Spindy's: Automotive Eras

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Veteran Era

The Veteran Era began with the invention of the automobile and continued up to 1890.

The Brass Era

The automotive Brass Era is named for the prominent brass fittings used during this time for such things as lights and radiators. It extends from the first commercial automobiles (first known as motocycles) marketed in the 1890s until about World War I. The term "Brass Era automobile" is a retronym for "horseless carriage," the original name for such vehicles, which is still in use today. The Brass Era closely followed the Veteran Era. The Brass Era is considered from 1890 to 1918.

Antique Era

The Antique Era actually covers a specific time period from the beginning up to 1920 or prior to World War I. The time period for antique cars includes the Veteran Era as well as the Brass Era.

Vintage Era

The Vintage Era followed WWI from 1920 to 1930 (later refined to include up through 1942 by some's definition). There were over 500 automotive companies in 1910 but by the time the Great Depression of 1929 only 60 had survived, and twelve years later there was less than 20.

Pre-WWII Era

The Pre-War Era began with the Great Depression in 1930 through 1942.

War Era

World War II, or the Second World War (often abbreviated as WWII or WW2), was a global military conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945. Civilian car manufacturing was suspended during from 1943 through 1945 as the automakers produced war supplies.

Post-War Era

Automobile design finally emerged from the shadow of World War II in 1946, the year that in the United States saw the introduction of high-compression V8 engines and modern bodies from General Motors' Oldsmobile and Cadillac brands.

Classic Era

The Classic Car Era is designated as the period that cars and trucks were built between 1960 and 1972.

Muscle Car Era

Typically refers to featured cars and trucks built between 1964 and 1972.

Modern Era

The modern era is commonly defined as the 25 years preceding the current year.

Future Era

Potential future car technologies include new energy sources and materials, which are being developed in order to make automobiles more sustainable, safer, more energy efficient, or less polluting. Cars are being developed in many different ways.

With rising gas prices, the future of cars is leaning towards fuel efficiency, energy-savers, hybrid vehicles, battery electric vehicles and fuel-cell vehicles.

This is an outline of the Automotive Eras from the start of time to the future. This is the most common interpretation of the Automotive Eras. Many may define the years slightly differently than we have depicted here and that is perfectly fine. The purpose of this is to define for you what the different eras meant along with providing you a general sense of the timing for each era.