So when is a car actually considered a classic? Is it age only, or this there more to it?

 

Technically it's age in years that varies state to state. There is also an age for Antique cars as well. Call your local DMV and find out what it is in your state.

If you are talking about Classic in terms of what it means as a piece of art to the automotive public, that is quite different.

 

I didnt know it was different around the country, but here its considered a classic when its 20 years old.

 

Some states claim a classic at 15 years. Minnesota plays the stupid game with classics (20 years). If you buy a car and it's 19.5 years old, you have to wait 1 full year of ownership before the state will allow you to license it as a collector. If you buy the car and it's already 20 years old, then you can register the car as a classic/collector immediately.

Most states claim 20 years, some claim 15. Only insurance companies classify cars as collector vs. classics. A 20 year old car is automatically a classic, but a very limited production 1988 1LE will be considered a collector car, not a classic.

 

Sweet, thanks for all the info

 

Here in Indiana its considered a classic at 25 years. Then you can get this real ugly yellow plate with a model-T on it. It won't look good on my car at all.

Chet

 

In Wisconsin, it's 20 years. But to get collector plates your car has to be completely stock. We have introduced hobbiest plates for people who have modified older cars. So this year 82 F-bodies are classics here.

 

92GTA is right. Regardless of what the MVD says. When you are categorizing cars you may encounter the following terms.

Antique
Collector
Classic

They are all intertwined and confusing and more than one can be to one car.

GENERALLY

Classic - means moreso classic style, something that established standards by which others were measured. Something whose style is not really dated. Something that is well known. A VW Beetle is a classic. A 67 Mustang, a Corvette Stingray, and yes our cars too will become classics because no matter how old they get they are still desirable purchases.

Antique - generally means "old" or is collected or desirable due to rarity, condition, or some other unique feature. There is no definitive age limit to this. As noted MVD classifies antiques by different years in different areas. In the general antique world that deals with furniture and such it is generally thought to be antique at 25 years of age. Some car historians and experts rate cars of value antique status at 50 years while fine art and investment pieces need to be 100 years old.

Collectors - first needs to be worthy of collecting........LOL. Just because it's old doesn't mean it's a collectors car or a classic car.

EX: I had a 51 Plymouth Cranbook 4Dr. It was an antique, but it was not a collectors car, nor was it a classic car. But a 52 MG TD is a collectors car, antique car AND classic car.

EX: A 1955 Chevy Bel Air is a collectors car and a classic car. It is an "antique" by antique dealer status, also by MVD status, but would not be categorized as antique by a high powered auction house dealing in classic and antique auctions.

Like I said .... intertwined, confusing, and a whole lot of margin for error.

 

In Arkansas it's 25 years to get an antique tag. $7 fee and they removed the mileage limitation recently. Has to be relatively original. I'm almost there with my '78 T/A. One day I'll hopefully see my '92 and '02 join the ranks.
As stated above, classic, antique, and collector classifications can vary on different cars with diff. people.