A classic car is typically an automobile 25 years or older, though definitions vary.
A common theme is of an older car of historical interest to be collectible and tend to be restored rather than scrapped, though sometimes age is not a factor. Classic cars are often considered a subset of a broader category of "collector cars," including restored classic cars and newer exotic vehicles. A subset of classic cars are known as antique cars, manufactured before 1980, or vintage cars, manufactured before World War II.
Organizations such as the Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) maintain lists of eligible unmodified cars that are called "classic." These are described as "fine" or "distinctive" automobiles, either American or foreign-built, produced between 1915 and 1948.
Post-World War II classic cars are not precisely defined, and the term is often applied to any older vehicle.