A few minutes ago News Radio 95 - WWJ started talking about a collision with a city bus and a classic car that occurred this morning.

Later, a bystander tells the reporter it's a red car that tried to make it through the light before the bus came through on the green. I'm now thinking that it's probably not a Model A or T by nature of the color. I'm also wondering if a street rod is about to be called a Model T.

Still later, photos show up on the news.



The aluminum wheels are visible and later they announce it is a 1972 customized Cutlass. I am sorry to hear two individuals were injured because of their red light attempt. I also hate when any car prior to 1980 is always a classic.

Looks like the bus won!

Just a ghetto clown car. Giant wheels put on a common car. Unsafe at any speed. Move along, nothing to see here.

Remember the rule of the road... the one with the most and bigger lug nuts always wins.

Hope the folks in the car are OK. But I have to say the large wheels guys put on classic cars these days look just plain dumb. Guess I'm just getting old.

There is a guy close to the shop that has those stupid wheels on his 70's pickup. The guy is no kid by a long shot. In my OP looks like sh#*.

A '72 cutlass is by all means a classic, but that car was ruined long before it hit a bus.

I b down wit dat, yo !



no wut om sain, Dog ?

*
*

We are still in style, we either have 21s, 23s or 24s on our cars.

Being 'height-envious' of the Model T!

Well, there's classic and then there's Classic. I wouldn't consider a Cutlass either one.

I think all city bus drivers need special training to avoid "profiling" red light runners.

Yes those big "Ghetto Wheels" are ugly but a 72 Cutlass is definitely a classic car, maybe not a "T" or an "A" but still a classic.
I got a chuckle from seeing a man named Burger posting a picture of a McDonalds clown car!

Wow those really are cool wheels! Where would I get rims like that? Would they fit TT?

It's absurd to say a '72 Cutlass isn't a classic.

It is the very end of the muscle-car era, and some versions are VERY highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts.
https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/oldsmobile/442/1837020.html

Granted, not all of them are six-figure W30 convertibles, but not all Model Ts are 2-lever 1909s either.

Per accepted definitions, a classic is a vehicle possessing unique engineering features and/or styling. The list closed in 1948 and no Ford, Chevrolet, or Oldsmobile is on that list. There are some Lincolns, LaSalles, and Cadillacs on the list.

A 1937 Cord is a classic as is a Franklin. An Olympic with a Franklin engine is not a recognized classic.

A 67 Mustang and 72 Cutlass is a collectible car.

A Model T is not a classic; it is a vintage, antique, or horseless carriage.

Most Hispano-Suizas, many Packards, and lots of others are also among the classics. Tom is correct. No Ford or Chebby, no matter how nice, is a classic.

http://www.classiccarclub.org/grand_classics/approved_classics_2016.html

Tom, I like your summary of just what each designation means. The year breaks can be open to question, but the terms are pretty clear.

I think the Model A Ford is a Horseless Carriage, because I can picture a horse hooked up to the whiffletree in front of one easily.

The Model T is either Vintage or Antique.

Am I right in thinking the rear axle was yanked from the car? Sheesh.
If they were wearing their lap belts, you can bet they had to be pried out of the car. The car sure did not hold up well at all.
As far as Oldsmobile, 1 day I will get my dads 77 Cutlass brougham back on the road.350 with a 4 speed automatic.
I aint caring what it will be by definition, it is just a comfortable coupe that will run faster than my guardian angel can fly .

I like to smell roses.

In 1967, when I still had a couple years of high school to attend, and was just becoming active in the antique automobile hobby, I believed that the Classic Car Club of America's attempt to register and control the word "classic" was a fool's errand. The word "classic" had been around for more than a century before their cars were built, and had developed many legitimate definitions. The CCCA had no chance of controlling or regulating all the future legitimate uses of the word, regardless of their desire to, or its appropriateness for use in describing their chosen cars.
I did join the CCCA in 1967. Dropped them a few years later largely because I preferred earlier cars than mostly were used on their tours and shows. I do love the earlier "Classic" cars, and very much wish I still had my '25 Pierce Arrow series 80 sedan. Even when I had that car, I did not rejoin the CCCA, mostly due to the mostly late '30s and '40s cars involved. But also, the silly notion that they had the right to control a legitimate word that has been a real part of the English language long before they came around. I do like the CCCA, and know many people that belong. If I had a qualifying car? And if I had the money to attend lots of excellent tours and meets every year? I would probably rejoin. I just think they need to be realistic about their "right" to control a single word.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2

Very well said Wayne, a 72 Cutlass IS a classic regardless of a meaningless designation by a group of mostly snobs!

When people adopt different meanings for defined terms, languages change and diverge.

This is why I couldn't find footwear at a boot sale.

Wayne, that reminds me of one of the Corvette clubs trying to control the use of the word "survivor" when referring to an original unrestored car. I seem to recall they even threatened to sue some other clubs and publications for using "their" word!

Derek, Nothing personal, but a '72 Cutlass (I have owned two of them) is not a classic. It is nice old car with decent to quite good performance - depending on the engine selection. The chassis and driveline are of excellent quality, but the body - both from the metallurgical and the build quality standpoint is awful. Tom Miller is correct.

Technically, the Classic Car Club of America uses the term Approved Classic or Full Classic (TM) for cars that are approved by the club. They do not use just the term "classic".

The most recent list of Approved or Full Classics (TM) is listed below.

Interestingly, during the last five years, the club has expanded to include several of the high quality, nickel era vehicles built after 1914ish and before 1925. In years past, the earliest Full Classics (TM) were 1925 and newer. I like this expansion since it allows me to use some of my larger nickel era cars for CCCA tours, even though I already own CCCA cars.

http://classiccarclub.org/grand_classics/approved_classics_2016.html

Words mean what the audience understand them to mean, and context is everything.

This is a local newscast broadcast to the general public, not an awards ceremony at Pebble Beach. The word "classic" in this context is simply used to point out that the car involved wasn't an ordinary modern throw-away transportation appliance.

You can argue semantics all you want... I once read a 15-page internet argument about the meaning of the word "sedan", and frankly I don't have that much time to waste tonight.

Sea dan,a Fo dough cahr

Lot easier to say than to spell.

I must admit, when I saw Burger's picture I about fell out of my chair laughing.
there is a a Impala runs around in the local town that is orange with Cheeto's on it.
I fully expect a to see a pink Lexus with Peptobismaul on the side!

Tom Miller,
You must have been listening to me on WWJ. I was reporting on it, too.

Marty,

I heard you mention it but you steered clear of "classic". You referred to it as "a car accident involving a DDOT bus" or similar. The perp was someone else.

Bill,When you are calling people [a bunch of snob's],are you talking about us as model T people?? Bud.

No Bud, that was a general statement about most organizations that have a few that think their "poop" does not stink. The "classic" word reference is a shining example. to think that their definition of the word is gospel even though the word has been around hundreds of years makes them snobs IMO.
Bill Squires
Bill's Auto Works

Make no mistake about it, amongst any given car following, there are snobs.
Most are just taking a brand loyalty to an arrogant level and have no experience
with other makes. Someone here wanted to give me a rash about what a "piece
of junk" my 58 DeSoto is, backed by a rave of how wonderful late 50's Fords are,
citing how few were made/survive over how many Fords there are as some sort
of "proof". I would challenge any such claimant as to their experience with BOTH
to be any authority, as nothing is more embarrassing than some fool getting
cocky about subjects they know nothing about. Such fools seem to always lack
the self awareness of their own limited perspectives in life and have no issues
broadcasting such to the entire world.

My friends and I were all motorheads upon getting our driver's licenses. Of the
ten or so friends, two were from dyed-in-the-wool "Ford families". The rest all
gravitated to the 68-69 Chevelle or other GM versions of that body. But one of
the "Ford" kids very purposely hunted down a 66 GTO and built it into the nicest
car any of us had. His father raised holy hell with him and kicked him out of the
house over having anything but a Ford in the driveway. Dad's illustrious Fords
were true gems like beater trucks and benchmark marvels such as Mavericks and
Pintos. WTF ?

No question, Ford made some neat cars before 1970. But Ford has been all about
CHEAP since the Model T, and it often shows in the type of car delivered for the
money. Frankly, the "cheap" charm of the T is one of my major draws to them.
Rattling, sputtering old hunk of steaming junk, .... a Hudson, Packard, or any
number of other cars were much BETTER cars in their day, but sometimes in
retrospect, the cantankerous simplicity of CHEAP carries enough weight to make
up the difference ! Still, it doesn't make it a better car than say, a Locomobile or
a Kissel to where someone with zero experience with either should be running their
gums about how "crappy" they are.

Humble and self-effacing are so much more attractive than the pompous buffoon.

Could one who never misses a chance to lecture everyone on almost anything be seen as a pompous buffoon?? Bud.

Guess I raised my boys right. Neither have the desire to own anything other than a Ford. And I never even had to threaten them with throwing them out of the house.

My folks traded a 60 Ford Sunliner convertible for a 61 Chevy Impala convertible. Me, not being a "brand specific" guy, I certainly missed that big block Ford.

PS: good one Bud

Well my dad run Fords thru his youth then went to Buick's. Then after he bought a rusted out old Dodge D600 dump truck in about 1986, he went and bought a brand new dodge pickup and has been driving dodges since. 82 years old now and wants 1 of those dam- Hemi trucks.
I can't say i wouldn't drive a dodge, but they could do better on body durability. Dam- doors start trying to fall off in a couple years.
I can't help it when my dad pulls up in his truck I think of the Blues brothers when the cop sitting behind the bill board says, "There is that s--t box dodge again".

Bud,

"Could one who never misses a chance to lecture..."

Consider yourself patted on the back!

It doesn't matter if the snobs try to own the word "classic". Thousands of car shows have signs and ads that invite "1980 and older cars". That is what 99% of the public sees and knows. They can fight among themselves over the word. They will never win. To me, a classic is any older vehicle that turns my head with interest or desire. That list grows every year.

"Cantankerous Simplicity"

What a wonderful description of our cars!

Hat tip to Burger....our poet emeritus...