What Makes a Classic Car a Classic?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

When it comes to cars, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But when it comes to classic cars? It’s not all about beauty. In fact, while the word ‘classic’ might allude to certain qualities or traits in a vehicle, whether or not a car is actually a classic comes down to much more than looks. 

When is a car considered a classic?

It all comes down to age, The Balance reports. Though, that is putting it broadly. According to The Antique Automobile Club of America, classic cars are vehicles that are more than 25 years old. The Classic Car Club of America, on the other hand, defines a classic vehicle as a “Fine” or “Distinctive” vehicle that’s American or foreign built and was produced only between 1915 and 1948.

As it turns out, however, where you live might also have its own criteria for such cars. Take, for example, states like New York and Montana. While vehicles 25 years or older can receive vintage historical plates in New York, Montana requires classic cars to be at least 30 years old, The Balance reports.

Do classic cars qualify for antique license plates?

1948 Plymouth Coupe | Robert Alexander/Getty Images

In certain states, classic cars do qualify for special license plates. While that might be good news for some, it’s important to keep a few key facts in mind when it comes to antique license plates. Because, as it turns out, outfitting a vehicle with an antique license plate isn’t always such a good idea.

While some states may have different regulations regarding antique plates, Nationwide reports that most states allow a vehicle to be designated as a classic after 25 years. If a car qualifies for a special license plate, a separate special registration form will need to be filled out. 

What many don’t know about antique license plates is that they come with many rules and stipulations. In fact, Hot Cars reports that cars with antique license plates can only be driven to and from car shows and exhibitions in many states. Cars with antique license plates must also be considered a collector’s item by the owner, Hot Cars reports.

Do you need special car insurance?

A Black 1931 Cadillac Series V8 parked
1931 Cadillac Series V8 | National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images

As it turns out, in many cases, classic cars do need special insurance. According to the IIHS, to qualify for classic car insurance, vehicles must meet certain criteria. Beyond age specifications, the car can’t be used for everyday errands or commuting. Instead, it can only be used for car shows and exhibitions. Many insurers also require that the vehicle be stored in a locked, enclosed, private structure to qualify for this type of insurance.

The good news is that this type of car insurance can be immensely helpful in keeping a classic car in good condition. According to the IIHS, this type of auto insurance should provide the flexibility to bring a classic vehicle to a specialist, even if their rates are more expensive. Coverage for towing tends to be more comprehensive too, the IIHS reports.

How to find the perfect classic car

After learning more about what makes a classic car a classic, you may find yourself wanting to shop for one. The good news is that there are plenty of classic vehicles on the market today. But to find the best classic car for you? We recommend doing plenty of research. 

RELATED: Jay Leno Never Thought He’d Get to Drive This American Racing Legend

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Once Again, the 2021 Honda Odyssey Dominates the 2021 Toyota Sienna

by Gabrielle DeSantis

There aren’t that many options available in the minivan segment, but the Toyota Sienna and the Honda Odyssey remain as two of the best. Toyota and Honda both compete ferociously though, and it’s a very close race. That being said, the 2021 Honda Odyssey once again beat the 2021 Toyota Sienna when compared head to head.

The pros and cons of the 2021 Toyota Sienna

As MotorTrend said, Toyota made some bold choices for the 2021 model year of the Sienna, and it’s now offered exclusively with a hybrid powertrain. Not only that, but the 2021 Toyota Sienna is currently the only minivan that can have a hybrid engine as well as all-wheel drive. This big change to the Sienna’s powertrain creates a lot of positives, but also some negatives for the Sienna, especially when compared to the Honda Odyssey. 

For example, on one hand, the 2021 Sienna’s hybrid engine gets 245 hp combined, as well as an overall fuel economy of 35 MPG. On the other hand, however, since it’s a hybrid engine, it’s going to cost a bit more than if it was a regular gas engine. The Sienna has a base price of just over $51,000, which is a lot of money for many families.

The Sienna’s hybrid engine is also not exactly powerful, and MotorTrend said that it felt “stressed” even when driving at city speeds. Other than that, another significant flaw with the Sienna was the fact that, unlike its rivals, it doesn’t have a family-monitoring camera. However, since the Sienna is still a Toyota, it does have a long list of standard smart safety features.

The pros and cons of the 2021 Honda Odyssey

The Honda Odyssey, on the other hand, has a regular 280-hp V6 engine, and MotorTrend said that it was “punchier and more dynamic than the Sienna.” But of course, having a regular gas-powered engine has its pros and cons too. On one hand, the Odyssey is more affordable than the Sienna, as it starts at about $49,000. On the other, the Odyssey only gets about 22 MPG combined, which is 60 percent less MPG than the Sienna.

With that being said, while the Odyssey may not have made big and bold changes like the Sienna has, it still does what it needs to do very well. For example, not only does the Odyssey also have a long list of standard smart safety features like the Sienna has, but Honda also offers a family-monitoring camera system for the Odyssey. 

Plus, the Odyssey has a spacious cabin that’s also designed in such a way that it’s very versatile. The Odyssey’s MagicSlide seats, for example, will make it easier for elderly folks to access the third row, according to MotorTrend.

Why the 2021 Honda Odyssey wins

The Honda Odyssey | Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

Overall though, just like in prior years, the Honda Odyssey beat the Toyota Sienna. Although Toyota’s made some welcome changes, the Odyssey is still a better minivan for many families. This is largely because, like MotorTrend said, although the Odyssey isn’t as modern as the Sienna is, it simply does the basics better.

For instance, the Odyssey has more cargo room behind the third-row seats than the Sienna. The Odyssey has 38.6 cu. ft. of cargo space behind the third row compared to 33.5 cu. ft. in the Sienna. Additionally, since the Odyssey has better driving dynamics than the Sienna, it’ll allow drivers to more easily overtake someone on the freeway. 

And then there’s the price difference. Obviously, since the Sienna is a hybrid, it can save owners money on fuel, but it’ll take a while for that to add up. So, the roughly $2,600 price difference between the two minivans can be a significant amount of money for some families.

RELATED: Honda Odyssey Maintenance Costs Are the Highest of All Minivans, Consumer Reports Shows

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The $200,000 V12 2022 Mercedes-Maybach S680

by Gabrielle DeSantis

2022 vehicles are starting to make their way to us, and with them comes the 2022 Mercedes-Maybach S680. The updated version of the large Mercedes-Benz sedan brings with it even more power than ever before. It also comes with the kind of luxury that lets everyone know that you’ve made it. Let’s look at what else is new in this Mercedes S-class.

2022 Mercedes-Maybach S680 | Mercedes

The 2022 Mercedes-Maybach will have an even more powerful engine

Okay, so we already have a V8 Mercedes-Maybach. Do we really need more? Apparently yes, or at least Mercedes thinks so. That’s why their newest addition to the Mercedes lineup will include a ridiculously powerful V12. 

According to Car and Driver, Mercedes isn’t alone in offering an engine that nobody needs. Both Bentley and Rolls-Royce also offer V12s. This is even as many car manufacturers are moving away from V8s and toward V6s in an effort to be more environmentally friendly. The general thought is that this will be Mercedes’ last V12, so if you’ve ever wanted an extremely expensive V12 engine in a Mercedes sedan, this is your chance.

The 2022 Mercedes S680 will be all-wheel drive, unlike its predecessor, the S580. The Mercedes S580 was only rear-wheel drive, but it had a touch of hybrid. There’s no room for a hybrid engine when you’re putting a V12 under the hood. 

The 2022 Mercedes-Maybach S680 will be capable of 621 hp and have 738 feet of torque. It will also have a nine speed automatic transmission. The 2022 Mercedes-Maybach is said to get from 0-60 mph in ust 4.4 seconds. 

What will it look like?

Car and Driver notes that Mercedes-Maybach shoppers will be able to choose a two-tone paint finish. This will separate it from the regular old S-class. If you’re dropping nearly $200,000 into a car, you want people to know that it is no common car.

You read that right – $200,000. In some parts of the country, $200,000 could buy a house. In the Mercedes lot, it can buy you a Maybach. So what else do you get for $200,000? A really fancy front grill, and a luxurious (super luxurious) interior. You’ll have to pay extra for a driver. 

How about the Mercedes-Maybach interior?

The 2022 Mercedes-Maybach has soft leather, and not just on the seats. Everything that can be leather is leather. The rear seats recline and have leg rests. Oh, and they’ll massage you, too. You can basically just think about opening the sun roof and it will happen. Okay, fine, you have to wave your hand, but you don’t have to do anything as pedestrian as pushing a button. Still, if you’re prone to waving at your neighbors, you may want to settle for a simple head nod on rainy days.

It’s longer than most cars and has chrome accents (perhaps 24kt gold would have weighed it down?). It also has active noise cancellation. 

If you’ve always had your heart set on an amazing fast, unbelievably luxurious Mercedes, the 2022 Mercedes-Maybach S680 is for you. Just make sure you keep your hands on the steering wheel.

RELATED: This New Mercedes-Benz S-Class Feature Just Sent a Strong Message to Valet Parkers Worldwide

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This Vacuum Mount System Can Attach a Huge Wing to Your Car Without Drilling

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Modifying your car has a lot more to do than adding horsepower or altering its suspension. If you want to get the most out of your car’s potential, then addressing its aerodynamics is important too. Many car enthusiasts choose to improve their car’s aerodynamics by installing an aero kit and a large wing for downforce. But what if you want to install a wing without having drill holes in your car’s trunk? In that case, the TrackWing has you covered.

What is a TrackWing?

An overall view of the TrackWing | TrackWing

RELATED: A Car Spoiler Is Not the Same Thing as a Wing

The TrackWing is a vacuum mount system that can attach a wing to your car’s trunk lid without the need to drill any holes. That’s right, the folks at TrackWing took the unsettling part out of installing a large wing on your car. What’s even better is that the wing can be uninstalled in minutes for those times when you don’t want it on there, or if you need to sell the car.

Installing the TrackWing system onto an aftermarket wing can be done in around 30 minutes and installing it on your car only takes a few more. In contrast, you would normally need to measure your car’s trunk lid to get the proper placement of the wing and then drill holes in the trunk in order to secure the wing properly to it.

“You’ll have aero without the regrets”

A side view of the TrackWing
A side view of the TrackWing | TrackWing

In order to get a better idea of how the TrackWing system came to be, I recently had a quick chat with the company’s owner, Mitchell Strahan. Strahan got into the car scene at a young age and spent years thinking about how to modify a car’s aerodynamics without any permanent damage.

“Ever since I was a kid, I thought that there has to be a better way. I started with the idea of some type of adhesive. I was thinking long-term but still temporary. I thought about the wall mounting adhesive, but that wasn’t the right direction,” Strahan said. “Then I looked at magnets, but the problem was that they were really heavy and didn’t allow for any flexibility when mounting the wing on the trunk. Also, a magnet won’t work on carbon fiber and aluminum trunks.”

After going through the obligatory trial-and-error process of figuring out what would work, Strahan eventually came across the idea of using vacuum mounts. In fact, these are the same type of vacuum-seal mounts that you might find on a bike rack mount, although, they’re much larger.

According to the TrackWing website, the two large suction cups have over 600 pounds of holding capacity each, so it’s safe to say that the wing isn’t likely to go anywhere once it’s mounted. And the best part is that the wing can be uninstalled with no issues.

“You’ll have aero without the regrets,” Strahan added.

Does the TrackWing system work with any type of wing?

A close view of the TrackWing
A close view of the TrackWing | TrackWing

According to Strahan, the TrackWing will work with 99% of the wings on the market. When buyers receive the mounting system, they will get adapters for both the “side mount” and “bottom mount” wings. However, there is one caveat.

“The only constraints are whatever wing you get, you have to make sure that the pedestal spacing fits on the trunk and fits on securely,” Strahan added. “Buyers will need to make sure the suction cups don’t overlap the sides of the trunk.”

Does the elevated height affect the aerodynamic properties of the wing when it’s installed?

A side view of the TrackWing |
A side view of the TrackWing | TrackWing

When looking at the pictures of the TrackWing system, you might notice that mounting the wing on the suction cups makes it sit higher than it would if it were mounted on the trunk itself. However, Strahan notes that the elevated height could actually be beneficial.

“Usually, the higher (the wing) the better. Lots of wing manufacturers have extended pylons for the additional cost. But our mount will raise it up two inches, so you’re getting cleaner air by using the mounts,” Strahan said.

Did the TrackWing ever fail during testing?

“No, even when we were using some pretty anemic vacuum pads, we didn’t have any failures. We weren’t happy with safety factors, so we went with larger vacuum pads. The system is totally overbuilt,” replied Strahan.

For reference, in order to install the TrackWing system onto a car’s trunk lid, the user needs to attach the suctions cups and then pump them for suction.  Once fastened to the car, the TrackWing system is slated to have over six hours-worth of holding time between the time the suction cups need to be re-pumped.

Fortunately, in the case that the system fails, there are two tethers that attach the wing to the inner part of the trunk lid, so you won’t need to worry about the whole assembly flying away.

Are there surfaces that the TrackWing can’t stick to?

Lastly, Strahan mentioned that the TrackWing will be able to stick onto a multitude of trunk surfaces, including carbon fiber, aluminum, and steel. The only factor is space, as the trunk lid needs to have enough room for the suction cups to fit squarely on the trunk.  

How much does the TrackWing cost?

TrackWing currently retails for $449 and can be purchased on the company’s website. Although that cost is additional to the price of the wing that you plan to buy for your car, consider the ease of installation and the practicality of being able to uninstall the wing at a moment’s notice without any damage. Now that’s priceless.

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