Written by John O'Cean.

Spend any time around a classic car show and you’ll hear it:
“Electric cars? Newfangled nonsense!”
Well… not quite.
In fact, Britain has been quietly building and running electric vehicles since before many of our favourite classics were even a sketch on a drawing board. So before anyone reaches for the smelling salts, let’s take a light-hearted look at Britain’s long—and rather charming—relationship with electric motoring.

Around the turn of the 20th century, electric vehicles were actually quite popular—especially in cities. London even had electric taxis for a time.
They were easy to drive, didn’t belch smoke, and didn’t require wrestling with gears. If anything, petrol cars were the awkward, noisy upstarts.
History, as we know, had other plans.

Simple answer: petrol got too good.
Faster refuelling, longer range, and the romance of the open road pushed electric vehicles into the background. They never disappeared entirely—but for decades they were limited to niche roles like deliveries and industrial use.
Sound familiar? We may have come full circle.

Electric cars aren’t here to replace classic motoring passion—they’re part of the same story.
From the ingenuity of Thomas Parker to the quiet determination of the milk float, Britain has been experimenting, adapting, and occasionally leading the charge for well over a century.

​So next time the topic comes up at the club stand, you can smile knowingly and say:
“We’ve been doing electric since before it was cool.”

There’s something special about seeing British motoring heritage brought together under one roof—and this year’s Practical Classics Restoration Show at the NEC delivered exactly that.
I’m pleased to share that a new online photo gallery is now live, showcasing the Enthusiasts of British Motor Vehicles club stand from the 2026 event. Whether you were there in person or couldn’t make the trip, the gallery offers a detailed look at the cars, craftsmanship, and people that made the stand such a highlight.

This year’s display featured a wonderfully varied lineup, reflecting the breadth of British motoring history and enthusiasm:

• A Morris Minor “1 Million” tribute, celebrating one of the UK’s most iconic cars
• A custom-built Jaguar D-Type child’s car, beautifully crafted and full of character
• An early Austin Metro L, representing everyday motoring from a different era
• A Ford Mondeo Mk1, now firmly establishing itself as a modern classic
• An Austin J40 pedal car, a nostalgic favourite with a rich heritage
• And a restored Raleigh Chopper cycle, which was being reassembled live at the show—drawing plenty of interest throughout the weekend

From polished showpieces to interactive elements like the Chopper rebuild, the stand captured the full spectrum of what the club is all about—passion, knowledge, and a genuine love for keeping British vehicles (and cycles) alive.
What really stood out, though, was the atmosphere. The stand wasn’t just about the vehicles—it was about the conversations, the shared expertise, and the enthusiasm that draws people into this hobby in the first place. That spirit comes through clearly in the gallery, with candid moments alongside the more formal display shots.

If you enjoy classic cars, restoration journeys, or simply appreciate the heritage of British engineering, this gallery is well worth a look.

And there’s more to come.
A full video feature filmed at the stand is currently in production and will be published over the next few weeks. This will bring the display to life even further, with walkarounds, closer details, and a better sense of the event as it unfolded.
In the meantime, dive into the gallery and explore one of the standout club displays from this year’s show.
Gallery link: click here
Video coming soon

Preparation (Also Known as the Faffing Stage)
Preparation begins with a wash.
Now, a Morris Minor wash is less about achieving concours-level perfection and more about removing the evidence of the last several enjoyable drives. Bugs, dust, the odd mysterious smudge that probably dates back to the previous owner sometime in the early 1980s.
The chrome gets a polish.
The hubcaps get a wipe.
The interior gets a quick vacuum, mainly to remove the small collection of gravel that seems to accumulate despite the car rarely leaving paved roads.
At some point the bonnet goes up. This is unavoidable.
You stand there staring at the engine with a thoughtful expression, even if everything is working perfectly.
A neighbour walks past.
“Is something wrong with it?”
“No,” you say. “Just checking.”
He nods slowly. People who don’t own old cars never quite understand this part.

The Journey to the Show
Starting a Minor is a wonderfully uncomplicated business. Turn the key, a little cough from the engine, and away you go with a cheerful mechanical hum.
Driving a Morris Minor feels less like operating a machine and more like participating in a friendly collaboration. The steering wheel is large, the gearbox has its own opinions, and acceleration is best described as “enthusiastic rather than urgent.”
Modern cars sweep past with quiet efficiency.
Meanwhile the Minor trundles along happily, as if it knows that rushing would spoil the fun.

Arrival at the Show
At the showground, rows of polished classics are already lining the grass.
You park between something shiny and Italian and something loud and American. The Morris sits quietly between them, looking perfectly content.
And this is when something interesting happens.
People walk past the flashy cars… and then stop at the Minor.
“Oh wow,” someone says. “My granddad had one of these!”
Another person smiles and tells a story about learning to drive in one.
A third explains how their family once fitted five people, a dog, and a week’s worth of camping gear into a Minor and drove halfway across the country.
The Morris Minor may not be the fastest car at the show.
But it might be the most remembered.

The Conversations
Classic car shows run on conversation.
Soon there’s a small group gathered around.
“How old is it?”
“1974.”
“Is it reliable?”
“Well… it always gets there eventually.”
“Did you restore it?”
You pause slightly before answering.
“Let’s just say we’ve spent a lot of time together.”
There are nods of understanding from other owners nearby. Every classic car has a story, and every owner has at least one tale involving unexpected repairs, creative problem-solving, and a slightly nervous drive home.

The Best Part
As the afternoon winds down, the crowd thins and the cars begin to leave one by one.
You climb back into the Morris, turn the key, and the little engine springs into life again.
No drama. No fuss. Just a cheerful engine note and the gentle feeling of a car that’s perfectly happy doing exactly what it was built to do.

​The drive home is slow, relaxed, and oddly satisfying.
Because owning a classic car isn’t really about speed, trophies, or perfection.

​Sometimes it’s simply about a small, friendly Morris Minor 1000, a sunny Saturday, and a whole lot of people smiling when they see it go past. 🚗✨

The Enthusiasts of British Motor Vehicles hit the Highlands once again for our second Scotland driving tour in September 2025 — and yes, somehow we all made it home with the same number of cars we started with.

Join our merry convoy of British classics as we wander (occasionally on purpose) through some of Scotland’s wildest and most beautiful scenery. Expect sweeping mountain passes, lochs that look like they’ve been Photoshopped, and the usual collection of friends laughing, exploring, and trying not to get lost at every junction.

We visit castles, viewpoints, attractions, and the odd café that didn’t see us coming. There’s plenty of banter, plenty of scenery, and plenty of classic‑car charm — all wrapped up in a relaxed, good‑fun adventure through the Highlands.
​
Grab a cuppa, settle in, and enjoy the ride. Scotland never disappoints… and neither do we (well, most of the time).