by Admin

The organisers Clarion Events have reached agreement with the UK Govt that this year's Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show with Discovery will go ahead, albeit with a raft of additional health & safety measures in place.

We feel honoured that once again we have been offered the opportunity of a club stand at the show, however after much consideration and with considerable regret we have on this occasion decided to decline the offer. Our concern is above all for the health & well-being of our team. The organisers fully understand our decision and we hope to return to the large show scene at the Practical  Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show in March 2021 - subject of course to the pandemic situation prevailing at that time.

by the Lancaster Insurance team

We're really excited to let you know that we are doing everything we can to bring the community together for the season finale in November, once the government gives the green light.

While we intend to bring you the show you know and love, some things will be a little different this year.

We're putting steps in place so you can feel confident that you are in as safe and secure environment as possible, as you immerse yourself in all things classic motoring.

​Key changes include:

• Temperature checking upon arrival and face masks recommended
• Extended opening times with dedicated entry time and hall entrance options
• Widened aisles to enable easy viewing whilst maintaining physical distancing
• Hand sanitiser stations across the show
• Enhanced cleaning regime by venue and exhibitors

To see all the measures we are putting in place, in detail, head over to our Keeping You Safe page on our website.

For those of you keen to have something in the diary to look forward to, we're pleased to let you know you can now book tickets online. The booking process has been amended to accommodate the staggered entry and tickets will be limited and released over time.

In the meantime, help us keep the community talking. Follow us on social and take five minutes to share your favourite #MotoringMemories with us. Let's fill the timelines with all things classic motoring!

All going well, #WheelMeetAgain, in a few months!

​Show Director Lee Masters said: “We are delighted to have welcomed so many enthusiasts and those in the industry to the show this year, especially in the current climate. Huge thanks as always to the motoring clubs who all put on tremendous displays, all our partners and exhibitors, and our amazing guests who brought the house down on the Live Stage."
 
This year’s show theme had been embraced by the 300 motoring clubs in attendance with many cars featuring on their own ‘Top Trumps’ card. Visitors crowded round headline sponsor Lancaster Insurance’s stand to buy their special edition pack.
 
Wheeler Dealers’ Mike Brewer hosted a wealth of motoring talent on the Discovery Live Stage with Salvage Hunters: Classic Cars’ Drew Pritchard and Paul Cowland, and the Goblin Works Garage team Jimmy De Ville, Helen Stanley and Ant Partridge appearing over the weekend. They were joined by BTTC driver Jason Plato and Shed and Buried star Henry Cole as well as fantastic car parades and the three-day restoration of a Jaguar E-Type.
 
Of the sixteen stunning vehicles on the Meguiar’s Club Showcase, it was Dave Rippard’s 1959 Morris Mini Minor that received the top honours and the crystal trophy. The judges had meticulously inspected the cars in one of the closest results to date.
 
The hotly contested Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership competition saw 20 diverse cars in the final but it was Ted Brooke’s 1961 Morris Minor Million that lifted the winner’s trophy. Voted for by the visitors, second place went to Ian Cummins’ 1991 Mazda MX-5 while Tahmid Haque’s 1988 BMW E30 325i Sport came third.
 
Andrew Evanson, Senior Operations Manager at Lancaster Insurance, added: “This year was extra special for us; with Lancaster celebrating 35 years of trading and the show enjoying its 35th anniversary. Bringing everything together was the inspired Top Trumps theme and it was fantastic to see how well this was embraced throughout the halls. 
 
“The show highlights what is so extraordinary about our community; the enthusiasm, dedication and a whole heap of passion and I felt a huge sense of pride as headline sponsor. It was great seeing the array of classics on display including Ted Brookes’ Pride of Ownership winning 1961 Morris Minor Million and as always the weekend was the perfect ‘close to the season’.”
 
It was the expert judges that decided the winners of the Classic Motorbike Show Pride of Ownership. Mark Taylor’s Ariel Square Four bike and sidecar came first with joint second going to father and son Alan and Paul Stopford with their two 1959 Triumph Bonnevilles. Third place went to Blake Hemmingway’s 1975 Honda XL250.
 
The Sporting Bears gave around 750 ‘Dream Rides’, a ten-mile passenger ride in one of over 80 cars available over the weekend. They raised just under £30,000 for various UK children’s charities.
 
A special test for the RAC Rally of the Tests brought live competitive motorsport action into the NEC halls for the first time. The crowds flocked to the barriers as over 60 cars ranging from Minis to Porsches tackled an agility test before heading back out onto the road. The event was won by Steve Entwistle and Mark Appleton in their Morris Mini Cooper S.
 
Silverstone Auctions two-day sale saw some record breaking results with the ex-works 1955 ‘Le Mans’ Triumph TR2 sold for £258,750, while the 2,000-mile Jaguar XJ220 sold for £362,812, both including premium.

A new photo gallery featuring the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show with Discovery from the NEC last weekend is now available online.

​Click on the image below to view.

by Gar Cole.

I think it's fair to say that 2019's Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show has been our most successful to date, despite having one of the smaller pitches compared to the past. We crammed it with 5 diverse and fabulous vehicles; I saw people show every emotion from surprise, delight, envy and appreciation, you just couldn't ignore the stand.

Massive thanks to the 5 vehicles owners Paul Green, John Dickson, Mick Taylor, Nick Arthur and Tosh and Gus Brooks. You guys gave brilliant support all weekend from setting up to chatting with the public, special thanks also to Phil Allin, Gill Taylor, Lincoln hunt , Ian Woodward and Bernard Owen for helping with setting up and manning the stand. It was a lovely and genuine surprise when our stand won it's first award for the collection of vehicles the judges would most like to take home. A big thanks to Dave Youngs at Lancaster for all your support.

Last but definitely not least our head admin Paul Sweeney who does a lot behind the scenes folks never see, helping me with the show forms and emails from the different departments as well as managing the website and online shop, and of course my fellow 'fat bloke' Mike Peake for his tireless support and enthusiasm for these show, it was a team effort and we nailed it!😀

Six cars will be on show and include a very rare flat nose Porsche 911 Turbo, MG Maestro Turbo, VW Campervan, Morris Mini Cooper, MK1 Escort Mexico and a Ford Mustang Fastback. The stand will also act as a collection point for attendees to pick up their Special Edition Top Trumps packs. Five of these packs will randomly feature an exclusive golden ticket and the lucky winner will receive a pair of day tickets to Goodwood Revival 2020, an overnight stay and dinner. (T&Cs apply).
 
This year, Lancaster will be displaying on two stands side by side - more information to be revealed very soon! It has also teamed up with Kelsey Media to create ‘Lancaster TV’. Over the three days, a ‘chat show’ will be hosted with special guests and the video will be uploaded onto social media daily.  
 
Andrew Evanson, Senior Operations Manager at Lancaster Insurance, comments: “The show, like Top Trumps, evokes a feeling of nostalgia for many visitors as they look back and reminisce about the cars and memories from years gone by. This special theme is a perfect one as we mark 35 years of being part of the classic car community and we can’t wait to celebrate with visitors, clubs and exhibitors alike in November.”  ​

We invited offers of British classics to exhibit on our club stand at this year's Lancaster Classic Motor Show with Discovery and you didn't disappoint!

More than 20 fantastic motors were offered by their proud owners and it's no word of a lie to say we would have been proud to display all of them - but of course we have to work with the space we have been allocated by the show organisers which has room for just 5 cars, so some very difficult choices have had to be made.

So firstly, the Admin team wants to say a very big thank you to everyone who took part - we really do appreciate it and wish we could have taken every motor put forward. Please try again next time.

So here we are - the 5 magnificent beasties selected for this year's stand are:

The restoration of the Ford Consul GT that featured heavily in the first series of the 1970’s cult classic cop show The Sweeney is to be revealed at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery.

This 1974 model was supplied to Euston Films, part of the Thames TV company, from new for use in a new TV series called ‘The Sweeney’. Ford had originally supplied a blue Consul but the producers apparently asked for it to be replaced with one painted in a brighter colour to stand out for the camera against a drab London background.

The Consul was used for the entire series one production and most of series two before being replaced by Ford with a Granada 3.0S shortly after the Consul range discontinued production in 1975.

Appearing in the opening title sequences of the first three series, the Consul was on-screen with the show’s lead actors John Thaw, who played Regan, and Dennis Waterman as Carter, along with their boss Haskins, played by Garfield Morgan.

This Consul was used in some of the most remembered 1970’s TV classic car chases around west London and consequently was fitted with some non-standard equipment including a full engine sump guard, full fuel tank shield and a bulkhead brace bar.

The current owner, known to those who have been following the build on social media as Mr Shifter, bought the car in 1988 in the Slough area and used it regularly until it was taken off the road in 1989 after failing its MoT on structural corrosion. It was placed into storage until it was finally rebuilt and the restoration completed earlier this year by the team at MBVR Ltd.

Mr Shifter said: “My thanks go to all the companies and people who have worked hard to get the car back to full health after almost thirty years off the road.”

The Ford Consul will be pride of place at the entrance to Hall 5 of the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery, so they’ll be no chance of missing it. It will have security with it just in case anyone tries to slide across the bonnet in a 70s cop show style!

All you need to do is subscribe to our group email newsletters
The lucky winner will be chosen at random from the subscribers' list on 27 October
Existing subscribers will automatically be entered in the draw

With seven halls of petrol heads and friendly clubs to meet, be part of a community that joins together to share a passion. Book your tickets to the show today! ​The show is dedicated to supporting a community of like-minded enthusiasts. The 300 clubs joining us are pulling out all the stops for their stands for everyone to enjoy...

​
​The Reliant Owners Club will have a fantastic guest appearance from Andy Plum, designer of the Reliant Mk3, along with the prototype body shell named the RFW9 he designed himself (left)

​
​Displaying Princess Anne's car, the Middlebridge Enthusiasts Scimitar Set will also have the Cadbury's liveried race car that competed in the Birmingham Superprix (left).

Read more about James' story and tell us of your memories of the show too. Whether it's about your first visit to the NEC Classic Motor Show, if you displayed a car one year, or a story of a car you wished you never let go - we'd love to hear it!

PRESS RELEASE

As 2019 marks the 35th anniversary of the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery, the organisers have chosen to theme Hall 8 as ‘From 1984 - The 35th Anniversary Hall’. Held at Birmingham’s NEC from 8-10 November, this part of the show is dedicated to marques, models and clubs that have appeared since 1984.
 
More than forty clubs are already confirmed for the Anniversary Hall, joining the other 260 that will be spread across the other six halls of the show. When it comes to the classics on display, there really is something for everyone from family models and sports car to heroes from the world of motorsport.
 
Amongst the Anniversary Hall highlights are some great Japanese classics. The UK S2000 Owners Club will be saluting 20 years of Honda’s terrific drop-top sports car. The 300ZX Owners Club celebrates 30 years since the launch of the Z32 300ZX and also 50 years since the arrival of the famed Z Car range. 
 
Other clubs celebrating earlier Japanese models include the Honda S800 Sports Car Club celebrating half a century since the Honda N600 was launched onto the UK market, the Classic Z Register who plan to show iconic Datsun 240Z to celebrate its 50th and the Toyota Enthusiasts Club celebrating 40 years of the Celica 40 series second generation.
 
There are plenty more sporting classics to enjoy too, and Ford enthusiasts will certainly want to help mark 20 years since of the launch of the Racing Puma. And no one will want to miss the Peugeot Sport Club UK stand as the brilliant 205 GTi reaches its 35th birthday.
 
Rover fans also have plenty to celebrate, including 20 years since the official sales launch of the 75, while the Rover 800 Club will mark two decades since the last 800 was made. Another family classic that has reached a special milestone is the Mk2 Vauxhall Astra, the Owners Club for the model marking 35 years since its launch.

​When it comes to motorsport, the awesome MG Metro 6R4 rally car is always guaranteed to draw a crowd, and with 2019 being 35 years since its official launch both 6R4.net and Rallying History will be displaying some great examples.
 
A number of clubs also have anniversaries of their own and you can be sure they will be ready to celebrate in style. It is 20 years since the Maestro & Montego Owners Club was formed plus 35 years of the Montego itself. The Naylor Car Club has reached its silver jubilee, the Middlebridge Enthusiasts Scimitar Set is 30 years old, while Audi Owners Club celebrates 21 years of the Audi TT.
 
Event Director Lee Masters said: “With the show’s own 35th anniversary and a wealth of classic car celebrations to enjoy, Hall 8 is going to be very special. Following its successful introduction last year, it is all set to welcome plenty of enthusiastic visitors once again.”
 
Tickets are now on sale for this year’s Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery. For more information including a full list of the attending clubs, ticket options and booking details, visit www.necclassicmotorshow.com. 

This year's Lancaster Classic Motor Show will be held once again at the NEC between 8-10 November 2019 and we will have a stand in a fantastic position in Hall 5 - just a short distance from the Live Stage where all the action will be happening.

​A stand is nothing without some stunning motor vehicles to look at, so we are inviting offers from members willing to display their pride and joy for 3 days at the NEC. Only the very best will be selected. Everyone who has taken part in previous years told us it was a fantastic experience so don't be shy!
IMPORTANT: Entries close at midnight GMT on 31 July 2019

​Welcoming back the world's largest gathering of classic vehicle clubs, the show opens its doors to a community of passionate enthusiasts.

​Being the heart of the show, clubs will join together to spread their love and wisdom for motors. Whether they're celebrating historic milestones or have a rare model taking centre stage, a wide range of marques and models will be represented as we present to you 300 clubs from around the country.

With outstanding car displays all trying to out do one-another, meet some of the world's most knowledgeable car collectors and enthusiasts who are ready to welcome you in to our motoring world!

Check out which clubs will be joining us 8-10 November.

by Admin

We're back! Following our successful first-ever appearance in 2017 at this most prestigious of UK classic car events, we have been invited to return for this year's show. The important dates for your diary are 9-11 November.

As usual, club discount price tickets are available and you can book now. Click here to access the special codes you need.
Club offer Ts & Cs:

1. The codes are valid for Saturday or Sunday Adult tickets and Saturday or Sunday Family tickets, only when booked in advance. 
2. Family ticket gives access for 2 x adults and up to 3 x children (aged 5-15).
3. Club discounts will be applied to on-the-door prices: Club Adult £24.50 (£30 on-the-door) and Club Family £68 (£80 on-the-door).
4. Ticket prices include a free show guide.
5. All bookings are subject to a single transaction fee of £1.95.

We are proud to announce that we have joined up with the Sporting Bears and Lancaster Insurance to support fundraising for UK children's charities at this years' Lancaster Classic Motor Show with Discovery and we have a fantastic prize worth more than £100 to give away!

​WIN a pair of free tickets valid for any day of this year's Classic Motor Show courtesy of Lancaster Insurance AND a £50 Dream Ride voucher* courtesy of the Sporting Bears Motor Club. The cost is £5 per entry and the Dream Ride is a passenger ride of approx 10 miles. 

RULES

• enter as many times as you like
• the winner will be drawn at random on 20 October 2018
• the winner will be notified by email
• no cash alternative prizes are available

All monies raised will be donated to the Sporting Bears in support of children's charities. ​

* the price of a ride varies according to the car you select - you may need to add money to the voucher value to make up the required amount

What better way is there to raise money for charity than by taking a ten-mile passenger ride in the car of your dreams?  

The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery, works with the charity organisation, the Sporting Bears Motor Club to create the ‘Dream Rides’ garage – a fantastic array of between 70-100 cars that are available for visitors to enjoy a passenger ride taking them out onto the open roads surrounding Birmingham’s NEC.

‘Dream Rides’ offer visitors the opportunity to jump into and experience some of the most spectacular cars in the world and all you have to do is donate to a wonderful cause. The size of your donation depends on the car you want to be taken for a drive in – starting from as little as £10.

The Sporting Bears Motor Club members will on average undertake 1,000 rides over the three-day event, with each person giving their time, their car and covering the cost of their fuel, so every penny of your donation goes to the children’s charities that they support across the UK.

Since Dream Rides began, the Sporting Bears have raised over £2 million in donations, with the 2016 Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show raising over £50,000!

Formed in 1989, the Sporting Bears Motor Club is a dedicated group of classic car and sports car enthusiasts with the primary aim - to raise money for children's charities through its own social and touring events, and to support other charitable events. It is to the club's credit that annual subscriptions support the club overheads thus allowing all monies raised from Dream Rides and other events to be directed towards the selected charities.

In 2017, with the help of the members, the marques on offer included Cobras, Ferraris, Maseratis, Porsches, GT40s, Jags, MGs, TR’s, Lamborghinis, Aston Martins and for those of a tender age they even had Noddy’s car!
​
There is a Dream Ride for everyone!

Reflecting on this year's Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show theme 'Built to Last', Motor Sport Magazine's stand is set to impress with their focus on Britain’s contribution to competitive longevity.

The display features several fascinating cars – including the oldest surviving racing Bentley. Built in 1921, and with Brooklands racing pedigree, this 3 litre car has been developed as a recreation of one of the 1922 Tourist Trophy team cars, and most recently appeared in an episode of the TV show, Downton Abbey.
 
The other star exhibit is an Aston Martin DB2, which was entered for the 1950 Le Mans 24 Hours… but did not start after driver Jack Fairman suffered an accident on the public road while making his way to the event. Racing for most of its life, chalking up several notable victories in sprints and time trials, it scored yet another memorable success earlier this year when Aston Martin driver Darren Turner, won the Fordwater Cup at the Goodwood Revival Meeting.
 
Visit the Motor Sport stand (1-430) as they take great pride in uncovering these legendary classics at the show.