What makes a Car become a Classic?

It is about all of those things and none of them. It's about what you aspired to when you were a young driver but could not afford; it is about your first set of wheels, where they took you and what you got up to with or in them? It's about nostalgia, envy, love and affection. It's about quirks and excuses too.

All cars will become classics. There is a sort of sliding scale of age against desireability. If a car is very desireable when new or new-ish its likely to become a 'classic' sooner, and whilst a decent number survive. If it was really unloved as a new car it will need to wait almost forever to become classic, but providing one survives it will in the end be a 'classic'. 

But who cares what is and what isnt. If it gives the owner some pleasure surely thats all that matters.

A car is a classic if enough people think that it is a classic, regardless of how good bad or indifferent, old or new the car is. Obvious signs are appearances at classic car shows, features in classic car magazines, cheap insurance and restoration specialists. Existence of an owners clubs isn't necessarly a good a guide; I've seen several club stands which include cars that even the most generous enthusiast would call classic (Why does the word 'Vauxhall' come to mind

So you wouldn't call a PB Cresta a classic? The droop-snoot Firenza 2300 certainly is. I wouldn't want to own either but I love seeing them now and again. However the bog standard Chevette was a pretty dreadful car but I guess someone will love them somewhere.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say.

I'd like to think the Smart Brabus Roadster I'm handing over today might become a classic. It's certainly been one of the most engaging and fun cars I've owned but circumstances have changed and someone else can enjoy it now.

I think the Smart Roadster is guaranteed classic status, especially in brabus form. Sorry to hear it is going, i bet you wish there were a somewhere you could stash it away instead of selling it!

Funny how tastes change isn't it. I used to think the Smart Roadster was a horrible little thing but now I really like them. There's a black Brabus Roadster Coupe (much prefer the Coupe shape) near me and it looks fantastic. Definitely a future classic.

I wouldn't disagree with you about the PB Cresta (and even more so the PA ) or any droop-snoot Vauxhall, although I think you are making my point with the Chevette; it came out at about the same time as the Stag and XJS, but the jury is still out.

However what gave rise to my comments was the display at a local charity event by the 'Let's-see-who-can-stick-a-Halford's-body-kit-on-a-Corsa-the-quickest Club' and for a balance also the Mondeos sneaked in amongst the Sierra Cosworths and Granadas.

I'm also with you on the Smart Brabus Roadster; a friend had the coupe version and they are definitely instant classics

It was the first car I've ever had that I was sad to see go. But having done the the 100 mile cross country drive in the Scooby yesterday evening I can say we' ve made the right decision. And when we do the same drive in the winter, it will definitely be the right decision. At least the Scooby has an opening panoramic roof so I can still get some wind through my "hair". 

 i would say it might be a very popular car that was very good or a record braking car mabye a desirable car or even a car that became famous or simbolic of an era or film for example an original ford transit, an old 1930's roller or even an audi quattro. some future classic's may include a lotus elise, the aston db9 and dbs, an m3, the murcielago, the toyota prius

i dont think the roadster will be a true classic but the for two might