What makes a 1947 a Classic and a 1948 Cadillac Series 75 not?

Hi Randall:

You raise an interesting question (which cars are "classics".....) that has been debated passionately since the first days of the CCCA.

At the risk of boring some "chatters" who have seen this stuff before, let me give you a fast summnation of the Club, its history, and ideas, as I see it.

Back in the early 1950's...the idea of saving interesting "historical interest" cars....was not very popular. The Horseless Carriage Club was small but getting started...and the Antique Car Club was having some limited success. But the idea of saving large luxury cars from the 1920's and 30's was considered absurd...or worse.

To get an idea how our culture looked at people saving old cars...think of how Jack Benny was portrayed...as being cheap and silly for saving an old car...those I LOVE LUCY re-runs...where one show portrays her as a "ding bat" for rescuing a early 30's Cadillac touring car...!

In trying to pick a name for a club that would try and preserve and focus on the big luxury cars...SOMEHOW, the word "classic" was selected. In dictionaries of THAT era, you find the word "classic" variously defined as a "term of art", describing a design theory in which "form follows function". It also meant..."the best of the best"..."unique...of first rank....representing the highest standard of excellence".

Thus, the early writers supporting the classic car movement said a "classic" was a car whose fenders, head lamps, hood, each were separate forms ,standing out and defined by their function.

A "stream-lined" car, such as the 40's Cadillacs and Packards, again..by that early definition, could not, because of their LATER design theory...ever be considered classics.

As you know...the Classic Car Club was successful beyond the wildest dreams of its founders...within a few short years...the concept "classic" had become so popular..everyone wanted to call everything they were trying to "un-load"...a "classic"....wasnt too long before we had "Chevrolet Caprice Classic"...and even a Nash Rambler Classic....!

Over the years, more and more "more modern" cars have been given "classic" status by the CCCA National Board ( some of us feel this is nonsence...and in direct violation of specific sections of our Rules and Re-Affirmation Statements, but that is another story......I dont like it..but I havnt seen the earth losing its rotation or going "off axis" because of this..!)

Fact is....this is a free country...who would deny your right or anyone else's to advocate that your car is a 'classic'...and petition the Club for acceptance.

Frankly...I dont know how to answer your question..but since I am not on the National Board...it isn't my problem !

Personally...I would have to admit...given the fact that we let in the '42 thru '47 "356" Packards in...certainly good cars..but "stream-lined"...I am unclear of the reasoning why the '48 thru '49' Packard Custom series arent let in..they are the same car underneath the sheet-metal. The "escuse" given by our National Board is that only post war cars whose concepts were based on PRE war designs can come in...but..again...they are STREAM LINED.....

The '48 Caddy 75..? Again.. I personally would have trouble arguing against it..certainly a fine car...certainly the "best of the best"...and...outside of some dash-board sheet metal and related trim...same car as the '46-47' Series 75.

I bet your question will stimulate a really educational and fun discussion...!

PFH

Just a couple of simple answers and clarifications. The 1948 Cadillac 75 is a Full Classic. The 60S and 62 series cars end with the 47 models. All are carry over styles from 1942 and in the case of the 75, from 1941. The 1948 60S and 62 carried completely new bodies but still used the 346 L-head engine until 1949. The 1949 model 75, aside from being built after the 1948 cut-off date, used the new postwar overhead valve engine. In both cases the changes were significant enough to make the cars fundamentaly different from the pre-war cars.

The CCCA Policy, published September 9, 1986, states that, "Classic status for post-World War II cars up to and including 1948 models will be considered only for cars that are representative of the Pre-War Classic era.

So, looking at this criteria, and considering the Packard Clipper style that began before WWII, the 1946 and 47 Packards are very representative of the pre-war era while the 1948 and newer styles, still using the same 356 engine, are very much of a different era.

As for the "Streamlining" issue, remember that this began nearly 10 years prior to WWII with such cars as the Pierce Silver Arrow, Cadillac Aerodynamic Coupe, Packard Lebaron Sport Coupe, and a fairly well known Chrysler model.

Jon Lee