Take a moment to remember the first time you drove a car. Did your palms sweat or could you feel your heartbeat? For many car enthusiasts, their first memory behind the wheel sparks a love for the open road. This encourages some to become automobile experts and start a career in the industry. Whether you work with vehicles or not, the term “classic car” is used loosely by many people—often making true car classifications misunderstood. The Department of Motor Vehicles (everyone’s favorite place) classifies cars differently from state to state, while car collector clubs often have their own classification of what constitutes a “classic.”
Regardless, most “old” vehicles are broken down into three main categories: classic, antique, and vintage. Still confused? CarRentals created this classic car infographic that breaks down what this terminology means, vehicle eras and price points of collector vehicles to help you better understand classic car values. For example, classic cars most commonly referred to as vehicles between 20 and 40 years old. This means cars people considered “classic” are ever changing, which in turn creates fluctuation in value.
While some classic cars increase in price year over year, that doesn’t mean you have to be a millionaire to enjoy favorite pastimes of the open road. In fact, there are classic cars you can purchase for five thousand dollars like a 1975-81 Triumph TR7, 1983-86 Ford Mustang 5.0 or a 1990 Volkswagen Corrado—allowing many new and seasoned collectors to keep their love for the open road alive without breaking the bank.
Next time you find yourself looking to purchase a hobby automobile, spend some time learning about classics and their values. For beginners car collectors, this infographic is a great place to start and an experience to share with family or friends.
