Top ten unmissable sights at the Classic & Sports Car Show

By Greg MacLeman

| 27 Oct 2016

The Classic & Sports Car Show kicks off tomorrow (28 October) at London's historic Alexandra Palace. Here's the definitive top ten list of features and attractions.

10. Pistonheads Sunday Service

Classic & Sports Car’s sister title Pistonheads will be hosting one of it’s famous Sunday Services in the grounds of Alexandra Palace on 30 October. Up to 150 of the most popular and iconic cars of the past 100 years will go on display in the Pavilion Car Park, giving owners and visitors a chance to mingle, chat about classics and take a look at the cars on show. This hidden gem serves as a show within a show, and it’s fantastic friendly atmosphere will keep you coming back for more!

9. Rod Stewart’s Lamborghini Miura

A highlight for those with a passion for Sant’Agata’s finest will be a 1971 Lamborghini Miura that once belonged to Rod Stewart. The car is made even more special due to being restored and upgraded to SV specification at a cost of more than £100,000. The best bit? It could be yours. The Miura is one of the stars of the Coys auction, and is expected to sell for as much as £950,000 on Saturday afternoon.

8. Jaguar XJ13

Jaguar’s would-be Le Mans racer never made it out of development, so this weekend represents a rare opportunity to get up close with the prototype. The car will take pride of place in the Palm Court area of the palace, where the event will be opened by none other than Norman Dewis – the legendary test driver who drove the XJ13 in period. Dewis will also be taking a much anticipated turn on the Live Interview Stage, where he will discuss the car’s development with Henry Hope-Frost.

7. World-class artists

You just have to look at this year’s show artwork, created by British artist Tim Layzell, to see how high the bar has been set for the 2016 Classic & Sports Car Show. Layzell will be on hand throughout the weekend displaying a selection of his latest works – and he won’t be alone. The big names already confirmed to be showing their work include Ella Frerie, Unique & Limited, Artistry of Aluminium and Silent Auto Diecast Model Cars. As well as seeing the latest paintings, models and sculptures, the show will give you the opportunity to meet and chat with your favourite artists.

6. Top dealers

More than 300 of the world’s most exclusive and glamorous classic cars will be on show at Alexandra Palace, presented by the most respected collectors and dealers. Some of the biggest names in the business will be there with their best stock, including DD Classics, Desmond J Smail, Classic Chrome, Stanley Mann and many more.

5. Coys auction

As well as hundreds of cars for sale in the main hall, this year’s event has been bolstered by the addition of a live auction from top London auction house Coys. Excitement will rise to fever pitch on Saturday afternoon as dozens of classics go under the hammer to be sold to the highest bidder. They include Rod Stewart’s Lamborghini Miura, the first registered Range Rover, an immaculate Aston Martin DB4 and a stunning 1974 Ferrari 246GT. A number of bargains are also set to be had, including a Wolseley Six and Mecedes-Benz 500SEC. Don’t miss out on the excitement – the action starts at 3pm!

4. XK120 by Pininfarina

The one-of-a-kind Jaguar XK120 by Pininfarina is set to re-emerge at Alexandra Palace this weekend, where it will be the subject of a restoration demonstration by specialist CMC. You’ll have the chance to get up close and personal with the stunning one-off creation, as well as being able to watch CMC’s experience technicians at work and ask them questions about the restoration process. The car will be the central feature of an entire hall dedicated to the art of automotive restoration, brought to you in conjunction with Total oils.

3. Live parades

New for this year’s event, a series of live parades are set to be one of the star attractions this weekend. Twice a day, an incredible selection of classic and sports cars will be put through their paces along a special demonstration course through the grounds of Alexandra Palace. A display arranged by the BMW Car Club will gather some of the most significant models from the firm’s history, while the official course car – a six-wheeled Tyrrell P34/6 – will set the scene with its howling 3-litre Cosworth engine. Don’t miss your chance to see this Formula One icon in action.

2. Goodwood Road & Racing Live Interview Stage

An incredible lineup of automotive and motorsport personalities are set to take to the Live Interview Stage which, for the first time, is being curated by Goodwood Road & Racing. Don’t miss out on John Surtees’ tales from the pit lane, or Norman Dewis sharing his memories of his time spent as Jaguar’s go-to test driver.

1. A Century of Supercars

The British public have been busy voting for their favourite supercar of the past 100 years, with the top 10 finalists set to form an incredible central display in Alexandra Palace’s main show hall. The lineup is truly incredible, ranging from the Mercedes-Benz 300SL ‘Gullwing’ to the latest cutting-edge McLaren P1. As if seeing such a mesmerising set of cars wasn’t great enough, the overall winner of the public vote will be announced live at the event. It’s not to be missed!

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