30TH YEAR WITH A RECORD BREAKING CROWD

Another year older and another record broken! The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show celebrated its 30th birthday in style as 65,000 motoring enthusiasts gathered at Birmingham’s NEC over the three-day classic event.

From its humble beginnings of two halls (17,000 sqm) and around 70 clubs in 1984, the 2013 Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show offered 11 halls (82,000 sqm) with 269 motoring clubs creating amazing displays of rare and stunning marques. With 1,500 cars and 300 motorcycles on display and over 600 trade stands, every motoring taste was catered for.

Daniel Nwaokolo, Show Director, said: “The feedback on our 30th show has been quite overwhelming and is a true reflection of the classic car movement’s continued passion for the show. I¹d like to thank everyone - all the clubs, exhibitors, visitors, special guests and sponsors for making it an incredible event and look forward to seeing you all again in 2014."

Highlights included the culmination of Meguiar’s Club Showcase where 16 of the ‘best of the best’ from the year’s club concours events gathered to find out who would take the title. It was William Baldwin’s 1960 Jaguar XK150 S Roadster that was announced as the winner by Meguiar’s managing director David Evans.

Silverstone Auctions’ two-day sale resulted in an all-time record as over 85 cars being sold for a massive £2.85 million inclusive of premium. The star of the sale was a 1965 Aston Martin DB5 saloon, which sold at £362,250 with premium, over £80,000 its estimated price. The ex-Fangio owned 1970 IKA Tornio380S, offered without a reserve, sold at £28,175 with premium.

Sporting Bears, the charity fundraising motoring club, raised around £41,000 over the three-days from offering 10-mile dream rides to visitors in cars ranging from an Austin Seven to the latest Lamborghini Aventador Roadster.

Crowds surrounded the Wheeler Dealer Live Stage, hosted by Mike Brewer and Edd China, as special guests Sir Stirling Moss, David Soul and Quentin Willson were interviewed on their careers and latest projects along with other well known faces and enthusiasts from the classic scene.

Other celebrities found roaming the halls included BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show DJ Chris Evans, Dragon’s Den star Theo Paphitis, and soap stars such as Coronation Street’s Craig Charles and Emmerdale’s Kelvin Fletcher.

Aside from the celebrity guests, Mike and Edd, along with the team from Practical Classics magazine restored a 1976 MGB Roadster over the three days that was then given with a year’s free insurance from Lancaster Insurance to lucky winner Andrew Crowe from Leeds. The car had been restored with the support of MGOC Spares, who had supplied new parts and fittings including a chrome bumper conversion kit.

New headline sponsor Lancaster Insurance pulled out all the stops with three amazingly themed stands including one featuring the Starsky & Hutch Gran Torino and an appearance from David Soul. Mike Edgley, Managing Director, said: “As headline sponsors in our first year, I am absolutely delighted at the success of the Show. With record numbers for the 30th anniversary, it is very clear that this industry has vitality and vigour. What really struck me again was the passion and enthusiasm that the classic car owners have for their vehicles, but also their friendliness and willingness to share their stories. There were so many wonderful stories at the Show too; cars reunited with their owners after many years, long, painstaking restorations, as well as True Brit adventures.

“I am also really proud of our own stands at the Show, be it the four decade “Blast from the Past”, or our Gran Torino stand with the legendary David Soul showing his star quality is undimmed.”

The 2014 Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show will be held from 14th to 16th November. For more information on the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show or Classic Motorbike Show, visit www.necclassicmotorshow.com