Classic Cars at the Crossroads: Preserving Heritage in a Rapidly Changing World
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Introduction: The Rumblings of a Farewell
Classic cars—beautiful machines that echo a bygone era of design, mechanical mastery, and cultural identity—are facing an uncertain future. For enthusiasts and collectors, they represent more than just vehicles; they are rolling artifacts, time capsules filled with stories of the past. But recently, the alarms have started to ring louder. In April 2025, automotive journalist François Piette asked a loaded question in an article: Are classic cars endangered? His analysis touched on vital issues—environmental restrictions, the dwindling availability of fossil fuels, and the fading expertise needed to maintain these historic vehicles.
Yet while Piette ultimately concluded that federations and communities will help classic cars survive, we believe the truth is far more precarious. Yes, classic cars may be safe in the short term—15 to 20 years—but the long-term prognosis is troubling. The challenges facing the classic car community are layered, insidious, and only growing stronger.
This is a critical moment. The battle for the future of classic cars is no longer about preservation alone—it's about access, education, environmental policy, and whether an entire generation will be allowed, or even able, to drive them.
I. The Threat Beyond Fossil Fuels
One of the most commonly cited threats to classic cars is the eventual decline of fossil fuels. With countries setting aggressive climate targets, combustion engines are increasingly portrayed as the enemy. However, the issue of fuel scarcity is, in reality, less immediate than many believe.
Synthetic and Biofuels as Lifelines
Major automakers and fuel companies are investing in synthetic fuels—alternatives that can power internal combustion engines without the heavy carbon footprint. Porsche, for instance, is pioneering synthetic fuel production in Chile, which could offer a carbon-neutral option for enthusiasts. The EU has already carved out a synthetic-fuel exception for e-fuel–powered internal combustion cars post-2035.
But while fuels may still be available, they are likely to become more expensive and less accessible to the average hobbyist. This cost barrier could transform classic car ownership from a populist passion to a luxury only the wealthy can afford—turning them into static showroom pieces rather than vehicles of joy.
II. Environmental Zones: Invisible Walls
Many European cities have already introduced Low Emission Zones (LEZs), Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZs), and complete car bans in specific urban cores. These are only intensifying. For classic car owners, this spells trouble.
Restricted Access and the Cultural Disconnect
Even with exemptions in some cities for historic vehicles, the writing is on the wall. As legislation tightens, exemptions become harder to justify. There's a fundamental cultural disconnect: in the end policymakers will make no difference between classic vehicles and just old vehicles, and just see all old vehicles as pollutants; enthusiasts see classic vehicles as heritage.
And herein lies a key issue: What is mobility for? Is it purely a functional right, or does it also serve cultural, recreational, and emotional purposes? If we answer the latter, then a zero-tolerance environmental approach that disregards vintage vehicles' unique place in history is shortsighted and discriminatory.
III. Expertise: A Fading Craft
François Piette rightly pointed out one of the more insidious threats: the vanishing art of classic car maintenance. These vehicles require specialized knowledge—mechanics who understand carburetors, ignition timing, drum brakes, and unsynchronized gearboxes. Such skills are rarely taught in modern vocational schools.
Apprenticeships Replaced by Algorithms
Today’s young mechanics are trained to interact with digital diagnostics and plug-in software systems, not tune twin SU carburetors or re-bush a leaf spring. The culture of apprenticeship is disappearing. And with it, the ability to keep older vehicles roadworthy.
Federations and enthusiast groups play a vital role in preserving this knowledge, often through workshops and events. But is it enough? Will they be able to match the pace of technological change? Or are we approaching a point where a significant percentage of classic vehicles become unrepairable due to human resource shortages?
IV. Spare Parts: An Industry in Decline—or Reinvention?
The availability of spare parts has always been a concern for classic car owners. Some models have robust aftermarket support; others are reliant on rare, used, or custom-made components.
3D Printing and CNC Machining: A Silver Lining
The good news is that additive manufacturing is revolutionizing the spare parts market. With a 3D printer, a CAD file, and the right material, it’s possible to recreate components once thought lost to time. CNC machining has also made it easier for small garages to fabricate bespoke parts with precision.
Still, these technologies are not yet mainstream in all corners of the classic car world. Costs remain high, and for many older enthusiasts, the digital skills required are a barrier. Worse still, certain safety-critical components—like brake cylinders or suspension parts—require stringent standards that 3D printing cannot yet guarantee.
Originality vs. Functionality
And then there's the issue of originality. Some purists balk at reproduction parts, arguing they compromise a vehicle’s historical integrity. Others advocate for modern upgrades (like disc brake conversions or electronic ignition systems) to keep classics on the road. It's a philosophical divide.
V. The Human Element: Skills, Licenses, and Culture
Technology and policy are external threats—but what about internal ones? The greatest long-term danger to classic car culture may not come from outside legislation, but from a loss of interest and skill among younger generations.
Automatic Transmission: The Silent Killer of Manual Culture
Recent figures from the Netherlands are telling. In 2014, just 1.6% of drivers earned their license using an automatic car. In 2024, that figure has soared to 7.8%. This trend shows no signs of slowing down. The electrification of driving school fleets—due to environmental regulations—only accelerates this.
If new drivers are trained exclusively in automatic cars, they receive a "Code 78" license, which prohibits them from driving manual transmission vehicles. In theory, a simple 20-minute demonstration of "flipping" during the exam can waive this restriction. But in a decade, or maybe two, many learners probably will never bother. Why would they? Virtually all new and secondhand cars will be automatic.
So we ask: Who will be qualified to drive a classic car in 25 years?
A Generation Disconnected from the Machine
This goes beyond licensing. It’s about tactile, analog experience. Driving a classic car is not just about operating a machine; it’s about understanding it. Feeling its imperfections. Listening to its engine. Mastering the quirks of a choke lever or double-clutch downshift.
When young people are raised in a world where electric cars drive themselves, where maintenance is outsourced to the dealership, and where owning a car is perhaps increasingly seen as unnecessary—what motivation will they have to get their hands greasy on a weekend restoration project?
Passing a classic car from parent to child used to be a rite of passage. Now, it's increasingly a curiosity—an object of admiration, not participation.
VI. Code 78 and the Legal Vacuum
Despite the profound implications of the automatic/manual license divide, political conversation on the topic is virtually nonexistent. Not in the Netherlands, and not in the broader European Union. Discussions about Code 78 are confined to industry insiders and niche publications, far from the mainstream policy arena.
A De Facto Ban via Bureaucratic Neglect
Is it possible that this silence is strategic? By allowing Code 78 to proliferate unchecked, regulators might be indirectly phasing out manual vehicles without ever needing to legislate a ban. If no one is qualified—or willing—to drive a classic car, then they disappear by default. Problem solved.
It's a subtle form of cultural erasure—one that requires no public debate, no protests, no parliamentary votes. Just a quiet march of regulation and inaction, disguised as progress.
VII. Museums or Motorways: The Future We Choose
We must confront a painful question: Are we heading toward a world where classic cars are no longer driven, but simply displayed?
Museums are vital institutions, but they are not substitutes for roads. A classic car comes alive when its engine turns over, when its tires meet the pavement. Its value lies in its motion, its purpose fulfilled only when used.
The danger is that we allow these vehicles to become mere decorations—pinned butterflies rather than soaring birds. Beautiful, yes. But lifeless.
VIII. Fighting Back: What Can Be Done?
The situation is serious, but not yet hopeless. There are paths forward—if the community acts now.
1. Lobby for Policy Clarity
Classic car federations must move beyond passive preservation and engage actively with policymakers. This means lobbying for:
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Long-term exemptions from environmental restrictions
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Recognition of historic vehicles as cultural heritage
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Educational support for classic automotive skills
2. Reform Driving Education
Governments must update licensing structures to protect manual driving skills. Mandatory manual instruction—or at least, voluntary but incentivized options—should remain available. Driving schools need support to keep manual cars in service.
3. Embrace Modern Manufacturing
We must welcome 3D printing, CNC, and digital documentation as tools of preservation. There’s no shame in adapting—our ancestors did the same. The difference is intention: to preserve, not replace. Meaning only use it when original parts aren't available anymore.
4. Foster Intergenerational Transmission
Clubs, museums, and events must actively involve youth. Offer hands-on workshops. Run "junior mechanic" programs. Build mentorship bridges between seasoned owners and curious newcomers. Share stories, not just specs.
5. Tell Our Story Loudly
Public perception matters. The classic car community must reshape its image—from polluters to preservationists. These are not joyrides for the rich; they are rolling museums, maintained with love by people of all backgrounds.
IX. Conclusion: The Road Ahead
The classic car is not just an object—it is a narrative. A narrative about innovation, craftsmanship, freedom, and community. To let it fade away is not just to lose a hobby, but to erase a part of human history.
We do not believe this fate is inevitable. But we do believe it is possible—unless we resist current European and National politics. With our voices. With our votes. With our time.
So we ask you: Will you join us in keeping the past alive on the roads of the future?
Because the alternative is clear: if nothing changes, classic cars may not be endangered—they may be extinct.
X. Built to Remember
The Super 8 T-Shirt pays tribute to the legendary L-series engine — a mechanical icon from a time when cars were built to be felt, not forgotten.