Cars by Era and by Decade

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While men were away fighting in World War II, the auto industry suffered. Once they returned, men and machines were once again available and technology was at ‘an all time high’. The Classic Car Era is designated as the period that cars and trucks were built between 1960 and 1972. At this time in the economy, pollution control, safety regulations and economy were not even a factor in automobile production issues. Many factors were hitting the American economy, including the Communist threat in Cuba, the Cold War, Vietnam and civil rights. American automakers tried to catch up to foreign automakers and their new breed of compact vehicles, by dropping their trademark fins.

Gas-guzzlers of old were now being replaced by more efficient, more compact vehicles that were mirrored after the new imports. Typically, a Classic vehicle was dubbed a 'Full Classic' or just plain 'Classics', usually a high-priced when new and built in very limited quantities. Others features that defined a classic included custom coachwork, luxury accoutrements, engine displacement, power clutch, power brakes, and 'one-shot' or automatic lubrication systems.

Claiming to have invented the term Classic car, the Classic Car Club of America believes they have the true definition of the term; 'a fine or distinctive automobile, either American or foreign built, produced between 1925 through 1948'. Usually built in very limited quantities, a Classic tended to be high-priced when new.

Generally considered to be vehicles that were produced before 1970, the Classic Car Era was typically used to describe older cars.