71,000 visitors made their way to Birmingham for the 2023 NEC Classic Motor Show.
With 319 cherished vehicle clubs represented across the six halls, together with auctioneers, traders and autojumble goodies, the show on the 10-12 November 2023 was an excellent representation of the thriving classic motoring scene.
Starting in Hall 1, we were delighted to see a selection of cars on loan from the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust displayed on the Jaguar Drivers Club stand, including the 1988 Le Mans winning Jaguar XJR-9. Visitors got to enjoy a fantastic 6-car display on the GT40 Enthusiasts club stand, and our friends at the TVR Car Club celebrated 40 years of the 350i, the marques first vehicle to be Rover V8 powered, and the 30th anniversary of the TVR Chimaera.
In Hall 2, the Austin A70 Hampshire Countryman Woodie stood out from the crowd. As did the Austin Big 7 on the Pre-War Austin Seven Club stand and the 1966 Chevrolet C10 Pickup from the pride of ownership area.
Standout cars from Hall 4 included the coach built 1930 Triumph Super Seven on the Pre 1940 Triumph Motor Club stand. The restoration was outstanding, with a fabric outer skin and unique touches inside. The Plymouth Special De Luxe dropped to the floor on the Rollhard stand also looked exquisite.
In Hall 5, our eyes were drawn to the C1 Corvette on the Classic Corvette Club UK stand, and Hillman Husky displayed on the Imp Club stand. The Rootes Archive Centre Trust stand featured two rare Sunbeam Venezia classics as well as selling copies of the long-awaited 2nd volume of The Rootes Story book featuring the Chrysler years.
A Viva-lineup drew the crowds at the joint Vauxhall Viva Owners’ Club and Viva Drivers’ Club stand with an impressive 10-car display – check out our Instagram Reels for a peek at this! STAR, the Sunbeam Talbot Alpine Register, put on a truly special display celebrating 70 glorious years of the Sunbeam Alpine, including Stirling Moss and Sheila Van Damms Works Rally Team Cars. An honourable mention must also go to the Coleshill Auto Breakfast Meet team who presented a £3,500 cheque to their chosen charity for the year, Warwickshire and Solihull Blood Bikes.
This year’s show wasn’t strictly limited to historic vehicles. Modern-day representations were introduced, including the Triumph name making a revival with the all-electric Triumph TR25. Other electric vehicles included a display of Enfield 8000, coined as the first electric car, and built on the Isle of Wight, plus a fascinating display of Sinclair C5’s.
Another rare “Beast” on show was John Dodd’s 1972 27-litre aeroengined Rolls Royce. Under new ownership and revamped with a new look, “The Beast” made its debut at the NEC Classic Motor Show.
Over in the auction areas, records were broken with the sale of a 1974 Ford Escort MK1 RS2000 making £108,000, and a Range Rover once driven by the late Queen Elizabeth II sold for £132,750. Our friends at Trade Classics had a fantastic selection of cars for sale too, including Alan Titchmarsh’s 1963 Jaguar Fixed Head Coupe.
For the ClassicLine team, it was a day of supporting our many partner car clubs and catching up with clients. Although we did not have a stand at the show, it was a great occasion to hear how their members spent the summer motoring season and to see the fantastic displays put on by the clubs.
The annual NEC Classic Motor Show will be back in 2024. Save the date, 8-10 November, 2024!
If you attended this year’s NEC Classic Motor Show, we’d love to hear your highlights.
Enjoy the photos!
