This year’s Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show, with Discovery, broke all records — record crowds, record number of cars and clubs, record fundraising and more restoration and rust than ever before! A record 28,151 motoring enthusiasts, an increase of more than 3,000 attendees, headed to Birmingham’s NEC over the three-day show to see more than 1,000 cars in various conditions, from a rusty heap to a concours stunner (above, Pete Austin photo). They were treated to amazing vehicle displays, live working on projects and informative demonstrations from 159 classic motoring clubs, the most ever to appear at the show, giving visitors all the hints and tips needed to restore and maintain their own vehicles.
The Sporting Bears Motor Club also achieved a new show record, increasing their fundraising efforts through the popular “Dream Rides” from £11,000 to a whopping £15,800. The Dream Rides garage featured rare cars, including the MG SVR and a stunning traction engine that never stopped giving rides around the outside of the halls all weekend.
Show Director Lee Masters said: “Over the past five years, the growth of this event has been phenomenal, not just in terms of the numbers, but in the way the car clubs are pushing the boundaries with live working and demonstrations. They spur each other on and give fresh ideas on how to showcase the wealth of knowledge within the club, as well enticing new members. There is no other show in the classic motoring community like it anywhere in the world!”
Over on the show’s Practical Classics Live Stage, with Discovery, the team restored what is believed to be the oldest Citroen 2CV in existence, with the vehicle taken from a shell on day one to being driven off the stage with Wheeler Dealers Mike Brewer behind the wheel at the end of Sunday.
The Carole Nash Barn Find display showed 20 discoveries, in various stages of decay, including a Triumph TR6, an Austin A35, a Singer Gazelle and a vintage caravan. Visitors were treated to live music as they viewed the barn finds, while artist ArtbyBex recreated the Citroén 2CV on show in a live painting.
At the other end of the scale, the Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership spring final was won by Paul Clappison’s 1972 MGB GT, with Bron Burrell’s ex-World Cup Rally Austin Maxi called “Puff” taking 2nd place, while Graham Varley’s 1993 VW Corrado VR6 was third.
TV motoring celebrities attending included Wheeler Dealers’ Mike Brewer and Ant Anstead, Car SOS’s Fuzz Townshend and Tim Shaw, Salvage Hunters: Classic Cars’ Paul Cowland, Fifth Gear’s Jonny Smith, and Jimmy De Ville and the team from Goblin Works Garage.
Classic Car Auctions sent 81 percent of the 165 cars on offer to new homes over the two-day sale, with total sales reaching £2.1million.
The 2019 Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show, with Discovery will take place from Friday March 22 to Sunday March 24, 2019. For more information and updates, please visit www.necrestorationshow.com
