Car lovers around the world dream of owning at least one sweet vintage ride, a classic from yesteryear that will have heads turning as you drive by in grand old style! Classic cars are quite dear of course, and require a lot of special care and maintenance to keep them going over the long decades, but if you can afford one and are dedicated to it, owning and driving something this special is well worth the trouble and expense.
If you live in Australia you should be aware that the government down under has some laws you need to be aware of regarding vintage vehicles. For example, your car will only be considered a classic if it is still close to its original condition. If there have been restorations and improvements that fall within the car’s original model and make specifications it will still be considered as a classic older vehicle. But, if major modifications have been performed on the car that change the original specification and or performance of the car, the classic designation will no longer apply, and the car will be considered to be a remanufactured vehicle. The modifications would have to be major changes, just adding a car rear window shade isn’t going to tip the scales!
While the government has some guidelines in place, the terms required for classification as a classic car remain somewhat loose. The members of Australia’s many classic car clubs generally agree that classic cars are those manufactured prior to the year 1990 (A surprisingly late date!), and are divided into five basic categories:
- Modern Classic – cars manufactured between 1970 and 1989.
- Classic Acceptance – cars manufactured between 1950 and 1969.
- Post Vintage – cars manufactured between 1931 and 1949.
- Vintage – cars manufactured between 1919 and 1930.
- Veteran – cars manufactured before 1918.
Another consideration for classic car owners is that their prize must be driven very carefully. Because they come from earlier eras they won’t have all the advanced safety features a modern car has. The car may come from a time before airbags, roll protection, and crumple zones. Some older models don’t even have seatbelts installed! The following are some of the modifications that will make your classic car much safer to drive:
- Replacing the original outdated drum brakes with more advanced disc brakes will make it much safer to slow down and stop when you need to.
- Three-point seat belts are a critical safety measure that is required by law and are relatively simple to install.
- Installing electric radiator fans will greatly reduce the possibility of your engine overheating
- Older, heavier models can be made safer if their manoeuvrability is increased with power steering.
- New dashboard gauges will give the driver more accurate info on performance.
That may sound like a lot of effort, but dyed-in-the-wool classic car enthusiasts will think nothing of it, their hobby brings them so much joy! Enjoy your classic car if you decide to join them, they are well worth going the extra mile for!
