The Classic Motor Show was back on the 8-10th November 2024 for its 40th anniversary show. As the annual finale on the classic motoring calendar, this year saw more than 3,000 classic vehicles on display, 338 clubs, 71,250 visitors, and a mix of auctioneers, traders, and autojumble stands filling the six halls of the NEC in Birmingham.
These stats are a far cry from the inaugural show 40 years ago in 1984, attracting 90 car clubs. The show has come a long way from those early days, but it is an excellent representation of the UK’s thriving classic motoring scene, wouldn’t you agree?
As one of the biggest indoor vehicle gatherings in the UK, picking the best bits is a difficult job! So what were the highlights of the 2024 NEC Classic Motor Show?
Well, the first car that caught our eye was the very unique 1935 Aston Martin MKII on the Aston Martin Owners Club stand. This car has a secret agent connection! Then there was the Jensen 541 on the Jensen Owners Club stand, which exuded style and luxury. Only 500 of these fibreglass-bodied cars were produced, each one hand assembled at the marques West Bromwich factory. Other rare West Midlands-manufactured vehicles included the Jaguar XJ40 Estate, one of two cars converted to an estate for a single owner in 1989.
Continuing the 40th anniversary theme, we were drawn to a 1933 Austin Seven Box Saloon in Hall 4. After a 40-year restoration, the car nicknamed ‘Alf’ was proudly displayed on the Long Bucky Vintage and Classic Vehicle Meet stand.
The Imp Club offered a snapshot of life at Linwood with variations of vehicles produced under the Hillman Imp name. Continuing our interest in car marques no longer manufactured, we were particularly interested in the cars featured on the British Salmson Club stand. This included a model that would have been a common sight at British rallies and hillclimbs in the early 1920s, the 10hp 1925 Salmson Val3 Grand Sport.
Our good friends at the National Street Rod Association featured a custom 1956 MKVII Jaguar, which also wowed the crowds at the Hot Rod Supernationals earlier this year. And for fans of modified cars, the patina-look 1969 Volvo Amazon caught the eye, as did the 1940 Willys Coupe hotrod recently featured on our blog.
Standout colours were definitely a theme of this year’s event. Love or hate the 1967 Aston Martin DB6 in hot Barbie pink, the stunning pearl-red 1965 Volvo P1800 parked next to would have been our pick. As would the orange 1960 Auto Union 1000S Coupe, imported from South Africa, with its unusual, shaped design and pristine condition. The MKII Austin Mini Cooper on the British Mini Club stand had to be one of the cars of the show! The incredible Lamborghini Green paint colour is captivating. This car would not have looked out of place at the All Mini Breakfast Meet! The Morris Minor Million line up brought all the smiles too. Morris celebrated production of the millionth Minor with a lilac-coloured limited edition, and it is always uplifting to see them at this event.
In the market for a new car? There was plenty of choice at the 2024 Classic Motor Show. If you had deep pockets, you could have come home with a stunning 1963 Maserati 3500GTI Vignale Spyder with an estimate of £400-500,000. Or how about a rarely seen in the UK 1972 Datsun 240Z with an estimate of £40-50,000)? For those preferring something with a bit more grit, how about a 1987 Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth, formally driven by Benetton Formula One team manager Peter Collins, and with an estimate of £100-120,000? Or perhaps a piece of rallying heritage with a 1993 Lancia Delta HF 16v Integrale Evolution II, estimated at £70-90,000?
But it’s the stories behind the vehicles on display that make this event the success it is. One of these incredible stories is The Shropshire Spitfire Project. Restoring a Triumph Spitfire in memory of someone special, the car is set to be auctioned in summer 2025, raising vital funds for a Shropshire hospice. As a supporter of the project, ClassicLine has provided a year’s classic car insurance cover to help get the car on the road. The car will be sent off to the paint shop in the coming weeks; keep an eye out for the updates!
For us, it’s the vehicle clubs that are the stars of the show. Their volunteers and representatives put in months of work to curate their stands. Representing their vehicles and promoting their clubs in the best possible way. It is always a pleasure to visit the show and catch up with the many car clubs and groups we support, be it through specialist insurance schemes for members or giving back to the club through revenue and sponsorship.
As the sun sets on what has been another fantastic show, we’re already looking forward to next year’s event. The NEC Classic Motor Show will be back in 2025. Save the date, 7-9 November, 2024!
If you attended this year’s NEC Classic Motor Show, we’d love to hear your highlights.
Enjoy the photos!
