Judging Classes

The Brass Era was named for the prominent use of brass fittings on the cars built in the period from 1896 through to 1915. During this period, the car was still referred to as a “horseless carriage” in some places, and many of the standards that become commonplace before World War 1, were not yet established. There was great innovation, and few benchmarks and the cars of this period are often typified by rather interesting technical features.

Whilst it is a broad, and sometimes misused term, in context to classification of cars in sense of car enthusiasts and collectors, the Vintage era spanned the years 1919 to around 1930. Some of the technical progression of World War 1 armament and aeronautic technology had made its way into car development. Greater understanding of the efficiencies of the piston engine had been refined into cars, and the great concept of mass production had begun. Whilst there were some pioneers in the Brass era who’s names are still with us, the Vintage era gave us many of the familiar manufacturers that we know, and value the qualities of today.

A period that should more rightly be known as “inter war” as it is in the architectural vernacular, this category supports cars built from 1930, up to the end of the second world war. Although during war itself, most car production ceased whilst the industrial effort of many countries was turned toward Aircraft and armament manufacture, there were still cars built. Motor-racing had blossomed prior to the outbreak, and immediately after hostilities it resumed, in most cases using technologies that were outdated.

The post war era commenced from the end of hostilities and stretched till 1960. Although there was a period of austerity, the world blossomed. The post war era encompassed the commencement of the World Driver’s championship, and Formula One as we know it. Again, the technologies developed throughout the hostilities were refined, and made their way into cars. New heights in horsepower outputs were realised in racing and sports cars, and the concept of the chauffer-driven car was nearly at its end. Mass production was championed in several continents, by several significant companies and the genius of engineers was embodied in many brilliant cars like the Mini, the Fiat 500, the productionised version of the Volkswagen and in Fiat’s brilliant 500.

From 1960 onward, cars became lighter, and used lower horsepower to greater effect. Developments of engines designed in the fifties made several cars and their off-shoots immensely popular, and the concept of taking racing technology and using it to make production cars better was really born in this era. Some new names emerged that would become famous, and revered and some say, the sports car was born properly in the classic era.

One of the great spectator sports, with events that rate amongst the most viewed in the world. Events such as the Le Mans 24 hour, The Indianapolis 500 and several of the rounds of the Formula One World Championship have drawn some of the most immense crowds in sporting history.

A pursuit of great danger for many years, and a proving ground for some of the wildest ideas of engineers all over the globe, the Motorsport history category will showcase some examples of cars that have featured in these famous events, at famous places.

A class for a broad list of cars, that have not been restored, but have absolutely been used. Patina is the order of the day in this class, and the perpetuity of use – with care, defines the cars that are a part of it. When taking in the detail of a preservation-class car, one can see the ravages of time and milage, slowed with care and repair. These are cars for their ultimate purpose – for being driven.

The Supercar has excited us, given schoolboys a reason to have a poster on their wall of something to strive for. From the inception of the term, they’ve been defined by the figures that measure their performance, often the number of cylinders, as well as their defining price and scarcity. Exclusivity did define them, but today we see them on every high street. See the examples that defined the genre, and evolved the brands that built them.