UK classic spectacular kicks off at the NEC tomorrow

By James Elliott

| 14 Nov 2013

The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show kicks off at the NEC in Birmingham tomorrow (15 November) and promises to be the biggest and best since the event started in 1984.

Running until Sunday 17 November, this traditional end-of-term party for UK classic car clubs is packed with activities for all the family and fabulous stands.

Nearly 240 car clubs will be showing their wares over the weekend and they are pulling out all the stops to impress, with the MonteCarlo Consortium promising a genuine Lancia 037 Group B rally car.

To mark the 30th anniversary of the Peugeot 205, Club Peugeot will display a wide range of the model including a T16.

More rally legends can be seen on Club Audi's stand where a whole host of quattros will be on show.

The TR Register is ambitiously recreating the 1953 Motor Show on its stand and will re-enact the launch of a brand new Triumph sports car each day.

Another contender for the traditional C&SC awards will be the Ginetta Owner's Club, which plans to have G4, G12, G15, G21, G32 and G40R on its stand.

On the Saturday evening, C&SC holds its annual Club Awards in association with Lancaster Insurance so make sure you look out for the winners proudly displaying their trophies and certificates on their stands on Sunday.

C&SC's stand will be one of the highlights, displaying four cars that were owned by the members of The Beatles.

As well as Paul McCartney's Aston Martin DB6, you can see George Harrison's Ferrari 246GTS Dino, John Lennon's Iso Fidia and Ringo Starr's Facel Vega.

Of course there are hundreds of dealer, trade, autojumble and automobilia stands as well.

One car not to miss among them is the post-restoration debut of a super-rare 1956 Allard Palm Beach Mk2, which will be on the Allard Sports Car stand.

Show sponsor Lancaster Insurance is adding some sparkle to the event by having Starsky & Hutch actor David Soul on site for the duration. Naturally, a Ford Gran Turino will be there, too.

Another centrepiece will be the Meguiar's Showcase, a concours of concours featuring some of the winners from a host of club competitions that have been held through the year.

As well as that there will be charity passenger rides from the brilliant Sporting Bears, a restoration theatre, Mike Brewer and Edd China – and Sir Stirling Moss – on the Live Action Stage and loads more.

Silverstone Auctions is holding its biggest sale at the NEC yet over two days of the show. The highlight is guaranteed to be a 1965 Aston Martin DB5, but check out some of the great classics it will be selling here and read our sale preview here.

Click here for more news and ticket sales.

James Elliott

James Elliott is a former Editor of Classic & Sports Car