Massive NEC Classic Motor Show preview

By Greg MacLeman

| 11 Nov 2014

Just three days remain until the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show at the NEC – the largest indoor event of its type in the UK.

This year's show promises to be bigger and better than ever before, with hundreds of clubs, manufacturers and traders poised to pack-out the vast National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. More than 1700 classics cars will be in attendance, as well as over 250 club stands.

Excitement is building to fever pitch thanks, in part, to a bold new theme – The Big Screen – that is offering clubs the opportunity to relive their marques' and models' forays into film and television. Classic & Sports Car's own stand promises to be one of the major draws of the event, with a multi-million pound Porsche 917 taking centre stage for a celebration of the Steve McQueen classic movie Le Mans.

In addition to the Daytona-winning Porsche 917, visitors will get the chance to bag a number of incredible gifts for taking out a C&SC subscription. The world's largest motor sport archive, LAT Photographic, will also be on the stand, allowing enthusiasts the chance to search for images of their own car, plus order prints from the back catalogue.

All the winners of Classic & Sports Car's annual Club Awards will also be announced, with this year's theme ensuring competition for the top gongs will be stiffer than ever before.

A stunning array of Maseratis is due to congregate to mark the firm's 100th year, with Nick Mason's 250F the star of the stand. It will be part of a 21-car display that includes road and racing cars from the Modena manufacturer's past.

A T61 Birdcage, Cooper Maserati and 200S – one of just 28 examples built – are also expected to be on show, while road cars such as the Khamsin, Kyalami and Mexico will also feature.

Jaguar Land Rover has also announced its presence at the event, with the first prototype of its new Lightweight E-type project – Car Zero – expected to draw massive crowds. The car represents the reincarnation of the aluminium-bodied racer, of which just six new examples will be built.

The Coventry firm will also be showing-off a number of classics. They include an Ecurie Ecosse D-type – chassis 561 – which will spearhead the model's 60th anniversary celebrations.

The classic car rebirth continues away from Jaguar's Lightweight, as the first new Allard in 56 years stars on Allard Sports Cars' stand – the first time the firm has had a motor show presence since the 1950s.

In contrast, the Austin-Healey Club is winding back the clock to 1964 – the last time the Austin-Healey 3000 was victorious on the Liége Rally. The golden jubilee of the 3000's success – and the last-ever running of the Liége Rally – will be marked by a gathering of three works Healeys. It is hoped that former members of BMC's Competitions Department will visit the stand at midday in 14 November to reminisce about the rally.

Also hotly anticipated is Silverstone Auctions' NEC sale, which will take place on 15-16 November. Among the treasures that will go under the hammer is an Aston Martin DB2/4 that was pitted against the top racing drivers of the day with barely any modifications.

A rare fastback Bentley R-type Continental is also expected to cause a stir. The stunning 1954 car is one of just three right-hand-drive automatic examples built, and could sell for more than £900,000.

Don't forget that you can also book a table at the brand-new Gallery restaurant, which will be serving lunch and dinner throughout the weekend. Forget squashed sandwiches, leaky flasks and sitting on the concourse floor – order a two- or three-course meal with table service and relax before plunging back into the madness!

Call 0121 767 3663 to reserve your place.