Special
A deliberately and skilfully built one-off, usually created for sporting purposes from period components – the kinder sibling of the bitsa, especially in the pre-war world.
A special is a deliberately built automotive one-off: a car that never left a production line as a series model but was constructed – usually with sporting intent – from components of various origins. The tradition is British: from the 1920s and 1930s onwards, specials were built on common chassis such as the Austin Seven or Bentley, with lighter bodies, stronger engines and technology honed for racing.
What separates the special from the bitsa is less the method than the ambition: while a bitsa is often simply assembled from whatever parts were available, a special is built purposefully, skilfully and mostly from period-correct components. Most respected are 'period specials', built in the historic era itself and carrying their own documented history – such as a contemporary racing or hill-climb record. Such a special is a historic vehicle in its own right and can command high collector values.
Later-built specials are trickier: without period history of their own they slide into the grey zone between special, bitsa and replica. What matters for their assessment is transparency about origin and parts provenance – honestly declared, specials are firmly established in pre-war motor sport. They are generally eligible for regularity and touring events; concours d'élégance and events requiring a FIVA ID-Card or an HTP judge more strictly.
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Related terms
FIA
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, founded in 1904, is the world governing body of motor sport. It issues the International Sporting Code and, for historic cars, Appendix K.
Appendix K
The FIA regulations for historic motor sport. They define vehicle classes and eligibility – and permit regularity rallies with an average speed of no more than 50 km/h.
HTP
The FIA's Historic Technical Passport: the vehicle document for international historic competition. It confirms period specification – but expressly not the car's authenticity or history.