The Next Classic Icon?
A recent survey by specialist classic car and motorcycle insurance broker Footman James has revealed the cars that their customers think will be the classic icons in 50 years time.
And it’s good news for those drivers who own a Mazda MX-5 because, if you keep your car for another 50 years, 7% of those polled believe that you will have a classic on your hands.
The survey, of over 3,500 classic vehicle owners, was conducted online last November but included visitors to the Footman James Classic Motor Show, also gave some good news to those owners of a Bugatti Veyron and Audi TT, the next two cars on their ‘voted for’ list.
Although not runaway winners, these three models topped the poll that also featured some models already considered future classics by those in the know – if not by their owners. These included that the Aston Martin DB9, Fiat 500, Audi R8, Lotus Elise and Jaguar XKR, XF and XK models – all of which received 3% of the poll vote.
Andy Fairchild, Footman James’ managing director, said: “2012 marks the 50th anniversary of many classic icons including: the Lotus Elan, MGB and Renault 5. It is fascinating to obtain an insight into what classic vehicle owners deem to be the classics of the future. With regards to which ones can claim iconic status in 50 years time – I guess we will just have to wait and see!”
The definition of what is and what isn’t a classic car is something that can divide even the best of friends in the auto world. One man’s Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spyder is another’s Ford Fiesta but there are certain cars that are deemed to have ‘classic’ status without question.
Let me first put forward a few ideas, and then I’ll leave it to you out there to add to the list or ridicule my choices in your own time – but rest assured that I do not own any of the following, so there is no ulterior motive for mentioning them!
Aston Martin DB4GT, Chevrolet Corvette, MINI Cooper, Ferrari Testarossa, VW Beetle, Porsche 911, Jaguar XX150 and Morgan Plus 8.
And that’s just with 10 minutes thinking time!
As for the future I firmly believe that there will be an electric car in there in 50 years time: perhaps the Nissan Leaf?
As Andy Fairchild said: “I guess we will just have to wait and see!”