH, almost single-handedly ushered in the era of the road going hypercar. Representing the boomtime economics of GP-roadcar crossover it remains a totemically significant classic – even in a world where the Bugatti Veyron exists.
6 ‘continuously in fashion because of a simplicity of style’: The Mini
Despite the current mania generated by the fiftieth anniversary of the launch of Alex Issigonis’s Mini design, the little cars never really went out of fashion. Devastatingly simple, accessible and fun, the design will be forever associated with a time and a place in when Britain was at the centre of style.
And it’s difficult to argue that the new Mini doesn’t carry on many of the traditions initiated by the BMC version. Loved particularly by women of a certain age, and an ongoing exemplar of the British thing (ok, we know they’re German, but still…) their stratospheric sales figures are testament to the brand’s ongoing appeal.
7 ‘of the highest excellence’: The Land Rover Discovery 3
With its ability to range deep into the most inhospitable terrain imaginable as well as being the perfect luxury long-distant ride for a family of six (or a handful of outdoor adventurers), the Disco 3 is the apogee of a much-maligned form.
8 ‘regarded as definitive’: The Lamborghini Countach LP400
If you were a man-child of the seventies or early eighties, the Countach will always be the definitive dream car. The Gandini designed shell, the scissor doors and its multilayered hooligan chic remains unsurpassed. Hats off to Bertone.
OK,OK,enough!
The smart Brabus roadster was a classic when launched. It fits the green ethos with 55mpg, while being an absolute hoot to drive. It wont rust away while you watch, and is tending to retain its value already. Best part is, owners really cherish them, so buying one is fun, but still relatively cheap. It is a car with tremendous character, in the same way as Frogeye Sprites have, but with clever modern features that provide a variety of driving styles to meet your mood. Out of production now, it is already a Classic.
The original MX5 is also a fine Classic. Everyone should own one at some time in their lives.
I can not believe this!! Why has no one said the Lotus Cortina? I would agree with the trend here that it should be older and wanted, even craved for, by many. It must be interesting and distinguished so a V8 Daimler SP250 must also appear. On to Jaguar now and I’s think the Mk2 is the one that Morse had so we all should want one. VW, No, they aren’t what people want though they sold well as they were cheap and made in Mexico, Ii agree Morris 1000. If there has to be a Gerry it should be 911 without question. Blower Bentley can’t be missed thoough some would say too old, Reliant Scimitar for it’s style {and Royal connections] and I suppose an American in there… Waht about a Firebird Whor Yes! The Mini can not be left out as that leaves only One space If I have to chose 10. I agree the Land Rover Series 2 and also think the Range Rover to be equal, you chooooose.
Not a bad list but of those how many would get a classic insurance? A list of nice cars BUT most of them are new. And what about a classic bike like a Royal Enfield or Triumph? The only classics I can see in the list are the REAL mini, the Lambo and the Maclaren. Everything else is a current model.
There are other lovely and far rarer pieces of autotive art out there that can be described as classic. So what are you describing as Classic? The design, age, rarity, desirability or what would be covered by a Classic policy?
I drive a classic but not many people see it as such!
In my opinion, any car is classic if someone wants to restore it when it is worn out.
Toyota may have sold billions of corollas but you rarely see one over 15 years old. They are made to a budget not to last forever. when they get old they are scrapped not restored therefore not classic.
I suspect most of the cars in current production will suffer the same fate.
Many of our grandparents have owned their Morris Minor or Ford Anglia since new.
Do you really think people who buy brand new Civic type R’s and Landrovers will keep their car more than a few years?
What about the Morris Minor?
It is instantly recognisable by almost anyone, has proven its reliability, has great style, loads still going today.
The ultimate classic.…?
Nope I can’t agree on the Discover III either. It’s way too NEW to be a classic. But I would tender an original Discover, Defender/Series Land Rover and even the classic RR. They defined a sector of the market, generated copies and saved the company that built them. People aspire to own them. Original mini, Beetle etc all meet this criterior. To be a true classic the vehicle must have made a reputation to be lived UP TO and not living OFF a reputation.
To be a classic any vehicle needs to stand the test of time,
compared to earlier models the Roller is plain ugly,
the old mini definitely classic, the new one is just a tarted up overweight parody of everything the old one represented,
Disco is great for taking kids to school in London, but for classic it must be the basic early models (preferably with canvas hood) or for even more fun the willys jeep. Honda is just too new Golf GTi was the original hot hatch and set the standard for all that followed, has earned its’ place as a classic, Countach possibly but a bit posey, Dino 246 is one of the best looking cars ever made, although I don’t like Porche the early 911 should be in there somewhere. Save the worst ’til last the Harley rates along with Honda lead wing etc. as overweight two wheel cars (the only reason you see so many shiny chromed examples is Harley owners obsession with disproving the saying that you can’t polish a t**d). A bike should be quick and go round corners neither of which applies to the Harley. British café racers, Hailwood Replica,or Guzzi Le Mans are real classics.
A classic car should be at least 25 years old, a standard or model of it’s class and time, also be of lasting interest or significance.
Many people mistake “Classic” for “Iconic” the latter being inaccessable or unaffordable to the common man, he/her who gives labour of love for many hours, to keep his/her bit of motoring history alive.
Most “iconic” cars are “bunged” into garages for servicing or “fixing”.
P.S. If mike looks in the Collins English Dictionary & Thesaurus 2007 — classic car — n Chiefly Brit, a car that is more than twenty five years old. Cf. veteran car, vintage car.
Thanks for the heads up on the updated definition from Collins. I think the important thing to remember here is that ‘the classic’ is an idea that defies absolute definition. And that’s why the term is worth consideration.
I love iconic cars, some may call them classics? I own the following, and the only one to cost me much more than a couple of thousand is the Porsche.
1987 XR3i cabrio
1986 Audi quattro ( yes it was that cheap but I had to spend thousands, should have bought a good one to start with)
1976 Porsche 911 (mint!)
1986 Capri 2.8i
1991 Range Rover 3.9
1995 Ford Mustang ( could not afford 1966)
1974 M.G.B. roadster
The list goes on, I have over 20 cars, but you get my drift. There are a lot of affordable “classic cars” out there!
One man’s classic is another man’s dog! But above all else its is about emotion and the car’s effect on your senses, This is the defining principle! Whether it is the curve of the bonnet, rumble of the exhaust note, smell of the hot engine, feel of the leather bucket seats. The best classics are timeless and evoke an appreciation in none petrolheads too!
How about the Mitsubishi starion guys???
They are quite rare now
The article proves that there are different definitions of ‘classic’; also, everybody has their own favourites for a ‘top 10′ list. In any event, to miss the E-Type from any list is something of a major omission!
BMW Z1 anyone? I admired it when it was new and have just bought one. So far, it lives up to its looks. The high sills give it a remarkably stiff chassis so the handling is precise and it’s very comfortable for long trips. Trouble is I don’t want to put too many miles onto this classic. It’s strange that the later Z3 and Z4 didn’t continue the styling thems of this remarkable car.
Surely for any car to become a classic it must have stood the test of time. It must have iconic looks and inovative design. That still inspires not only car enthusiasts but car designers today.
Though some premium brands have these qualities they will always be niche cars, and because of their price tags should be expected to be at the cutting edge. So therefore not classics. Where as the Mk I Mustang, 240Z and 300ZX, E type, original Mini, Mk I Escort, Saab 900 turbo, Mk I Range Rover and such like vehicles still look like there modern counterparts, shook the motor industry and general public at the time of their launch and still lend their basic genotype to modern cars.
That to me is what a classic car or bike is.
I think most classics are the sport varients of your fathers car when you were a child, like my father drove a cortina thus the lotus cortina was one of mine and still is, he was a Ford mechanic so the Mk1 and Mk2 escort RS and Mexico also a classic. Age also had to be taken into hand, How can a Type R be a Classic and not the Daddy of all hatches the Golf GTI??
There are many classics but the one that catches the imagination and stirs the soul is a TVR Tuscan
how many of us should have had the forethought of using ‚abusing and then storing (the old banger) rather than scrapping it, would have a fair array of classics ?.isnt that is what its all about? I now proudly own a 53 prefect,a 55 100e prefect ‚a57 100e prefect ‚and my son a 1990 estelle ‚surely all classics?
What is going to happen to the CLASSICS of the future.
With the onset of the scrappage Scheme, to many cars are no longer going to been seen on the road, love em or hate em, many cars of today could be the classics of tomorow, well in 20 years to come.
What would happen to the MINI if so many enthusiasts didn’t keep them going?
If you like your car, keep it, store it, i wished i hade with many of my past motors.
Funnily enough, we have been contemplating this very topic, and Ben has just done a blog post over at the Flux site about the future classics you can buy now that are worth more as scrap.
No one has mentioned the Citroen Traction , first massed produced front wheel drive car which was in production from 1934 till 1957. Also the later ones introduced the floating suspension used on the D S.
The harley sporster was designed as a drag bike they do not have to go around corners and actualy mine is a rubber mount one and it does go fast and around corners quite well and I ride it in all weathers, I liked it because it was just a plain simple solid motorcycle with no frippery, I used to own an royal enfield bullet 500 which I modifyed but it was still too slow for my journey to work,I nearly didnt buy it because of the Harley poseur image but Im glad I did because the sporster is a good bike
dat thang is bangin da mclauren f1