Defining the Vintage Car

Most people consider antique cars and vintage cars as a single category of cars. This is incorrect. The history of automobiles go back as early as the 1760s and is often divided into different eras, based on the common design and technology of cars produced at period of time. The vintage era is just one of them, and is sandwiched between the earlier Brass era and followed by the Classic era. Expectedly, cars built during the vintage period are called vintage cars.

As with defining any era in general, the cut offs of each period are never precise and are often debated over. With the vintage era of automobiles, vintage cars enthusiast and scholars have different views about when the vintage era began and ended. But it is commonly agreed that the vintage era began at the end of World War I, 1919. Roughly when the vintage era ended is not as easily concluded due to the different perspectives which vary from around the world. In Britain, 1930 as the end of the vintage period is strictly defined; while in America, classic car clubs prefer the year is 1925. There are also some who feel that the end of the vintage era overlaps the beginning of the classic era.

There is an alternate interpretation to the term vintage car as well. A vintage is also known as any car from any that is ahead of its time; generally, an old car in very good condition, usually in the luxury category.

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