classic car / old-timer
Loading your saved state.
classic car
An old, well-preserved, and often valuable vehicle, especially a car that is at least 30 years old.
Am Sonntag findet in der Innenstadt ein Treffen für Oldtimer statt.
On Sunday, a classic car meet is taking place in the city center.
'Oldtimer' is a loanword from English. In German it is used for old, valuable vehicles, a meaning that the English word 'old-timer' (veteran, old hand) does not have in the same way.
Mein Nachbar hat einen wunderschönen Oldtimer in der Garage.
My neighbor has a beautiful classic car in the garage.
In Germany, a vehicle is officially considered an 'Oldtimer' (classic car) if it is at least 30 years old and is in good, original-condition shape. Such cars can receive a special H license plate.
Dieses Auto ist jetzt 30 Jahre alt und kann als Oldtimer zugelassen werden.
This car is now 30 years old and can be registered as a classic car.
Common expressions in connection with vehicles are 'einen Oldtimer fahren' (to drive a classic car), 'einen Oldtimer restaurieren' (to restore a classic car), or 'ein Oldtimer-Treffen besuchen' (to visit a classic car meet).
Er verbringt jedes Wochenende damit, seinen Oldtimer zu restaurieren.
He spends every weekend restoring his classic car.
When a person is referred to as an 'Oldtimer' (old-timer), it is colloquial. It is usually meant humorously or appreciatively and refers to the person's long experience.
Frag den Kollegen Schmidt, er ist der Oldtimer hier und kennt sich am besten aus.
Ask our colleague Schmidt; he's the old-timer here and knows his way around best.
classic
'der Klassiker' and 'der Oldtimer' can both have to do with something old that is still valued. The difference is the area they refer to: a 'Klassiker' is usually an important work, for example a book, film, or piece of music, that remains significant over time. An 'Oldtimer' is an old, well-preserved vehicle, especially a car. Learners may confuse the words because both can speak positively about something older. For art, literature, or music, you are more likely to say 'Klassiker'. For an old car, you say 'Oldtimer'.
Vor dem Haus steht ein roter Oldtimer aus den sechziger Jahren.
There is a red classic car from the sixties parked in front of the house.
In der Schule lesen wir einen Klassiker aus dem 19. Jahrhundert.
At school, we are reading a classic from the 19th century.