SVX a Classic?
 

Who else thinks that the svx already is or is going to be a classic car?

Possibly so, but I am under the impression that there was a time factor also. Since it's only been five model years since the SVX went out of production, it might be while before it achieves classic status. It certainly qualifies as a "special interest" car, though.

Has anyone else heard about a 20 or 25 year time lapse for a car to qualify as "classic"?

To me it is, and always will be. I doubt very much that it will ever have any kind of value to collectors, but I don't really care.

There never has been, nor probably ever will be, anything like it. Even if a car matched its features and unique qualities, I doubt it could match the story.

My first answer would be a question: "By who's standards?"

By the automotive world, at large, I don't know that the SVX would make "classic" status. By Subaru's standards, it's already a bastard stepchild and they'd just a soon forget it ever happened, apparently. This is very, very sad.

When I pick up various automobile magazines, or look through the "Great Japanese Cars" coffee table books at Books-a-Million, I literally STARVE to see a picture of an SVX -- to no avail.

But, as long as this group of enthusiasts can stay together, and the "official" SVX World Network (details to come) begins to form and grow and promote and cajole and educate and push and push and push . . . then, the car will hold classic status for those of us who know and appreciate it and, possibly, in the automotive world at large, once we introduce them and prove to them that they've missed a jewel in the automotive crown.

In PA its 15 years. I just ordered a classic plate for my cavalier.

-Mike

I think much depends on how many are sitting in garages with very low mileage on them. Collectors like to find 'rare treasures' like that, and once a 'person of distinction' nabs one, then the market opens quickly. I can think of many examples of collector autos that had virtually nothing going for them except for their uniqueness. And I can think of a few more (like the SVX) that deserve that status, but most of the cars have had their wheels run off them. (The Saab Sonnet, for example.)

After all, there is not that much going for a '55-'57 Nomad, but sometimes I'd give my left testicle for one. The same can be said for a '50's Woodie. Or how about a BMW Isetta. There are are actually lots of those around, according to club representation, but collector cars tend to stay indoors.

In fact, as I think about it, the fact that this organization exists (assuming we can keep it going) marks the car for collector status. Some of us already wonder how we could get on without our SVX's (I know I do.) and are willing to go to extremes to keep them viable (Day 20, right?). Others will eventually take them for granted and dispose of them. But classic cars change hands from time to time. That's part of what makes them classics.

It's an attitude thing. How much are you going to ask for your SVX if you do decide to sell it? My suggestion - keep it above blue book. That's what makes the blue book price go up. If it takes longer to sell - well, you still have the SVX, and you know you'll regret selling it after it's gone anyway. We decide whether or not our cars are (will be) classics.

Mine already is. :)

Classy or Classic?
 

In the UK, the term classic is used very loosely to describe mass market older cars that we males may have had our first sexual experience in.

Cars like the Ford Escort and Capri never set the world on fire, at least until Uncle Henry decided to rally some of them. To me, the Ford GT 40 is a classic, but the fastest Escort on the planet will never be.

REAL classics need a few things going for them.

Scarcity is one, uniqueness along with this if possible. This implies production numbers world wide need to be low.

They must also be desirable, so a seductive shape is a help.

Usually, though not always, they will be sports cars or coupes.

They need dynamic ability that is an order of magnitude better than mass market offerings.

They need balance in how they look, how they perform, and the interior needs to be either outright sports utilitarian or else upmarket and opulent. Generally, REAL classics will have originated as design studies by some of the great design houses.

I think the SVX already is a classic, but I will not be storing mine away. Rather, I will be storing away in my soul the hours of driving pleasure it gives me, especially when the transmission is working.

Joe:) :) :)

A :) a mile

I doooon't think so :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Has anyone else heard about a 20 or 25 year time lapse for a car to qualify as "classic"? [/B][/QUOTE]

in jersey, i believe, once a car is 20 years old it is automatically a classic. but then again, that is what i heard.

since owning my svx, i've only seen one other one. this car is going to be and already is sought in large amounts. i have a friend who is a subaru dealer and people call about them a few times weekly. it will be a special interest car

Here's a link with some pretty good info on how to tell if your car is a "Classic."

http://vintagecars.about.com/library...y/aa112297.htm

After quickly scanning this site, I'd say the SVX will definately become a "milestone" car. No Japanese stuff yet listed.
Ron.

I hope so, I sent them a letter inquiring why the SVX wasn't on their Milestone list. The article, of course, was done in '97. They weren't even on the internet back then. It wasn't until after I sent my letter that I realized that cut-off year was 1972. Hopefully, they've upgraded by now. :)

It looks like a bunch of guys that we don't even know (much less recognize their expertise ;) ) made up a bunch of rules about classic and milestone and vintage cars and then figured we'd just have to go along with them. Well, I say to them, by my standards, my car is a classic, a milestone, and a vintage car. So there. Nyah, nyah, nyah. (I wonder if Mama knew she was raising a rebel. :p )

I think of my car as being classic. Most people think that a car has to reach a certain age to be known as classic. I disagree, although i do think a car being old helps it to become more of a classic, mainly because most were sent to wrecking yards and there barely any left in one piece.

I dont for one minute think that there should be an age pre-requisit. I think that some cars are classic as soon as the roll off the line, and all those groups that think cars have to be age 25 to even be considered for "Classic Citizenship" seem very close minded to me.

Well said.