A classic car auction has been added to the ever-growing Footman James Classic Motor Show, which takes place at the NEC, Birmingham on 17 November.
The sale will be run by Silverstone Auctions and is "the first auction of its type in the show’s history" even though there were auctions many years ago during previous incarnations of the event.
Show manager Andy Rouse said: "We are extremely excited at the prospect of the UK's biggest and most popular classic motoring show now also hosting a quality auction. We have been hugely impressed with the energy and enthusiasm of the team at Silverstone Auctions and their commitment to and vision for this feature going forward.
"I view this as an extremely important development in both the growth and the 'standing' of the show, both at home in the UK and internationally and that it provides a new and exciting alternative in the annual auction calendar. We are confident that a sale at the UK's flagship show will attract a high volume of quality entries and enthused buyers."
Nick Whale, managing director of Silverstone Auctions, added: "This is really exciting news and is definitely one of our calendar highlights for 2012. We will obviously be focusing on classic cars, befitting the surroundings, but I’m sure they’ll also be some competition cars and more modern supercars under the hammer, as well as a wide variety of motorbikes and automobilia."
James Elliott is a former Editor of Classic & Sports Car