Classic Car Club of America

Classic Car Club of America

The Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) is an organization founded in 1952 to celebrate the grand automobiles of the prewar period. At the time, the vehicles covered by the Club were considered too modern to be of any interest by such organizations as the Antique Automobile Club of America and despite their often stupendous cost when new, were considered practically worthless.

Times have changed, of course, and the vehicles eligible for CCCA membership are now some of the most highly valued cars in existence.

Contents

Definition of a Classic car

In the words of the CCCA:

A CCCA Classic is a "fine" or "distinctive" automobile, either American or foreign built, produced between 1925 and 1948. Generally, a Classic was high-priced when new and was built in limited quantities. Other factors, including engine displacement, custom coachwork and luxury accessories, such as power brakes, power clutch, and "one-shot" or automatic lubrication systems, help determine whether a car is considered to be a Classic.

The CCCA is considered to have invented the term classic car, which was coined to describe the vehicles covered by the Club's interest. While the term is nowadays used to describe any interesting old vehicle, many in the US consider it only properly used to describe vehicles considered eligible for the CCCA. This may be considered analogously to the correct usage of 'Classical music' to mean only from a specific historical period, even though many people use the term to mean any orchestral work.

In order to avoid ambiguity, classic cars that are eligible for the CCCA are generally called 'CCCA Full Classics', 'CCCA Classics', 'Full Classics', or just capitalized as 'Classics'.

The CCCA has an admittedly narrow focus, tending to be interested only in the high-priced cars available in a limited time period. Racing cars and serious sports cars are not covered by the CCCA, either.

Eligible Vehicles

The Classic Car Club of America publishes an officially sanctioned list by makes and models of Approved CCCA Classic Cars. It should be noted that some makes that are not very well represented in the Club are accepted on a "Considered by application" basis. A Club member may petition to have a vehicle not listed in Approved CCCA Classic Cars approval and accepted. Such approval may be given if the car is one of a similar standard to vehicles already accepted into the Club.

Cars older than 1925 may be accepted if they are nearly identical or fundamentally the same as eligible vehicles built in 1925 or newer. Cars built after 1942 and up until 1948 are only accepted if they are nearly identical or fundamentally the same as the prewar vehicles; the focus of the club is on the prewar, but this accepts that many cars built immediately postwar were actually the same vehicles as were available immediately before hostilities began.

The Classic Car Club of America publishes a list of Approved CCCA Classic Cars that are recognized CCCA Classics on its website.

Grand Classics

The CCCA's car shows and judged championships are known as Grand Classics and are held at various points throughout the US over the summer months. About a half-dozen Grand Classics are held annually. While neither as large nor as glamorous as the largest Concours d'Elegance such as Pebble Beach they are most certainly prestigious events in their own right.

While many cars go to be entered into competition, the Club encourages its members to bring their cars even if they are in no condition to win at show.

Concours judging is based on a comparison of the car to its condition when new. If the car now is identical to its as-new condition (or indeed better, given the quality of modern restoration) then 100 points are awarded. These days, quite a few vehicles rate 100 points at show.

Some alterations for safety purposes are permitted and do not cost judging points. Glass must be safety glass except in classes purely for unrestored, as-original cars. Many original vehicles from early in the period had only one tail light and stop light; fitting a second one is OK as long as it looks right. Equipping a car built with only brakes on two wheels with brakes on the other two wheels is also permitted, as long it is done in keeping with the car's period.

CARavans

The CCCA organises long distance driving tours under this name. Distances covered are often well in excess of a thousand miles and the events take place over several weeks. While some CCCA members' cars are strictly 'for show', others take great pleasure in driving them, even long distance.

Complete car list

All vehicles built between 1925 and 1948 are accepted unless specified otherwise.

External links

Other Classic Car Clubs


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Car Club of America — See Classic Car Club of America …   Dictionary of automotive terms

  • Classic Car Club of America — P.O. Box 443, Madison, NJ 07940. Organization which defines which cars are true classics …   Dictionary of automotive terms

  • Classic car — A yank tank or maquina in Havana, Cuba A classic car is an older car; the exact meaning is variable. The Classic Car Club of America maintains that a car must be between 20 and 40 years old to be a classic, while cars over 45 years fall into the… …   Wikipedia

  • classic car — A vehicle that is generally considered to be one of the finest models ever built. Unlike antique cars, classic cars do not have to be extremely old. Mustangs and VW bugs built in the late 1960s are considered to be classics by many people;… …   Dictionary of automotive terms

  • Car classification — is subjective since many vehicles fall into multiple categories or do not fit well into any. Not all car types are common in all countries and names for the same vehicle can differ by region. Furthermore, some descriptions may be interpreted… …   Wikipedia

  • Classic — For the Mac OS X environment for pre OS X Mac binaries, see Classic Environment. The word classic means something that is a perfect example of a particular style, something of lasting worth or with a timeless quality. The word can be an adjective …   Wikipedia

  • Vintage car — A vintage car is commonly defined as a car built between the start of 1919 and the end of 1930. There is little debate about the start date of the vintage period mdash;the end of World War I is a nicely defined marker there mdash;but the end date …   Wikipedia

  • Car sharing — This article deals with the short term rental of cars. For the shared use of cars by persons with similar travel needs see Carpool. Flexcar (now Zipcar) carsharing vehicles in their reserved spots, Atlanta, Georgia. Car sharing or Carsharing (in… …   Wikipedia

  • Sports car racing — is a form of circuit auto racing with automobiles that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose built or related to road going sports cars.A kind of hybrid between the purism of open wheelers and the familiarity of touring car… …   Wikipedia

  • America's Next Top Model, Cycle 7 — Promotional photograph of the cast of Cycle 7 of America s Next Top Model Format Reality television Created by Tyra Banks …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”