When is a car considered an OldTimer

[MaxXL]

Hi.
Just having this debate with some friends and somehow cannot agree on when exactly do we consider a car an OldTimer.
Would you define it by its period, or by its age?
Cheers..

 

[GlamFM]

It's after 30 years.

A quick google would have gotten the job done mon ami.

 

[MaxXL]

Well, in this case do you consider an A3 or a F355 and OldTimer? Isn't more appropriate for the pre 70s ?

 

[05XR8]

Well, in this case do you consider an A3 or a F355 and OldTimer? Isn't more appropriate for the pre 70s ?

I'm 54, soon to be 55. I'd probably say something like a car from 1900-1935 would be an old timer, to me. Something from the 1940-1977/78 would be a classic, to me.

Depending on year, an A3 and F355 are bordering on modern classic. However, I'd say the A3(depending which body style) is just a hot hatch and the F355 is a late-nineties sports car.... to me.

 

[GlamFM]

Well, in this case do you consider an A3 or a F355 and OldTimer? Isn't more appropriate for the pre 70s ?

It really has nothing to do with how you feel about it or what you think is appropriate.
After 30 years, a car is considered an Oldtimer.

If your car is over 30 years old, you can apply for a historic license plate and receive tax benefits in Germany.

It’s the same in France, where it’s called a véhicule de collection.

If you want to decide for yourself when a car is an Oldtimer, that’s up to you.
But if you want the official answer, it’s after 30 years.

 

[MaxXL]

I'm 54, soon to be 55. I'd probably say something like a car from 1900-1935 would be an old timer, to me. Something from the 1940-1977/78 would be a classic, to me.

Depending on year, an A3 and F355 are bordering on modern classic. However, I'd say the A3(depending which body style) is just a hot hatch and the F355 is a late-nineties sports car.... to me.

I agree with you, the category denomination should be related with its period (up to a certain point I guess), and/or its style.
To me, the cars without electronic, or pre-DRS, or release before any specific technical improvement should be put in different class.

 

[Famine]

It's after 30 years.

A quick google would have gotten the job done mon ami.

It really has nothing to do with how you feel about it or what you think is appropriate.
After 30 years, a car is considered an Oldtimer.

If your car is over 30 years old, you can apply for a historic license plate and receive tax benefits in Germany.

It’s the same in France, where it’s called a véhicule de collection.

If you want to decide for yourself when a car is an Oldtimer, that’s up to you.
But if you want the official answer, it’s after 30 years.

While that's an EU thing, it's far from universal.

For example in the UK we don't have an "Oldtimer" designation, but we do have a "Classic" designation and an "Historic" designation.

Historic cars are classed by our vehicle licensing body (DVLA) as those 40 years and older, and that comes with a bunch of exemptions. Classic cars are a category under the tax people (HMRC) and must be at least 15 years old and of £15,000 value or more, and that comes with a bunch of issues.

 

[Liquid]

Oldtimer isn't a phrase used in English, it's a false friend common to at least German and Dutch, so you'd have to be more specific or descriptive about the general age/category of car you mean.

 

[MaxXL]

Oldtimer isn't a phrase used in English, it's a false friend common to at least German and Dutch, so you'd have to be more specific or descriptive about the general age/category of car you mean.

I guess I would refer to something close to a 'Classic', but also build to a certain numbers. Maybe it has a relation with the early age of industrialization (so the 1900/20s would be more 'Historic' in this case). But maybe other criteria would makes more sense from your perspective? (type of engine, speed, chassis..)