The second weekend in November saw the annual Classic Motor Show being held once again at Birmingham’s mighty NEC. As a season finale, it’s always something of a special event and one that I look forward to attending. What suddenly made me feel rather old when reading a recent press release from the organisers, however, is that this year marks the show’s 35th anniversary.
Blimey. I can remember attending the very first Classic Motor Show at the NEC. A couple of years before, I’d co-founded the Ford Anglia 105E Owners’ Club and had applied to the NEC show’s organisers for a club stand. I was only about 19 at the time, and the prospect of seeing classic cars at a venue as big and important as the National Exhibition Centre was damned exciting. When confirmation came that our fledgeling club had indeed been granted a stand, it was a cause for celebration.
Up until then, the only car event held at the NEC had been the British International Motor Show. The fact that the hallowed halls of the sprawling venue were about to host a classic car show was big news indeed. That might seem rather strange in 2019, when we’ve all become used to major venues hosting such events; but back in the mid-’80s, the UK’s classic car scene was very different to today’s, operating on a smaller scale and without the level of investment we see now.
This story is from the January 2020 edition of Classic Car Mart.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 2020 edition of Classic Car Mart.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
3D Technology To Preserve Classics?
Traditionally, the unavailability of a critical component has had major repercussions for owners of historic vehicles, putting the brakes on a restoration project or even forcing a historic vehicle off the road.
UPCYCLING
Two British-made modern classics which made credible sporting saloons despite their unlikely origins.
NICHE WORK
A crossover model before the term had even been invented, the original Range Rover could well be the perfect multi-purpose classic.
CLASSIC REVIVAL
Fancy an MGB without the welding and SUs? The much modernised RV8 should fit the bill.
1980s FLEET FAVOURITES
We profile a line-up of popular mid-sized '80s company cars ranging from the ubiquitous Sierra and Cavalier repmobiles through to the king of the company car park, the BMW 3-Series.
Solid State
Although a well-preserved Volvo 120 Series ‘Amazon’ makes a good choice as an occasional everyday classic driver, the range can be confusing. We play the numbers game and reveal some of the Amazon’s main foibles.
Round-Up - 1990s Jaguars
Following Ford’s acquisition of an independent Jaguar in 1989, the Coventry-based luxury car maker underwent a transformation that led to the introduction of a range of capable models that today are reasonably affordable as well as being fun to own and drive.
Myth And Rumour
The Stag may have suffered a poor reputation when new, but in the 21st century it’s one of Britain’s most popular classics – and justifiably so. We take a look at the pros and cons of investing in Triumph’s sporting flagship.
The Full English
An English-built Citroën meets English wine as we enter a slightly bizarre parallel universe.
Tailgate Revolving Doors
Paul Guinness looks back at his experiences from 35 years ago, when he helped to arrange a club stand at the first-ever Classic Motor Show at Birmingham’s NEC
