1925-1948

This Classic Era is the greatest, in terms of automotive design. Classic cars are typically very expensive and very stylish automobiles built to exacting standards of craftsmanship and technology. The bodies were often "coach built", meaning the bodies were styled and crafted by specialists in auto body design and craftsmanship. Typically Classic cars have highly styled bodies and fenders; the radiator shape is usually unique and somewhat aerodynamic or streamlined. Usually, wide white sidewall tires and chrome wire spoke wheels adorn Classic cars.

The Blackhawk Automotive Museum uses the terminology "Classic Car" as defined and listed by the Classic Car Club of America:

In every automotive era special and significant autos have been produced for a variety of reasons. These very special one-off or limited edition automobiles can be defined as "classic" or in the Museum's terminology, International Automotive Treasures. These great cars are a primary focus of the Blackhawk Automotive Museum.

Automobiles of the 1890s closely resembled the carriages, buggies, phaetons and victorias being produced for the horse-drawn trade. As the mechanicals of the automobile were being mastered, coachbuilders--who for years had plied their trade on the grand horse-drawn carriages of the wealthy--began to experiment with coachwork for the automobile. Streamlining, to a degree, and boat-building techniques such as copper-riveted paneling and v-shaped windshields, were tried on automobiles. These styling experiments and the demand for unusual and innovative vehicles spawned a new industry--coach building for the automobile. Frequently, as much thought and care were lavished on a coach built auto as on one's residence.

Elaborate bodies of all descriptions were mated with the most innovative chassis and mechanicals of the era. Some American firms that moved to coach built automobiles were Cunningham, McFarlan, Brewster, Fleetwood and Studebaker. Likewise, many European builders followed suit. In the Classic Era, nothing more dramatically demonstrates the term "Classic" than the custom automobile. Often, automobile manufacturers such as Duesenberg did not build bodies; they produced rolling chassis which were delivered to a coachbuilder to be bodied as specified by dealers and distributors to their customers' individual tastes.