35th Classic Car Show set to be the best ever

All roads lead to the NEC as the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery, celebrates its 35th anniversary with 3,000 vehicles and 300 clubs in what is set to be the biggest and best year to date

THE UK’s biggest classic car show is back for its 35th birthday year, with record numbers of motor enthusiasts expected to descend on the NEC, Birmingham. The mammoth three-day event is set to welcome 72,000 members of the classic vehicle community to buy, sell and appreciate everything from vintage Ferraris to lovingly-restored Harley Davidsons.

Spread across seven halls of the NEC between Friday, November 8 and Sunday, November 10, the extravaganza will feature 3,000 cars and bikes, 300 classic vehicle clubs and 650 specialist traders across numerous stands.

Enthusiasts can immerse themselves in decades of motoring history, get behind the wheel of some of the country’s most iconic marques and purchase all things car related. The anniversary edition also includes practical workshops, competitions showcasing featured cars and interviews and talks with motoring celebrities.

Since opening its doors for the first time in 1984, the show has become the world’s largest gathering of classic vehicle clubs. In 2018, the event welcomed double-decker buses, a steam-roller and even a tank.

To mark the 35th birthday, organisers have promised a ‘‘super show’’ that acts as the grand finale in the classic car calendar.

Show director Lee Masters said: “To get to the 35th anniversary is very special, especially with the show continuing to grow year after year, not just in size and audience but also in the standard of cars and displays. We want to celebrate this with a‘super show that not only pushes that bar even higher but also says a massive thank you to all those classic motoring enthusiasts who have helped, and continue to make the show the extravaganza it is.”

GET BEHIND THE WHEEL AT ONE OF THE EXCITING DRIVING EXPERIENCES

● HERO Events Arrive & Drive, a Classic Car Experience, offer visitors the chance to take a spin around the NEC in some of the most iconic cars in motoring history, including a Lancia Delta Integrale Martini 1990, a Triumph Tr4A 1966 and an MGB Roaster 1977. These fine marques are available to be driven or appreciated as a passenger.

● Sporting Bears Dream Rides take passengers on a 10-mile ride in some of the most spectacular cars in the world from as little as a £10 donation to their supported charities.

INDULGE IN A RAFT OF SHOPPING OPPORTUNITIES FROM THE SMALLEST WIDGET TO CLASSICS OF ALL CLASSES

● Visitors can shop from specialist traders and the UK’s largest indoor autojumble to source parts and tools for maintenance and restoration projects.

● Those looking to buy their own classic car can visit an outstanding range of dealers or Silverstone Auctions, where the spectacle of the bidding is well worth a watch whether you take part or not.

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN ENTERTAINMENT AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES

● Motoring celebrities will be involved in talks and interviews on the Discovery Live Stage where visitors can take part in games and challenges as well as admiring the skills of the Practical Classics team during their restoration challenge. This year the project is to build an E-Type Jaguar during the show.

● There are also opportunities to learn new skills in maintaining and restoring classic beauties at the Restoration Theatre with the expert mechanics and renovators from Gilbert-Michaelson.

EXPLORE THE CARS AND CAST YOUR VOTE FOR THE COMPETITION WINNERS

As part of the 3,000-car showcase there are a number of competition displays to admire. Visitors can vote in the Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership and explore the Meguiar’s Club Showcase and the Classic American Car of the Year competition finalists before seeing the winners crowned during the presentations on Sunday.

THE BIG 35 – A TIMELINE

A new display with Greatest Hits Radio will show how vehicles have evolved since the event began – with a classic car icon representing every five years of the show’s history.

The timeline will be accompanied by iconic music that would have been playing on stereos when the motors first rolled off the production line.

The cars on display will include a 1984 Vauxhall Astra GTE, a 1989 Discovery MK1, a 2004 Volkswagen Beetle, showcasing the redesign of the iconic model, and a 2009 limited edition Fiat Abarth Grande Punto EsseEsse.

The display will culminate with a vehicle from 2019, the MG ZS EV, an electric powered family-friendly car, which will not only show how car design has moved on but engineering too.

BRINGING TOP TRUMPS TO LIFE

Each year, the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show adopts a theme. This year, it’s Top Trumps, the iconic card game that has been played across the world for over 40 years and is now more popular than ever.

In a show first the organisers, along with headline sponsors Lancaster Insurance, are bringing the game to life for motoring enthusiasts of all generations to enjoy at the event.

Clubs and exhibitors are encouraged to create a special edition Top Trumps card to act as their vehicle’s info board, with each card displaying five key facts. Not only will this create the biggest pack of Top Trumps ever but will also give visitors thousands of motoring facts presented in a fun way so they can play the game as they enjoy their visit.

Visitors can purchase their own special edition pack of Top Trumps, with 30 playing cards that reflect the 3,000 vehicles on display at the show, alongside their admission ticket. ■ Tickets start from £27.50 for adults when booked in advance. Family, weekend and three-day tickets are also available, as well as reduced price tickets for groups, and discounts for members of exhibiting clubs. Tickets are also available on the door each day of the show. See classicmotorshow.seetickets.com