How old does a set have to be in order to be called 'Vintage?'

[harmacy]

I was just browsing our local Online Auction site here in New Zealand, and came across some mini-figure auctions that were classed by the seller as 'Vintage'. Upon closer inspection, the figs were SW figs from 2000 and 2002 (Palpatine and Obi-wan). Now, When I think of 'Vintage' Lego, Im thinking of Classic blue space and the Classic town (Legoland) series, along with 12v trains and yellow castles.

Personally, I might just be showing my age, but a 9 year old figure does not qualify for vintage status. However, an 8 year old lego fan might consider anything made before their time to be. Or is it all just subjective?

So - what do you folks think about the term 'vintage', and is there a specific time frame before a set becomes vintage? Or does it happen in stages - ie - goes into 'out of production', then into 'old' status, then finally becomes a vintage piece?

[meschepers]

Classic: 25 years

Antique: 50 years

According to dictionary.com:

vin·tage

   [vin-tij] Show IPA noun, adjective, verb, -taged, -tag·ing.

adjective

10. Old-fashioned or obsolete.

11. Being the best of its kind.

I think both of these definitions fit the bill quite well.

For me, I would say vintage LEGO is something rare, sought after, and collectible. Star Wars (and other license themes) would be vintage before they became fleshies. Everyone knows the BSB and the Yellow Castle are "vintage." I think that a lot of the orignal pirate sets are vintage by this same logic, and many of the early castle sets and subthemes. Of course the early space sets fit in as vintage. But I don't think you'll find a cutoff date of what makes a set vintage since some themes, subthemes, sets, minifigs, etc. are just more sought after than others. I would imagine the line blurs from theme to theme and person to person.