CLASSICS DEFINED (?):

[Stewart G Griffin]

There has been an on-going controversy, not just in my mind, but i'm others as what constitutes as a "classic."  i've been doing a lot of thinking about this and i feel i've come up with a reasonable and agreeable plan for car enthusiasts:

1) If the model year vehicle is something you do not see at least one per day of, then that particular year model can be considered a classic.  So, for example, you really don't see a 73 or 74 c-10 or sierra everyday, but you see plenty of 83-4-5-6 etc. C-10's, c-15's everyday and often several per day.
So, in this case certain years of the exact same model of vehicle could be and are classics while differing(usually more recent) years are not.  The same could apply to the 68-82 corvette;  You rarely, if ever see a 68-9, while you can see at least one 80-81-82 per day.

Thus, i would consider a 74 GMC c-1500 sierra to be a classic, while a 87 chevy "V"-10 not to be even though they are the same design.

a)You must live in a major or minor metropolitan area for this rule to apply;  If you live in, say, riverton wyoming, the rule does not apply.  A minor metropolitan area could be, for example Des Moines Ia, Harrisburg, pa, Richmond, va,  Columbia, SC etc.

b) Vehicles parked at a used car dealership do not count;  Vehicles parked at shopping malls, other private property, public property or on public streets or driven on public streets count.

c) your time outside the house has daily must equal at least 1 hour.  And the radius of travel from your home must equal at least 15 miles.

To be continued?
 

[blast]

lol, nice theory! 

That's a tough one.  I remember back in let's say 1986, thinking that a ~20 year old vehicle from the late 60's or early 70's was really really old. 

Now in 2008, I think of a 20 year old 1988 as too new.   

[Stewart G Griffin]

Exactly;  i felt than anything that came from the factory with a digital dash CANNOT be a "classic."

But with my new definition i think it's more fair for the car enthusiast community.

So, this begs the question:  Can an 88 Z-24 cavalier be considered a "classic?"  Because it's awfully rare that you see one nowadays.

So maybe classic doesn't have to mean "old."  It could also mean rare.  A 95 lumina z-34  might be considered a "classic."

[choptop]

Too me a classic is described as 25 years old, and desirable. Specifically, desirable, I dont consider an 88 Cavalier or even a 76 Honda desirable. It's gotta be stylish, and have a collness factor. Just my opinion.

[lowbucktruck]

I have to agree with choptop, a "classic" vehicle is usually a desirable model.  I say usually because I think we can agree that a 1951 Studebaker bullet-nose coupe may not be desirable to some, but is definitely in the "rare and classic" category.  Some cars and trucks are just getting more scarce these days (in california it seems that they want to just crush everything that has outlived its usefulness)
Example: I think that an early 1970's C20 Cheyenne camper special that is fully-loaded with all factory options is a desirable truck, and a classic.  And now I have found such a truck and own it. (project)

Driving my old '73 C10, the first year of the rounded line, I can spot other trucks of similar vintage, but alot of the trucks I see on the road are not quite as old as mine.  Of course they might be in better shape... 
One man's trash is another man's treasure!