CAVALCADE CLIMAX FOR LIVERPOOL’S BIG WEEKEND

We look back on great moments from UK classic car events. This week, a parade helps mark 175 years of maritime success

‘It was good for Liverpool at last to hold a major classic car event’

Liverpool’s waterfront – including the city’s iconic Liver Building – formed the backdrop for this one-off classic show, held as part of a wider weekend marking 175 years of the city’s historic trade links with the United States.

The decade-by-decade car display at the Pier Head attracted more than 250 classics from across the north west, 175 of which were allowed to take part in a parade through the city centre.

While the parade – which took place on the city’s busiest thoroughfares and didn’t involve any road closures – felt a little drowned out by the swathes of buses and taxis, the free-to-attend static displays brought out a diverse range of historic vehicles. Highlights included an eight-strong club exhibition from members of Three Graces Northwest, which included Ford Zephyrs and Vauxhall Crestas – tying in with the event’s US-inspired theme – as well as an Aston Martin DB5 and Batmobile brought along by Ascot-based hire specialist, Character Cars.

The car display – which marked the culmination of the Transatlantic 175 weekend, following on from a fashion show and a visit by the ocean liner Queen Mary 2 to Merseyside – was generally well received by visiting classic owners, although there are no plans to follow it up with other historic vehicle events in Liverpool.

Eventgoer, Ben Spears, who brought his Russet Brown 1980 Triumph Dolomite 1850HL to the Pier Head display, said enthusiatically: ‘I thought that the event – particularly the city centre cavalcade – was great.

‘It was good for Liverpool at last to hold a major classic car event!

‘I do hope the city holds more events like this in the future, and it was a bit special as my Dolomite’s body shell was built at the old Triumph factory just up the road.’

The historic Liver building was at the centre of a classic car event that took over Merseyside in 2015.

Tim and Sue Kendall proudly showed off ‘Doris’, their 1939 Morris 8 Series E Tourer.

Ben Spears, from Maghull, showed off his 1980 Triumph Dolomite 1850HL, which he’s enjoyed taking to shows for more than 20 years.

Mark Perkins, who runs hire company Character Cars, brought along his DB5 and 1966 Batmobile to entertain the crowds.

The appropriately-named Three Graces Northwest club brought along eight cars, including Lesley Rourke’s 1958 Ford Zephyr and Debi Clarke’s 1960 Ford Consul.

Peter Bell showed off his 1975 Renault 12. He’s owned the car – which appeared in an episode of Life On Mars – for more than 30 years.

One of the stars of the cavalcade was this 1963 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III, a replica of the psychedelically coloured one owned by John Lennon.

Alex Cain, Triumph Sports Six Club Liverpool area organiser, with his 1967 Spitfire MkIII.