Classic cars show gets into gear at the NEC

publication date: Sep 11, 2008

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author/source: Robin Roberts

A venue packed with over a 1,000 classic, vintage, veteran and retro cars spread over five halls, countless trade displays and around 170 club stands. This year’s Classic Motor Show, from 14 to 16 November, is all about numbers – mainly anniversaries. Its 60 years since Land Rover, the Jaguar XK120 and the Morris Minor were born but did you know that Team Lotus was founded 50 years ago, that the Vincent Black Shadow motorcycle is 60 years old and that the Austin Allegro has turned 35? The little Austin-Healey Sprite hits the big five-o, the rotary engine turns 40, along with the last of the properly engineered Rovers, the P6B and the P5 is celebrating its 50th while the P3 turns 60. Did we mention the 40-year-old Ford Escort was in birthday mood? Talking of 40, it’s also 40 years since BMC stopped building its A125/A135/Princess/VP Princess limousines.

Meanwhile you might be shocked to discover that the second BMW 3-series, the E30, is 30, that the VW Corrado is now officially 20 and can Honda really be 60?
The Ford Model A turns 80, the Morgan Plus 8 and Opel GT are 40, the MkII MX-5 is ten, Porsche is 60 – along with the Morris J van – and Skoda celebrates 50 years of rallying. Meanwhile Vanden Plas enthusiasts will mark the 50th of the A105 VP and the 45th of the 1100VP.

There are even anniversaries hidden within anniversaries – it’s 40 years since Rootes Competition Department was founded and it’s 40 years since a Hillman Hunter won the 1968 London to Sydney Marathon.

Oh and it’s 25 years since the Austin Maestro was launched, 20 years since the MG Maestro Turbo first torque-steered away from a set of traffic lights and ten years since the Rover 200BRM first started assaulting people’s sensibilities with its bright orange-lipped front air-intake. Who’d have figured?

Well, for anything else you need help figuring out; ask one of our resident experts. With TV’s Mike Brewer and Edd China on the Live Stage, the team from Leeds College of Technology in the Restoration Theatre and a host of special guests on the Classic Bike Stage, you sure to find the answers before the day is out.

The Classic Motor Show is open from 10am until 6.30pm on Friday, 9.30am until 6.30pm on Saturday, and 9.30am until 5.30pm on Sunday. Ticket prices range from £15 when purchased in advance.