Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[hotrodjon]

I am not sure if my latest project qualifies as a classic. It is a a 1967 built Jago Jeep ( WW2 Willys Jeep replica ) Although technically a kit car is it now old enough to be classed as a classic in its own right. Here it is on its home :


By zodiac10, shot with FE5020,X935 at 2010-02-06

[Phil - Nottingham]

Age is not considered a criteria by some for classic status - if more than you think its one it is!

I would say its a classic - tell us more
_________________
Rover P2
Rover P4
Rover P5 & P5B
Land Rover S2 & S3
Morris Mini Traveller Mk2

[hotrodjon]

I sold my previous project ( trike ) a couple of months back and went to look at my mental wishlist. I had always fancied a genuine WW2 Willys Jeep, unfortunately my pockets aren't deep enough for a real one but I did find this one that I have now. It is a 1967 registered Jago Jeep. It has a heavy duty box section chassis with a fibreglass body which as far as I know was taken was taken off a mould made off a genuine Willys. It has a fold down windscreen, and a built in rollcage. It was originally built with Morris Minor running gear but at some time in its life it has been upgraded to Ford Escort mk2 running gear and a 1600 crossflow engine and 4 speed manual gearbox. Due to my health issues, gout and arthritus I am fitting it with an automatic gearbox. It is going to be repainted in matt finish olive drab with a beige canvas soft top.

[Jim.Walker]

Hi, HOTRODJOHN. I always wonder about my Gentry on the left of this post. It is close enough to make almost everyone believe it is an MG TF. Most people don't believe me when I say it is a Triumph Vitesse. I don't normally leave anyone in doubt that it is a "fake", but on one occasion when a chap was so lost in nostalgia, having had an MG TF years ago, I did not have the heart to disillusion him.

The 2 Litre Mk 2 Vitesse was registered in 1968 and scrapped and mostly dismantled around 1982. After sorting, cleaning, overhauling and reassembling the chassis and all the mechanical bits I fitted the Gentry body with more or less appropriate period features such as 15" wheels, bumpers etc. etc. in 1984.

That makes the mechanical bits essentially 42 years old and the conversion 26 years old. BUT. Is it a Classic?

I have never been turned away from any classic car show, But I have come across spectators and sometimes other exhibitors who turn their nose up.

My satisfaction comes from a car which has the appearance and atmosphere I enjoy, coupled with performance which leaves even owners of most modern cars stunned.

Like you I could not afford the real thing and in any case I would hate driving around in a sports car pretending I was not in a hurry, nursing a fear that I might wear it out.

I don't really consider it a "kit car", but really a re-bodied Vitesse. If all the re-bodied Rolls Royces were taken into consideration would they be "classics" or "kit cars"?

Jim.
_________________
Quote from my late Dad:- You only need a woman and a car and you have all the problems you
are ever likely to want". Computers had not been invented then!

[peter scott]

There is no definitive statement of what constitutes a "classic car". If you enjoy it then what does it matter what anyone else thinks?

Peter
_________________
http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Giggles]

This is abot like asking on a certain other forum what is a hot rod. Everyone has their own opinion.
_________________
1953 Humber Hawk
1955 Ford Fairlane
1960 & 1963 Humber Super Snipe's

[hotrodjon]

yes I know what you mean about hotrods with the pre '49 dispute, as far as I am concerned my current Jeep was built in 1967 so I consider it to be a classic even though it was kit based when it was built.

[Nic Jarman]

Is the Morris 8 a classic car? It was a run of the mill car when it was made (not a classic). In the fifties and sixties it was scrapyard fodder (not a classic) but maybe thousands(ish) survive. It's no Jaguar SS or Talbot Lago, so is it a classic? I don't care, its my car and when I was at school we would chant "sticks and stones will break my bones but.........".
_________________
1936 Morris 8 Series 1
1973 MGB roadster
1977 MG Midget 1500
Dax Rush

[SJBWIS]

To continue this discussion. I have a 30 year old Spartan Roadster. I and most of the owners of Spartan Roadsters consider the car to be a classic car. I think for two reasons 1) kit cars are definitely part of the history of the British car industry scene, there having been many firms offering various levels of self-assembly for a variety of reasons; 2) The Spartan (like the Gentry) set a particular standard or achievement. With Spartans, which were never intended to be but a car design in its own right, it would be the fact of being arguably the first and most numerous of the post war 30’s style inspired roadsters. I hate - the now derisory - term kit car. The amount of time and effort that has gone into completing a self-assembly car is amazing and should be acknowledged as a fine British tradition, not looked down upon by certain people. I remember after acquiring and spending a year getting my Spartan roadworthy, at the first show I entered the car into, the organizer’s car parking person apologized to the owner of a Wolseley car for parking “a kit car” next to him. After all the working and looking forward to its first outing to have such a comment made was very disappointing. As it was, the Wolseley owner was very nice and introduced me to his local classic car club in which we have four Spartan Owners!

[P3steve]

used to live near the spartan factory many years back and had the chance to have a look round once, very interesting. To much time is spent trying to figure out if a car is a classic or not we should devote more time to enjoying them what ever their pedigree, I my self love to listen to people as they talk about their cars and never cease to be amazed at there enthusiasm which I always find exhilarating. Last year at a rally in east Anglia I met a man who was admiring my Rover P3 he remarked that he had one but added that I wouldn't like what he had done to his, he pointed to a customized car across the field and was taken aback when I told him I had just been admiring it, He saved it from scrap or being used for parts so I said good for him and hoped in his way he got as much fun out of it as I did mine. Enjoy your vehicle what ever the year or pedigree

[Jim.Walker]

I too hate the term "Kit Car", preferring perhaps the term "Component Car". A "kit" implies to me a complete set of parts with detailed instructions on construction/assembly. Yes, some "kit" cars have been available down to the last nut and bolt (I believe the Beauford is one such), but many were little more than a body shell (like the original Gentry about 34 years ago) with very little in the way of build instructions (in fact I never had any and only having very briefly only ever seen one Gentry, I did it my way [should there be music here?]).

Though passing through several incarnations over the last 36 years or so, with turn-key cars being offered as well as self build options, the Gentry is still recognisably the same car and is currently available as a completed IVA tested and very desirable machine and still also as a self build option now re-designed to meet IVA standards. NOW if, as some of you have suggested, boosting my belief in my Gentry as a Classic, is the currently available, identical looking 2010 Gentry a Classic? I would like to believe so if only on longevity.

www.gentrycars.co.uk

Jim.
_________________
Quote from my late Dad:- You only need a woman and a car and you have all the problems you
are ever likely to want". Computers had not been invented then!

[Uncle Alec]

There are many makes and models on the classic car scene that I wouldn't have as a gift, but that doesn't mean I don't agree that they should be included. If the owners get half as much pleasure out of their cars as I do from mine it will be the best thing they ever bought.
And the more people we can include in the classic vehicle movement the better for political reasons.

[Riley Blue]

Is a replica of an earlier vehicle that shares no mechanical or body parts with the original a 'classic'?

Not to me but does it matter as long as you enjoy it?