Report: Great Western Classic Car Show

Immaculate 1600E MkII takes top honours at newly expanded Shepton Mallet show

’It’s very easy to talk to the owners and find out more about the cars’

A Jaguar 420 fresh from its appearances in a hit ITV drama, a packed autojumble and a huge outdoor display of showgoers’ classics were the highlights of this expanded two-day season starter at Shepton Mallet.

The event’s organisers used an additional hall at the Royal Bath & West Showground venue to up the number of club stands at the first of its three Bristol-focused classic shows this year, while anyone thinking of buying a classic could visit Charterhouse’s sale held at the show (see next week’s issue for our full report). Visitors were also encouraged to park their cars in a classic-only parking area, resulting in a display of more than 300 cars.

The club displays included an exhibit of eight Triumphs and Standards from the Norton Radstock Vehicle Club and a six-car stand from the Ford Sidevalve Owners’ Club, while the show judges picked a Jaguar 420 used in the footballthemed TV series Tina and Bobby as the weekend’s most interesting classic.

A 1969 Ford Cortina 1600E, one of nine cars shown by the MkII Cortina Owners’ Club, was named Car of the Show.

Somerset branch spokesman Adrian Howell says: ‘It doesn’t seem much bigger than last year’s event and the cars are roughly the same, but there’s a very good mix of classics on show.

‘ The beauty of this event is that there’s a nice, approachable feel to it all – it’s very easy to talk to the owners and find out more about the cars, which you’re not always able to do at other events’.

Event manager Andy Kitchen says that the show was well received, with attendance up 15 per cent from 2016.

He says: ‘What a great weekend! There’s been superb feedback from visitors, exhibitors and traders and we’re delighted that our expanded February event has been so well received. Roll on the summer for our Footman James Bristol Classic Car Show.’