['75 308 GT4 (Peter)]

The term "classic" is very vague. It really can be applied to a brand new car (ie: your TR example), because it is so different from anything else in the world. Many cars have unmistakable shapes and features, but only a few can stand out from the rest of them. When everything about it combines into something that is just "right". Not neccesarily perfect, but what feels and looks good. And that no matter if its a woman or a man, young or old, etc... If everyone FEELS the same way about it, then yes, it is a CLASSIC.

As for legal implications of the "classic" status for cars, up here in B.C. Canada, it depends on age AND how many were built. Example:

25 years and older - An unlimited amount made qualifies (a VW Beetle)
15 years and older - No more than 1500 built in a year (My GT4 is an easy example)
5 years and older - The company must have quit producing cars for at least 5 years (back in the early '90's when this program started, a DeLorean would qualify).

This program doesn't really call them "Classics" but as "Collector Cars". About a month ago, I saw a perfect Volvo 242 that had "Collector" plates on it (special license plates to show that the car is part of the program). A Volvo 242 ain't really a "Classic", but in my eyes, this car was, just because of its excellent condition! (a prerequisite to get into the program)

 

['75 308 GT4 (Peter)]

Dirk, based on their criteria, the GTO would deserve an "8" for question #7.

There was no ground-breaking technology used on the GTO when it was introduced. In fact, there's nothing really different with that, and the 166 that was made 15 years prior! Steel tube-frame, ind. fr. suspension, leaf-spring rear suspension, front V-12 with a syncronised gearbox, hand-formed aluminum body... Which car am I talking about? Both!

 

['75 308 GT4 (Peter)]

That's true Dirk. I'm not sure if they had access to wind-tunnels back then (or if they even existed), but they did do real-time, real-life aerodynamic tests to get to that shape.