Classic Cars and Vintage Cars – What’s the Difference?

Only when one goes into the history of the motor car or automobile, as some prefer, do you get a sense of the interest and knowledge that propelled this industry along. The first moving vehicle was invented during the 18th Century and was electrically propelled. From that time the inventors never ceased to generate ever more prototypes. Some succeeded but most failed.

Pre First World War efforts were amazing and up until the time of the Second World War the industry was pretty much going for broke. The Second World War brought many inventors to the table as the need for protection from the enemy saw the first tanks and armoured vehicles brought into service.

Already factories were mass producing vehicles like Ford, Chrysler, Daimler and so many others whose creators were pioneers in the industry.

The people employed in it were assured of security and protection as the demand for cars increased along with their popularity. They no longer used horses or owned buggies for the weekly shop and the use of motor vehicles for public transport was a great innovation.

While trains had also been around for a while ever since the 19th Century the ability to travel created other new industries of which tourism was one. Service stations spread up and created more employment. Roads were then built to provide the platform for the vehicles to run on and the list of service departments related to their production, upkeep and trade grew enormously.

Before long the earliest vehicles were renamed ‘vintage’ as more modern types hit the road. Some were then left in sheds or out the back of farms to be rediscovered and restored by enthusiasts who saw the potential in their longevity. They were cars built to last with quality of metal and design and many are still around and going.

After them came the classic post war varieties that created more interest as the latest models failed to meet the same standards. Materials used were often substandard as demand increased to the point where profits became more important than reputation. Now the better made vehicles cost a fortune and are well out of reach of the ordinary motorist. But in the days when Ford, Daimler even Mercedes Benz got going the little people were in the running for them.

Now they run on our roads at infrequent times when rallies are held and they still draw a crowd. They are not only something special to look at but their construction still amazes those who are mechanically minded or just interested in their survival.

Car classics or vintage are part of our world and learning about them enhances their beauty and charm. Equally as fascinating are aircraft and aviation which is more my thing.

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