Can you breathe life into these classic cars?
Whether you’re a diehard DiYer, a knowledgeable professional or a fresh-faced enthusiast keen to learn more about how cars work, the Classic Car & Restoration Show is a great place to gather tips and tricks, and be inspired by other people’s projects.
It returns to the NEC in Birmingham, UK, from 20-22 March 2026.
As well as a live stage, car clubs, an autojumble and more, Iconic Auctioneers will host the two-day Classic Sale on Saturday and Sunday.
If you’re ready to tackle your own restoration, we’ve looked through the catalogue and picked 16 classic cars that are ripe for a rebuild. They’re presented in chronological order.
There’s something for every skill level, from a pre-war challenge to a ’90s hatchback that needs a bit of love.
Prices are given GBP£, US$ and EUR€; all conversions were correct at the time of writing
1. 1926 Clyno 11HP Tourer (est: £5-8000/$6500-11,000/€6-9500)
The first project in this slideshow might be the toughest, mostly because it’s a largely forgotten model from a now-defunct marque.
Therefore, finding parts will be a challenge, to say the least. You might need to fabricate some components yourself.
And expect to spend many hours researching the Clyno Engineering Company, the Wolverhampton-based firm that manufactured this 11HP Tourer.
It will no doubt be a rewarding experience, too: Clyno was once one of the UK’s biggest car makers so reviving this bright-red four-seater – which spent many years in Australia – will be saving a slice of Britain’s motoring heritage.
Its engine has not run for a decade, but the 70-year-old Clyno Owners’ Club and Register will likely have all the information you need to make it work again.
2. 1948 Bentley MkVI (est: £3-5000/$4-6500/€3500-6000)
This Bentley MkVI looks a little bit like an open-wheel, American-style salt flats racer at the moment – but the hot-rod look isn’t deliberate.
It was acquired by the current owner in 1987. They used it for UK holidays to Cornwall for around 25 years, before they decided it should be restored to its former glory.
Unfortunately, work on the 100mph, Standard Steel-bodied MkVI stalled and it’s been off the road for more than a decade.
It was still used and maintained until 2013, so fingers crossed the 4257cc straight-six is repairable.
Some of the parts that were removed, including the front wings, are included in the sale. It will be offered without reserve.
3. 1952 Austin A70 Hereford (est: £4-6000/$5500-8000/€4500-7000)
Covered in dust and cobwebs, this convertible Austin needs more than just a good clean before it’s back on the road.
That said, this British classic car – with bench seats for six occupants – was treated to a lot of work in the 1990s.
Its keeper of more than 40 years bought the Austin A70 Hereford in Bristol in the early 1980s and used it for trips in the west of England.
After some time in storage, its exterior trim and mechanicals were refurbished, the rear sills were welded and it was repainted in its factory-correct, red-brown shade. The soft-top and leather seats are original, too.
All the work was carried out by the owner and an Austin-Healey specialist, and the unfinished car appeared in Your Classic magazine in 1990 – and now it’s for sale with no reserve.
4. 1957 Jensen 541 (est: £15-20,000/$20-27,000/€17,500-23,000)
Iconic Auctioneers says this Jensen 541 ‘offers much potential for future driving adventures’.
In the state it’s in, you’ll need to have a really good imagination to conjure images of prospective road trips in your mind’s eye – but the possibility is certainly there.
Despite the fact the Jensen 541 was a low-volume car (fewer than 200 were built, excluding De Luxes, 541Rs and 541Ss), securing spare mechanical parts shouldn’t be too tricky: lots of components came from popular Austin models, including the straight-six engine and suspension.
What’s more, the entire glassfibre front section can be opened, so access to the engine bay is super easy.
However, if you’re used to steel-bodied cars, you might find the Jensen’s glassfibre bodywork difficult to repair.
The car was partly disassembled in the 1980s, but the rebuild stopped due to a lack of funds. It will be offered without a reserve.
5. 1958 Austin-Healey Sprite (est: £2-4000/$2500-5500/€2500-4500)
This 1958 Austin-Healey was built in the ‘Frogeye’ Sprite’s first year of production.
The model was unveiled in Monaco, two days after the Principality hosted that year’s Formula One Grand Prix.
This bright-yellow car was delivered new to what was then West Germany, where it was used until the 1970s.
At some point, it returned to the UK and was acquired by the current keeper in 2023.
The enthusiastic owner kick-started the Austin-Healey Sprite’s overhaul by rebuilding the engine and gearbox. Sadly, they had a stroke before they could restore the bodywork.
Its keeper has decided to part with the car and let someone else finish the project – and donate all the proceeds from the no-reserve auction to the Stroke Association.
6. 1958 Ford Consul MkII Highline (est: £6-8000/$8-11,000/€7-9500)
Finished in fetching Harlech Green over Dover White, this two-tone Ford Consul MkII Highline could be your ticket back to the 1950s – if you’re willing to work for it.
The Blue Oval saloon passed an MoT test in January 2017, but the car has likely been off the road since it expired in early 2018.
It’s possible that the Ford was restored many years ago, but Iconic Auctioneers recommends a ‘full recommissioning prior to any return to regular use’.
There’s little information about what works and what doesn’t, so if you’re interested in this classic Consul, a careful inspection of the no-reserve lot – which will be displayed at the Classic Car & Restoration Show – is essential.
7. 1966 Mini Cooper ‘S’ (est: £15-18,000/$20-24,000/€17,500-23,000)
A little car that needs a big revamp – this Austin Mini has been part of the same family since it was new and has just 58,820 miles (94,661km) on the clock.
The 1275cc Cooper ‘S’ is expected to sell for £15-18,000, but with some of the best Mk1s selling for up to £50,000, there is plenty of potential for this dark-green car.
It was registered in March 1966. It originally belonged to the seller’s uncle before it passed to their father.
It’s been modified over the years, including with a home-made dashboard and bonnet vents.
Apparently the engine starts, but it requires attention. Potential buyers are encouraged to examine the car in person.
8. 1970 Lotus Elan (est: £5-8000/$6500-11,000/€6-9500)
There is only one, slightly eerie photograph of this no-reserve Lotus Elan S3, but this 1970 example can certainly be raised from the dead.
Unsurprisingly, it needs a nut-and-bolt restoration, and you might need to look underneath the car at the Classic Car & Restoration Show to assess the damage.
This Elan’s history is patchy, but it’s known that the red sports car was bought by the late owner in 1998. They were the car’s eighth keeper.
Shortly after it was purchased, it was rolled into a garage. Iconic Auctioneers believes the Lotus hasn’t turned a wheel since then.
9. 1971 Morris Oxford (est: £4-6000/$5500-8000/€4500-7000)
At a glance, this Pininfarina-penned saloon appears to be in good health. And that’s because it is – mostly.
The Old English White car, first registered in 1971, was restored in the past. The paintwork was stripped, the wings, sills and floor and more were repaired, and underseal was applied to the chassis.
Iconic Auctioneers understands this work was completed more than a decade ago.
Apparently, it’s been driven sparingly in recent years, so the auction house advises buyers to expect ‘an element of recommissioning’.
Based on this no-reserve lot’s description, it shouldn’t take too much to get this classic car back to tip-top condition, though.
10. 1973 Volvo 1800ES (est: £8-10,000/$11-13,500/€9500-11,500)
This Volvo shooting brake starts and runs, but it can’t stop.
This is just one of the jobs the winning bidder will need to tackle on this 1800ES before it can be enjoyed once more.
It rolled off the production line in November 1972 and was first registered in the UK in May the following year.
The 97,130-mile (156,315km) car has a manual gearbox, a 2-litre, four-cylinder engine, front disc brakes and independent front suspension.
Following a period of inactivity, the Volvo needs to be nursed back to health. Are you the right person for the job?
If you think you are, make sure you have a trailer to tow the Volvo home from Birmingham’s NEC after this month’s no-reserve sale.
11. 1984 Ford Capri (est: £4-6000/$5500-8000/€4500-7000)
This 1.6-litre Ford Capri Laser is loaded with some desirable accessories, including a six-pod instrument binnacle, Rallye Sport-style alloy wheels, a sunroof and a leather-trimmed steering wheel.
Unfortunately, it’s all a little bit the worse for wear now.
Registered in 1984, the three-owner Capri is being offered by Iconic Auctioneers without reserve as a running project.
It was declared as a Category D write-off after an accident, but the Gloss Black coupé was later repaired.
The interior, complete with striped Laser trim, looks like it’s in decent order, but there are some tears on the cloth seats.
12. 1986 Volkswagen Golf GTI (est: £2-3000/$2500-4000/€2500-3500)
The VW Golf GTI is one of the most iconic hot hatchbacks, but this ‘big-bumper’ Mk2 requires some attention before it can return to what it does best: terrorising bigger, more powerful 1980s sports cars.
The three-door car has spent the last decade stashed in a garage, but its 1.8-litre engine was recently turned over, having been fitted with a new battery.
According to Iconic Auctioneers, the Volkswagen is largely original and it will be sold with its handbook, a folder of paperwork and a small pile of spare parts in the boot – and without a reserve.
The cabin has got damp while in storage, but it looks like the Rainbow cloth seats could be easily refurbished.
13. 1991 Bentley Turbo R (est: £6-8000/$8-11,000/€7-9500)
The V8-engined Bentley Turbo R is capable of more than 140mph, but this 1991 example isn’t going anywhere fast now.
The turbocharged four-door has been mostly stationary for at least a decade.
If you enjoy sleuthing, then this might be the restoration project for you; the white Bentley was somehow connected to Sony Music when it was new, but Iconic Auctioneers doesn’t explain the car’s association with the world-famous record label.
The no-reserve sale includes a big folder with receipts from its early services at dealer Hadley Green Garage, plus some invoices from Bentley specialists.
14. 1991 Ford Fiesta RS Turbo (est: £7-9000/$9500-12,000/€8-10,500)
If the Bentley on the previous slide isn’t your cup of tea, then how about this early-1990s classic instead?
The Ford hot hatchback would have been much cheaper to buy than Crewe’s eight-cylinder luxury saloon in period, but this rare Mk3 Fiesta RS Turbo is expected to sell for roughly the same price as the Bentley in Iconic Auctioneers’ upcoming sale – and it’s being offered with no reserve.
It’s powered by a turbocharged, 1.6-litre ‘four’ that makes 131bhp.
You can spot an RS Turbo by its bonnet vents, body-coloured spoiler and 14in, three-spoke wheels.
Reportedly, the 88,000-mile (141,622km) Ford is highly original and has been stored in a barn in recent years.
15. 1991 Lotus Carlton (est: £50-60,000/$67-80,500/€58-69,500)
A silver Lotus Carlton? Your eyes aren’t deceiving you.
Almost all Lotus Carltons were finished in Imperial Green, but this one was delivered new to the Sultan of Brunei, who commissioned the repaint.
The car was registered in the UK in August 1991, but shipped to Brunei one week later. It is the 253rd of 286 Lotus Carltons constructed.
Despite this example’s low use – it’s covered just 20,703 miles (33,318km) – the country’s tropical climate has taken its toll on the paintwork.
And although the interior appears to be in decent condition, it looks like the Lotus has not been used for a number of years.
But if you have the means to bring it back to life, you can look forward to enjoying the saloon’s supercar-baiting performance.
16. 1996 Ford Escort (est: £2-3000/$2500-4000/€2500-3500)
This special-edition Ford Escort might not be the traditional choice for a restoration project, but the 1.6-litre is a rare survivor – and it’s a prime Festival of the Unexceptional entry.
The Serenade trim included central locking, electric windows, metallic paintwork and body-coloured bumpers.
It will cross the block without reserve in the Iconic Auctioneers sale at the Classic Car & Restoration Show at the NEC in Birmingham, UK, from 20-22 March 2026.
The description says the car will ‘require recommissioning prior to road use’. Festival of the Unexceptional entries close on 26 April. Are you up to the challenge?
If you’re interested in this forgotten Ford, or any of the other classic cars showcased in this slideshow, click here to view the full catalogue.