CLASSIC & PERFORMANCE CAR SPECTACULAR

TATTON PARK, CHESHIRE, 4-5 JUNE

A beautifully presented Renault Floride that spent three decades in a garage before a decade-long stint at the manufacturer’s Manchester showroom was one of 2700 spectacular classics at Tatton Park’s 30th anniversary exposition.

David Ainsworth’s 1962 model – which has 15,000 miles under its wheels – took part in the 300-strong arena dedicated to privately-entered classics, but it was the 80 clubs taking part that provided the bulk of the entries at the Cheshire stately home.

The Rochdale Vintage and Collector Car Club raised money for the World Wide Fund for Nature with its Endangered Species exhibition. Posters of the natural world’s threatened animals were shown alongside vehicles that are now close to extinction, including an Opel Ascona 1600S automatic, the only one left registered in the UK.

The TR Register, Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club and XR Owners’ Club also weighed in with hefty displays but the single biggest showcase of historic metal was provided by the Mercedes-Benz Club, which had a commendable 48 cars on its stand.

Alan Cross, the club’s North West regional officer, says: ‘Tatton Park is one of the biggest regional displays the club puts on anywhere in the country, – it’s always oversubscribed by members wanting to take part because it’s so popular.

‘It’s a wonderful show and we always get a great response from people wanting to come and look at the cars.’ David Simister Before David Ainsworth picked up his 1962 Renault Floride three years ago it’d spent 30 years sitting in a garage. The West Lancashire MG Owners’ Club took 12 cars including Richard Sherman’s 1953 TD MkII and Nigel Malyan’s 1980 ‘B.