Referring to a vintage car as a “classic” is rather commonplace today, a title usually cast upon anything older than 25 years. More succinct, it has become a generic term, like Kleenex® to any- or no-name facial tissue. However, many years ago one car club used the word “classic” when identifying the automobiles in its organization: the Classic Car Club of America. The CCCA, founded in the early 1950s, is a multi-marque club that recognizes specific marques, or models within a marque, as having “Classic status.” (The club had hoped to copyright the term “classic” as applied to cars, but when it couldn’t, the founders settled for the term Full Classic. This magazine differentiates CCCA recognized cars from others as capitalized “Classic/Classics.”)
When established, the CCCA’s criteria was and remains quite straightforward: “…. fine or unusual foreign and domestic motor cars built between 1915 and 1948 and distinguished for their fine design, high engineering standards, and superior workmanship….”
I provided this background because as a long-time Classic car enthusiast I occasionally hear someone say, “I’d like to own one of those [Classics] but they’re all just too expensive.”
That broad statement is simply not true.
Yes, there are many Classics that sell for six figures and beyond. We read about them changing hands at high end auctions in this and other Hemmings publications. I suspect many, if not most, of those Classics sell into seldom-seen collections. For many of those buyers, the cars have become investments; they are rarely driven.
Conversely, what casual enthusiasts aren’t aware of are the Classics that sell far more affordably, unusually among veteran enthusiasts who like to drive and enjoy their automobiles. In 60-plus years in this hobby, I have never owned a vintage or Classic car that was not driven, most of them extensively. Like anything, however, one must consider the question, “What price range do you consider to be ‘affordable?’” For our purposes, let’s say it’s the $35,000 – $40,000 range.
Off the top of my head, I know I’ve seen Classics such as Cadillac, Packard, Lincoln, and Pierce-Arrow offered for sale in the Classic Car Club of America’s club publication in that price range. I’ve also spotted offerings in that price range in the publications of the Lincoln Owners Club, Pierce-Arrow Society, Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Club, and H. H. Franklin Club. And that’s just a start. Keep in mind that during the late Twenties and early Thirties, several medium-price manufacturers such as Nash, Studebaker, Graham, and Hupmobile went upmarket and produced models that are now recognized as Classics.
Perhaps just as intriguing, most of the Classics I’ve seen offered for sale are running, driving cars—not project cars as a few enthusiasts would suspect. Some Classics have simply languished for too long in owners’ garages, requiring little more than fresh fluids, a tune-up, and exercise.
Club publications are hardly exclusive to available Classics. At the time of this writing, I checked Hemmings website for examples in the $20,000 to $50,000 range and found several interesting models offered for sale, including – but not limited to – the following: a 1948 Lincoln Continental for $24,000; 1939 Cadillac Series 60 sedan for $24,750; 1941 Buick Roadmaster convertible sedan for $25,000; 1930 Packard 733 sedan for $26,900; 1940 La Salle Series 52 sedan for $33,000; and a 1925 Pierce-Arrow Series 80 coupe for $37,600.
I know what you’re thinking: That many of these Classics currently available in this price range are sedans, in both five- and seven-passenger versions, rather than more alluring touring and phaeton body styles. What’s interesting is that sedans have been finding new favor among a broader range of enthusiasts, particularly those of us who drive our Classics. Sedans offer greater room and long-distance comfort in variable weather conditions. As an example, last year, I drove my Lincoln sport phaeton nearly 300 miles one day during a touring event and would have much preferred my Town Sedan!
So, if you’re seeking an affordable CCCA-recognized Full Classic, they’re out there.
Commercials Cooperation Advertisements:
(1) IT Teacher IT Freelance
立刻註冊及報名電腦補習課程吧!
电子计算机 -教育 -IT 電腦班” ( IT電腦補習 ) 提供一個方便的电子计算机 教育平台, 為大家配對信息技术, 電腦 老師, IT freelance 和 programming expert. 讓大家方便地就能找到合適的電腦補習, 電腦班, 家教, 私人老師.
We are a education and information platform which you can find a IT private tutorial teacher or freelance.
Also we provide different information about information technology, Computer, programming, mobile, Android, apple, game, movie, anime, animation…
(2) ITSec
www.ITSeceu.uk
Secure Your Computers from Cyber Threats and mitigate risks with professional services to defend Hackers.
ITSec provide IT Security and Compliance Services, including IT Compliance Services, Risk Assessment, IT Audit, Security Assessment and Audit, ISO 27001 Consulting and Certification, GDPR Compliance Services, Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA), Penetration test, Ethical Hacking, Vulnerabilities scan, IT Consulting, Data Privacy Consulting, Data Protection Services, Information Security Consulting, Cyber Security Consulting, Network Security Audit, Security Awareness Training.
Contact us right away.
Email (Prefer using email to contact us):
SalesExecutive@ITSec.vip