Classic Car Terminology 101

No two ways about it, we Americans love our cars. And a lot of us love to customize them, soup them up, hop them up, rod them out, or otherwise modify them so that they stand out in a crowd (or so they’re faster and louder). We turn them into hot rods, rat rods, street rods and custom cars. Of course, some of us prefer to restore a classic car to its original condition. No matter if you’re old school or new, with all of these specific and sometimes confusing automobile terms, how do you explain the terminology to a newbie? Here’s a quick cheat sheet for you.

Antique:  according to the Antique Automobile Club of America, an antique car is any car that’s older than 25 years old. You’ll see in a second why car terminology gets confusing…

Classic:  the Classic Car Club of America defines a classic car as a “fine or unusual” motor car built from (and including) the years 1925 to 1948. Of course, that’s not everyone’s definition, which is why things get tricky. To a lot of people, “classic” is interchangeable with (and preferred) to “antique.” At the Pomona Swap Meet & Classic Car Show, we consider any vehicle built in 1985 or before to be classic. Now, we’re not saying we’re right, but…

Coupe:  refers to a two-door car body style with a permanently attached fixed roof.  “Coupe” was originally applied in the 19th century to a specific type of horse-drawn carriage, where the rear-facing seats had been eliminated.

Custom:  a custom car is any car that has been substantially modified. Modifications can be made to improve the car’s performance, or to personalize the car so it looks unique (or different from what you would see with a factory original car). That said, not all modifications make a car “custom.” Hot rods are customized, but they’re not referred to as customs. That’s just the way the terminology works!

Hot Rod:  can be applied to virtually any older American car with a large, modified engine. Think speed. Hot rodding a car describes the process of removing weight (by removing body panels or stripping the interior), while modifying the engine, all to increase performance. Hot rods are made to go fast. In the motorcycle world, a hot rod would be a chopper or a bobber.

A prime example of a classic Hot Rod at the Pomona Swap Meet.

Muscle Car:  American made, two-door cars that came from the factory with lots of “muscle” under the hood. They’re designed with powerful engines for high performance driving. Who wants to go fast? Some people think that the 1949 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 was the first muscle car… but, most people think of the 60’s or 70’s when they think of muscle cars.

The Camaro – classic American muscle.

Roadster:  usually an open, two-seat car with an emphasis on performance and speed. Older roadsters (from the 1910s and 1920s) may also have had a “rumble seat.” Back when horseless carriages were just catching on, a roadster was the stripped down version for the buyer with less money. Early roadsters would not have had a windshield, doors, or any weather protection. Now the term can apply to virtually any two-seat, convertible sports car.

Rat Rod:  basically, a homemade hot rod. Rat rods are unique to the builder, and are purposefully unfinished, often proudly displaying rusted parts or body panels. They’re a DIY custom… a Frankenstein rod. But, they’re cool… loud… and fast.

Unfinished, but not uncool. Rat Rods are always interesting.

Sports Car:  generally, a two-door, two seater designed for spirited performance and nimble handling. Sports cars are probably more recognizable and more easily defined than the other cars on our list.

Street Rod:  often synonymous with “hot rod,” the term “street rod” became popular in the late 60s and early 70s, as a way for hot rodders to clean up their image. It was time to ditch the leather jackets and become more respectable. That said, a main distinction between street rods and hot rods is that street rods are street legal. They can be driven to events or shows, whereas hot rods are often racetrack ready so they have to be trailered. The National Street Rod Association, and most enthusiasts, will tell you that a street rod is a vehicle that was manufactured in 1948 or before. We’re a little more liberal in Pomona, apparently, so we’ll accept all the way up to 1959!

Cruisin’ the main aisle in a Street Rod at a recent Pomona Swap Meet.

Vintage Car:  as far as collectors are concerned, a “vintage” car dates from 1919 to 1930.

Volksrod:  a heavily modified Volkswagen Beetle. These chopped VWs are an alternative to the classic American made hot rods.

Volksrod to the extreme!

No matter what kind of specialty vehicle you’re a fan of, we get them all at the Pomona Swap Meet and Classic Car Show. Come out to a show to see for yourself!