How Consumer Reports tests Cars

Such a safety warning has been issued for only twelve different cars in the past 31 years. Like the Lexus, most of the vehicles have been charged with unsafe handling, typically in high-speed, emergency situations. However, there’s more than one way to flunk a Consumer Reports evaluation, as evidenced by some of the past failures. 1969 Subaru 360: Subaru’s first mass-produced car was deemed too slow to be safe, as the 25-hp two-stroke engine needed 37.5 seconds to accelerate the car from zero to 50 mph...

Is That Hot Car Over There a Classic, Antique or Vintage?

We often hear the terms "vintage car, antique car and classic car" used interchangeably by car lovers, but I believe most people really don't know what those classifications mean and use them incorrectly when they try and describe a vehicle. I'd like to make clear what each type of automobile is, so when you speak about the rides that strike your fancy, you will sound informed and knowledgeable!

A vintage car is commonly defined as a car built after World War I, between the years of 1919 and 1930. World War I is a nice hard date to start a timeline by. It's a bit arbitrary, as no notice was sent to auto makers to start building cars that would be "vintage", but the date helps define the nature of this period in auto history. It's when the car became part of our culture. The car in 1919 was still something of a novelty. By 1930 it was well on the way to being down right common! In fact, American automobile production numbers (by 1930-ish) were not matched again until the 1950s. The British definition is strict on 1930 being the cut-off - those Brits are like that, don't ya know. American sources are looser about the matter and prefer 1925-ish because it is the pre-classic car period as defined by the Classic Car Club of America. Some experts even consider the start of World War II as the end date of the vintage period.

So this fact brings us to the definition of the classic car period. Some authorities see the classic period as overlapping the vintage period while others don't. In part, the reason stems from the vintage designation covering all vehicles of the period, while the official classic definition does not. Strictly defined, classics only include high-end vehicles of that period. The Classic Car Club of America defines a CCCA Classic car as a fine or distinctive automobile, either American or foreign built, produced between 1925 and 1948. Generally, a CCCA Classic is expensive and limited in production. Other factors, including engine size, custom coachwork, sophisticated technology (for the time) and luxury accessories, also help determine whether a car is considered to be worthy of the title of "classic".

So then what is an antique car? This definition turns out to be really loose! The Antique Automobile Club of America defines an antique car as a vehicle which is 45 years old or older. To them, a classic vehicle is 20-45 years old. In the UK, "antique" often refers to any item more than 100 years old and cars of this age are generally termed "vintage". Basically the definition attempts to quantify the fact that 20 years is about twice the average design lifespan of most modern vehicles. Therefore, a car that's reached 25 is considered a classic, mainly because it's a little "long in the tooth" by then. These and antique cars are often not economical or easy to maintain as regular transportation. They tend to demand more of the driver, as well, due to less current technology being incorporated to share the burden of vehicle operation.

So there you have it! Vintage cars are different than classic cars. Here in America, at least, vintage cars are also antique cars. Elsewhere in the world, maybe that isn't as true. One thing is for sure, whether vintage, classic and / or antique; the terms refer to vehicles that catch our eye, stir our imaginations and capture our hearts. They are more than just simple transportation. They are "vehicles" to a different place and time that we just can't forget or not yearn to experience again.

The Auto Film Central library is dedicated to chronicling vintage, antique and classic cars. Explore the limitless films available at http://www.autofilmcentral.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ari_Michaels

Is That Hot Car Over There a Classic, Antique or Vintage?

We often hear the terms "vintage car, antique car and classic car" used interchangeably by car lovers, but I believe most people really don't know what those classifications mean and use them incorrectly when they try and describe a vehicle. I'd like to make clear what each type of automobile is, so when you speak about the rides that strike your fancy, you will sound informed and knowledgeable!

A vintage car is commonly defined as a car built after World War I, between the years of 1919 and 1930. World War I is a nice hard date to start a timeline by. It's a bit arbitrary, as no notice was sent to auto makers to start building cars that would be "vintage", but the date helps define the nature of this period in auto history. It's when the car became part of our culture. The car in 1919 was still something of a novelty. By 1930 it was well on the way to being down right common! In fact, American automobile production numbers (by 1930-ish) were not matched again until the 1950s. The British definition is strict on 1930 being the cut-off - those Brits are like that, don't ya know. American sources are looser about the matter and prefer 1925-ish because it is the pre-classic car period as defined by the Classic Car Club of America. Some experts even consider the start of World War II as the end date of the vintage period.

So this fact brings us to the definition of the classic car period. Some authorities see the classic period as overlapping the vintage period while others don't. In part, the reason stems from the vintage designation covering all vehicles of the period, while the official classic definition does not. Strictly defined, classics only include high-end vehicles of that period. The Classic Car Club of America defines a CCCA Classic car as a fine or distinctive automobile, either American or foreign built, produced between 1925 and 1948. Generally, a CCCA Classic is expensive and limited in production. Other factors, including engine size, custom coachwork, sophisticated technology (for the time) and luxury accessories, also help determine whether a car is considered to be worthy of the title of "classic".

So then what is an antique car? This definition turns out to be really loose! The Antique Automobile Club of America defines an antique car as a vehicle which is 45 years old or older. To them, a classic vehicle is 20-45 years old. In the UK, "antique" often refers to any item more than 100 years old and cars of this age are generally termed "vintage". Basically the definition attempts to quantify the fact that 20 years is about twice the average design lifespan of most modern vehicles. Therefore, a car that's reached 25 is considered a classic, mainly because it's a little "long in the tooth" by then. These and antique cars are often not economical or easy to maintain as regular transportation. They tend to demand more of the driver, as well, due to less current technology being incorporated to share the burden of vehicle operation.

So there you have it! Vintage cars are different than classic cars. Here in America, at least, vintage cars are also antique cars. Elsewhere in the world, maybe that isn't as true. One thing is for sure, whether vintage, classic and / or antique; the terms refer to vehicles that catch our eye, stir our imaginations and capture our hearts. They are more than just simple transportation. They are "vehicles" to a different place and time that we just can't forget or not yearn to experience again.

The Auto Film Central library is dedicated to chronicling vintage, antique and classic cars. Explore the limitless films available at http://www.autofilmcentral.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ari_Michaels

Classic Car Years - 1970, 1969, 1967?

1970 - Remembering the Time, Hot Cars, Hot Music, and the beginning of the end for true muscle cars...

The classic 1970's car is a memory of a hot time in our American history. 1970's Classic cars, heavy metal music, all humming along the streets and highways of America. Hot cars with the music streaming from the inside of our cars, in competition with the engines that roared unmercifully along with the headers that amplified our exhaust systems to the max.

Thirty Years ago, where did the time go? NOW it's a Classic?

1970, hard to realize that these special cars are now classics? The Pontiac TransAm, Firebird, or the Ford Mustang, all are classics to hold on to for another lifetime of enjoyment. No longer kids now, as we were young men driving fast, burning gas, at pennies a gallon, distancing ourselves from our parents and authority figures. Now we search and seek out the car, "restore the bird", feel the power in the Mustang, and crank the engines for long stretches on the highways. Thirty years, where did the time go?

Hey, Hey, rebuilding 1969 and 1967 classic cars, forever in our memories, forever in our garages!!!

You know what we're talking about, 1969 Chevelle Super Sport, rebuild, restore, relive the classic car forever in your own home. Rebuilding a classic car, driving, and storing these true American Classics brings generations together, from those owning these original cars to the people who are now, rebuilding, restoring, and driving these classic cars, along with all of the pride and enthusiasm shown for the cars, just like it was 1967 all over again. Restore and refurbish a Shelby Cobra, the big engine, the fast drive, the gears banging, and the heart pounding. Restore that GTO, find the right big block engine, leather interior, smooth, sleek body. Drive it, store it, auction it off to someone else and then start again and again to restore, rebuild and refinish a classic car of your dreams.

High Compression Engines, Big Blocks, emissions?

1970 rolls around, governments get serious about pollution, emissions is born, and the high performance, high horsepowered engines are not part of "the muscle car". So how can a muscle car run without high horsepower?? Can't drive a real, deal muscle car with emissions strapped to the engine, so special order engines are born, mechanics know how to re-invent and build the big blocks. This is smart American ingenuity at it's finest! Build the right engine for the right car and the car fanatics will come!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Dorosh

Classic Car Years - 1970, 1969, 1967?

1970 - Remembering the Time, Hot Cars, Hot Music, and the beginning of the end for true muscle cars...

The classic 1970's car is a memory of a hot time in our American history. 1970's Classic cars, heavy metal music, all humming along the streets and highways of America. Hot cars with the music streaming from the inside of our cars, in competition with the engines that roared unmercifully along with the headers that amplified our exhaust systems to the max.

Thirty Years ago, where did the time go? NOW it's a Classic?

1970, hard to realize that these special cars are now classics? The Pontiac TransAm, Firebird, or the Ford Mustang, all are classics to hold on to for another lifetime of enjoyment. No longer kids now, as we were young men driving fast, burning gas, at pennies a gallon, distancing ourselves from our parents and authority figures. Now we search and seek out the car, "restore the bird", feel the power in the Mustang, and crank the engines for long stretches on the highways. Thirty years, where did the time go?

Hey, Hey, rebuilding 1969 and 1967 classic cars, forever in our memories, forever in our garages!!!

You know what we're talking about, 1969 Chevelle Super Sport, rebuild, restore, relive the classic car forever in your own home. Rebuilding a classic car, driving, and storing these true American Classics brings generations together, from those owning these original cars to the people who are now, rebuilding, restoring, and driving these classic cars, along with all of the pride and enthusiasm shown for the cars, just like it was 1967 all over again. Restore and refurbish a Shelby Cobra, the big engine, the fast drive, the gears banging, and the heart pounding. Restore that GTO, find the right big block engine, leather interior, smooth, sleek body. Drive it, store it, auction it off to someone else and then start again and again to restore, rebuild and refinish a classic car of your dreams.

High Compression Engines, Big Blocks, emissions?

1970 rolls around, governments get serious about pollution, emissions is born, and the high performance, high horsepowered engines are not part of "the muscle car". So how can a muscle car run without high horsepower?? Can't drive a real, deal muscle car with emissions strapped to the engine, so special order engines are born, mechanics know how to re-invent and build the big blocks. This is smart American ingenuity at it's finest! Build the right engine for the right car and the car fanatics will come!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Dorosh