Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Jim.Walker · Joined: 27 Dec 2008 Posts: 1229 Location: Chesterfield

There are varying opinions about which cars are "classics".
Some just say "age". Others a particular feature or innovation. And there are many others.
What is the most accepted criteria for caravans?
If you apply the 25 year rule as so many do for cars, then my Romini is a classic. But to me it is just a very handy little 'van for my solo travels. And it looks set to well outlast me! But there is nothing about it that smacks of "classic" to me.
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!

sheffieldcortinacentre · Joined: 07 Mar 2011 Posts: 60

hmmmm? how long is a piece of string?

I tow an early/mid 80's esterel folding caravan behind my mk3 & 5 cortinas & consider it old but with your criteria it would be a classic which I suppose it is.

gresham flyer · Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 1435

Right I am going to through the cat amongst the pigeons.

Vintage to me is pre- war.
Classic is post war.

Classic defined in the dictionary means something of high quality, famous through being long established or having high qualities like quality art or music.

So how can a vehicle like say the Austin Devon 1951 ( I have one ) which is a lovely design, well built by craftsmen ( mainly by hand ) , good quality bodywork, sturdy fittings and mechanicals ....... be compared to the so called classic Vauxhall Nova that parks next to me at a show.
Built by robots and dare I say designed by one.!!!

And it is not an age thing..... I have restored enough vehicles in my time to know quality.

I rest my case.

G.F
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Austin A30 / A35 Van.
Austin Devon.
Morris Minors.
Jaguars.
Rootes Cars.
MG.
Etc.

Viking Fibreline Caravan.
Cheltenham Sable
Shorts Built Vintage Caravan 1936.

Bayliss Thomas · Joined: 25 Sep 2009 Posts: 557 Location: SUFFOLK

'Classic' 'Vintage' two words which have been so overused and abused, mainly in Fleabay, that they have begun to loose their true meaning.
I agree with Gresham on that true meaning.

Jim.Walker · Joined: 27 Dec 2008 Posts: 1229 Location: Chesterfield

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22819 Location: UK

The only body that has defined Vintage, in the UK at least, is the VSCC as far as I know, and it tends to be used by many magazines and so on - ie built upto December 31st 1930. In the US I think the label is interpreted differently, where Antique is also used more than is the case here.

RJ
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Cameron · Joined: 28 Oct 2013 Posts: 44

I always say it's around 1982. The recession of the early 1980's saw the end of most established manufacturers such as Safari, Cheltenham, Stirling - even Sprite! It's also when the "classic" B&B chassis was fazed out by Al-Ko and the new Al-Ko chassis was used widely by UK manufacturers. Also, I believe 1981 was the last year that a newly manufactured caravan could legally be fitted with glass windows. The ultra basic Sprite Cadet 10 and 12 were among the last caravans to be produced with glass windows.

The cut off date for the Period And Classic Caravan Club is 1980, although I have been told they'll accept up to 1982 if that caravan was manufactured in 1980 - or it's something rare and unusual. I believe the cut off for Yesterdays Caravans Group is also around 1982.

Fluffle-Valve · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2014 4:04 pm Post subject:

Classic, Vintage, it don't matter much....

It's the "Vintage Rare", "Classic Barn Find", that does it for me. Rolling Eyes

It can be anything of any year. Shocked

_________________

Series 3 1972 LWB Truck Cab Pick Up. My daily drive.

gresham flyer · Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 1435

So you are taking the family out on a Sunday afternoon to visit some Historic Houses.

Chatsworth....Rockingham Castle...Burghley House.....of course not, you are a child from the 1960`s that is prehistoric stuff.

Historic is this....

You end up in Corby Northants ( former Steel Making Town ).

You drive around the 1950`s and 1960`s housing estates and what is left of the factory buildings enthusing to the family about the Historic architecture and then come across a gift shop.

You buy a model of a 1960`s council house with an old car sitting on bricks in the front garden to put on your mantle piece.

I think not.!!!

Come on next you will telling me that Canary Wharf is the Historic hub of London.

Vintage, Veteran, Classic, Retro and Old Skool must be the most misused words in the British language.

G.F Very Happy

_________________
Austin A30 / A35 Van.
Austin Devon.
Morris Minors.
Jaguars.
Rootes Cars.
MG.
Etc.

Viking Fibreline Caravan.
Cheltenham Sable
Shorts Built Vintage Caravan 1936.

gillberry · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 702 Location: Norwich

Is the term classic not a design thing rather than an age thing ?
There are vehicles out there that are so bland they are not worth mentioning but due to the age related status they are classic .
At the end of the day isn't it each to their own as just because some of us remember these vehicles new there is a generation to whom they are classic and with out these people there will be no preservation .
_________________
1968 Volvo Amazon estate (Gracie)
1967 Cheltenham Nyala caravan

kevin2306 · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 8:14 pm Post subject:

Funnily enough, I passed this old girl during an evening trip out tonight.
Would look lovely if restored and towed behind my Singer?

The previous owner had a Sprite 400 (I think that was the model) in the '70s as far as his widow can rememer (may have been the '80s Laughing

)
so, is it classic, retro or old school? lol

Kev

sheffieldcortinacentre · Joined: 07 Mar 2011 Posts: 60

that's a post 67-mid 70's sprite alpine 12ft.
with centre toilet compartment.