RUSTY ROMANCE

This year’s Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show, with discovery+, at Birmingham’s NEC was a three day festival of rust and restoration.

Around 160 car clubs from across the UK showcased their members’ vehicles at this event, from barn finds to fully restored classics. Most clubs also offered live demonstrations, with project cars undergoing work and restoration ranging from bodywork and welding to engine rebuilds and re-wiring. Visitors were also treated to interviews and expert panels featuring Wheeler Dealers' Mike Brewer, master mechanic Ant Anstead and Car SOS’s Fuzz Townshend. Actor and Classic Obsession host Gary Mavers also made his show debut, appearing on stage.

The Footman James Barn Find display saw 20 unearthed classics vying for the visitors’ votes, Andy Longfield’s 1960 Mini 850 eventually winning the audience’s heart and the trophy. At the other end of the scale, the Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership competition, also with 20 finalists on show, saw Paul Clappison lift the trophy with his 1989 Porsche 944, exactly five years after he had won with his 1972 MGB. Second place went to Jas Duley’s 1987 Mercedes-Benz 190E, while 16-year-old Alex Mills came third with his 1998 Rover Mini Cooper.

The Sporting Bears Motor Club topped last year’s Resto Show record, raising nearly £22,500 from operating Dream Rides throughout the weekend. The Bears also picked up the trophy for Charitable Endeavours in this year’s National Car Club Awards. Some of those 13 award winners are pictured here, but others included Martin Lilley of the TVR Car Club who received the Lifetime Achievement award, John Simpson of the Boston Classic Car Club who won Classic Car Weekly’s Club Hero award for continuing to be the driving force of the club, and Racing-Puma.co.uk who were acclaimed as the Best Stand in the small club section.

Next year's show will take place from Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th March. For more information and updates, visit the website at www. necrestorationshow.com

The Stag Owners Club stripped down a long-derelict Triumph V8 engine and will rebuild it.

The award for Support of the Next Generation was presented to the Morris Marina Owners Club for restoring and presenting a car to the Classic Car Loan Project. On their stand, they also had one of the two original Marina convertibles built by Crayford.

Paul Clappison won the Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership trophy with his 1989 Porsche 944, his second win in five years.

The Jowett Car Club won two awards: Best Live Working on Vehicles at the Show and also the coveted Car Club of the Year.

Klasyczna Polonia UK were clearly delighted to have been chosen as winners of the Best Stand at Show in the large club section.

The Celebrities Choice Award was won by Stuart Waldron and his 1966 Mk1 Transit campervan on the Transit Van Club stand.

The Sporting Bears deservedly picked up the trophy for Charitable Endeavours in this year’s National Car Club Awards.

Best Barn Find/Unrestored went to John Reed’s Austin A70 Hereford on the Austin Counties Car Club stand.

The Best Restored Car at Show was won by Andy Mason’s 1939 Series III Wolseley 12/48 on the Wolseley Register stand.

The Ford Corsair Owners Club was celebrated for Best Live Demonstration on a Car Club Stand at the Show.