Are our cars classics already?

[FELIX456]

My hubby was filling our 2002 XKR convertible up with Shell when the cashier, who was quite youthful, said "Is that one of those Jaguar XK8's? I used to love those when I was a kid" !!!!!!!!

[Brakebuster]

well.........they have been around for nearly sixteen years now ,

i think they are too cheep to be a classic at the moment, as prices are still going down for the bottom end , then a load need to be scrapped, then they need to become unfashionable, then the price starts to rise,


then they are classics , lol


BB

[SV8Predator]

they are too cheep to be a classic

That's just the fluffy yellow ones!

[Brakebuster]

tweet tweet



from a dyslexic Jaguar owner......yes, i actually am

BB

[J44EAG]

You both have it wrong.

The modern S-type will be the one to collect. Trust me.

Mike

[Brakebuster]

funny you should say that, i saw my first one in the scrap yard today , not a dismantlers for crash damage, but an old fashioned , dumped in the scrap yard to take apart yourself if you need anything jobby

BB

[J44EAG]

Didn`t happen to have a tow bar did it, Vince?

Sorry, hijacked the thread.

Mike

[BrizzleJag]

... anyway six years later they are getting there. Pulling out last summer from a garden centre car park I stopped to let a lady cross in front of me, she smiled and mouthed "Nice car".
Values are no longer dropping and are creeping up for well maintained rust free examples. It all depends on what your measure of a "Classic" is it's certainly a Modern Classic if you take the views of Modern Classics magazine who are big X100 fans. The AJV8 will be recognised as one of Jaguars all time great engines one day if not already just like the XK. This is also the car that is largely credited with saving Jaguar, that alone will add weight to its classic status in time, however it's doubtful if it will ever have the kudos of the E-type because it doesn't have the racing heritage.

[J44EAG]

The word "classic" is a horribly misused phrase.

It used to mean the car was at least twenty five years old and worthy of some meritorious significance. Is that still the case? Does a rotted out Vauxhall Viva HA deserve to be called a classic car? Not in my book. It is just a knacked out pile of crud and a monument to dreadfully bad design and construction.

What is a classic? I would have thought a design or significant icon of a particular period.

We see all sorts of cars described as classics. In all probability, every car ever built becomes a classic when it hits the twenty five year mark. General classic car shows are full of them and there are some right old dogs around as we all know. I`m often appalled at what manages to stagger through show ground gates. Some are in terrible condition and are no longer eligible for an MOT. How often do you see nuts and bolts that are not in "safety" or fuel pipe that has been changed for clear plastic braided water pipe. Most of the cars at those shows could be better described as "elderly, becoming a bit rare and a relic of yesteryear" rather than "classic". So we are back to that loose and often misused word again.

Mike

[BrizzleJag]

Absolutely agree Mike it's a very misused phrase. I think it's banded about so much as it's an all-embracing flag of convenience and I'm guilty as charged for referring to mine as "modern classics" at times, however Mrs P refers to them as my old mans cars. I own them because they are a quality product that I can enjoy, that have reached the bottom of their depreciation curve. I no longer like owing cars that will lose 50% of their value in less than 3 years. In truth, they are slightly aging, non-depreciating, aesthetically pleasing motor vehicles, that well looked after will give pleasure into the future.

The current situation regarding MOT’s is just plain barmy and as you say there are so many exempt cars out there that are completely un-roadworthy and in many cases, dangerous. Clearly many exempt cars would never be able to pass the modern MOT but they probably wouldn’t have been able to pass it straight out of the factory due to changes in emission rules, quality of brakes etc. So surely then there has to be an alternative MOT for older vehicles that allows them to still be used but to ensure that they at least meet a minimum safety standard.

Perhaps call it a “Classic” MOT

[Terry1961]

Just because some cars were produced in huge numbers, cheaply, why should they not be regarded as "classics"? After all even the lowly Vauxhall HA Viva has its fan's, some people love them, I actually saw one last week, the first for quite a while. As the old saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Me? It's old Jags and Triumphs, XKs and others, and then theres the TRs, I love 'em all, some hate them, classics? Yep, to me at any rate. So its can't be fair slagging off others dream cars

Happy New Year all.

Terry
99 XK8 Coupe

[VinylFan]

According to my insurance company it is.

When I asked about my Rover Sterling the said it had to be over 20 years old before they would touch it. Thats ok I said as its 25. A good gulp of humble pie at the other end of the line