Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show 2016

Last weekend saw the crowds, flock back to the NEC for the annual classic car show pilgrimage and with around 2,500 cars and bikes on display it did not disappoint…

71,000 people attended the NEC at the weekend, with 273 exhibiting clubs putting on fantastic displays, live stage with the likes of Edd China, Mike Brewer, Ant Anstead and Fuzz Townsend all making an appearance. Meguiars, the polish and car care people, put on a club showcase grand finale which included 16 cars from all over the UK and it was the stunningly restored Mini Traveller of Andy Nash who took the 2016 crown.

Once the worlds fastest man, a title he had for 14 years, Richard Noble OBE was also at the show promoting Bloodhound SSC the supersonic lands speed record car that they are currently building – British engineering at its finest. Sir Stirling Moss, the legend continues to work hard and is at many events throughout the year often driving, not bad for an 87 year old who should be enjoying retirement!

Another competition that ran over the show was the Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership competition, 20 finalists go to the public vote the 1989 Austin Metro City of James Cribb took top honours, Stuart Turp’s 1969 Ford Capri Mk1 second, and the 1984 Vauxhall Astra GTE of Mark McCelland third.

Other show winners:

Comet Classic Pride of Ownership:

Alan Stopford -1959 Triumph Bonneville
Dale Hart – 1986 RD350
John Cook – Hudson Autocycle

Classic American Car of the Year:

John Hayes – 1966 Chevrolet Corvette

The show featured a fine display of cars that were heading for the hammer as Silverstone Auctions sold off the best part of £6m of cars the most notable being a ’57 Porsche 365 Speedster which made a £306k whole in its new owners pocket! Best of the bunch had to be the Lancaster Insurance restored Mini which had been named Margo, the car made £12,938 and all proceeds went to Prostate Cancer UK.

There is s definite trend at the moment for current manufacturers getting on the ‘classic’ band wagon, Porsche had a fine display on its stand, they have been working with their dealers to restore classic air-cooled cars in the last few years and Jaguar Land Rover had a fine display too…But at the NEC show it was the Viva GT prepared by the restoration team at Vauxhall that was a delight to many show go’ers. A two year build even for vauxhall and you think they would have a shed full of parts !

A great show and I look forward to next years – the date has already been set, 10^th to the 12^th November 2017. For more information take a look at www.necclassicmotorshow.com. Enjoy the gallery.