The Classic Car Show, NEC, Birmingham, sponsored by Lancaster Insurance, just gets bigger and better each year (a record attendance of 71,000 this year!). Car Scene International was invited along and I am delighted to be able to bring you a flavour of what was on offer.
As you might expect, I tended to concentrate on the older cars on show together with cars that are a little out of the ordinary or had a special appeal to me. This show extends a special welcome to the U.K.’s many car Clubs. There are two clubs that I have a connection with, the Jensen Owners’ Club and the Peugeot Sport Club U.K. so, not surprisingly I stopped by their stands for a chat and took the opportunity to take a few photos.
I was at the show on Saturday 12th November, I arrived at just after 9.00 am. I collected my Press Pass from the superbly well organised Poppyseed Media Press Office and didn’t see the light of day again until 13.50 hrs. By which time I was pretty well done in every sense of the word. The thing that amazed me was that crowds were still arriving as I was leaving. It is a very popular event. The other thing that struck me was how friendly and polite people were. When you are taking photos you inevitably have to take up positions which impede other peoples’ right of way, as a result you are often bumped into. But most of the time people were very apologetic when they didn’t have to be it was me who was in their way not the other way round.
I caught up with a number of people from my past and made several new contacts. All in all it was a most enjoyable day out. I hope you enjoy and are stimulated by the photos.
I have arranged them in Car make order.
Alfa Romeo
1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2.3 Ltr.
Alvis
1933 Alvis SA Series Speed 20 Saloon
Armstrong Siddley
1952 – 58 Amstrong Siddley 346 Saphire
1956 – 58 Armstrong Siddley 234/236
1953 Armstrong Whitley 16/18 Four Light (side windows) Saloon
1929 – 30 Armstrong Siddley 12HP Tourer
Aston Martin
1981 Aston Martin V8 Volante
1967 Aston Martin DB6 Mk 1
Austin Healey
1955 Austin Healey 100 BN2 Original Earls Court Motor Show Display Car
Bristol
1955 Bristol 4042001 Bristol Blenheim 3S
Bugatti
c.1929 Bugatti Type 35
1929 – 32 Bugatti Type 46S (Luxe) 5.0Ltr.
1926 Bugatti Type 26 1.5 Ltr. 16 valve
Chrysler (Hillman)
1973 Chrysler (Hillman) Avenger GT
Datsun
Datsun ZX240 severly modified
Fairthorpe
1961 Fairthorpe Electron Minor (much modified!)
Fiat
1966 Fiat 1500 Pinin Farina Cabriolet
Ford
1930 For Model A Tudor Sedan
1930 Ford Model A 4 door Town Sedan
1965 Ford GT40 Mk. 1 P1075 in Gulf Colors
Gilbern
1965 Gilbern GT
Humber
1925 Humber 8/18 1.0Ltr. Tourer
Jaguar
A fairly original 1936 – 40 SS 100
SS 100 Replica by Suffolk
Jaguar ‘C’ Type Replica by Suffolk
Jaguar XJ 13 Replica ‘body- in white’ by TWRR
Jaguar XJ 13 Replica by TWRR
Jensen
1955 Jensen 541
Jensen Owners’ Club
Lanchester
1946 Lanchester LD 10
Lancia
1967 Lancia Flavia Sport designed by Ercole Spada for Zagato
1978 Second Series Lancia Beta 1600cc Coupe
Matra
1967 – 73 Matra 530
Mini
Mini Challenge JCW F56
Morgan
Morgan +4 Racing Car
Peugeot Sport Club UK
The Club MagazineThe best turned out team on any stand at the show (imo)
Peugeot 205 GTi with 2016 Dimma Kit
Club Peugeot UK
1939 Peugeot 202 U Wagon
1928 Peugeot 5CV 172R Cabriolet
Porsche
1964/5 Porsche 365 C
Railton
1937 Railton Tourer with bodywork by Carbodies
1938 Railton Cobham Saloon 4.2 Ltr.(Hudson straight 8 engine) bodywork by Coachcraft of Hanwell
1938 Railton Little Cobham Saloon with Standard Ten running gear(found in 2014 and awaiting restoration)
Standard
1936 Standard Ten
Swallow Doretti
1954 – 55 Swallow Doretti
Talbot
1982 Talbot Sunbeam Lotus
Talbot Sunbeam Lotus Rally SuccessesThe man that made it happen – the late great Des O’Dell
Triumph
1933 Triumph Gloria Tourer
1955 Triumph TR2
1953 Triumph TR2 Record Breaker
1959 – 62 Triumph Italia 2000 (Designed by Giovanni Michelotti and made in Italy by Vignale)
1958 Triumph TR3A Racing Car On Standard Pick – Up transporter
