All Go At The Restoration Show

What does the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show represent to the 25,000 or more attendees of one of the UK’s largest indoor classic car shows? As your reviewer strolled from stand to stand, overhearing fragments of conversations along the lines of ‘I had one of those,’ ‘I wish I had never sold mine,’ or somewhat more hopeful ‘I’ve got one of those locked away in my storage,’ there’s nothing complicated about its appeal. It’s a great place to start getting advice, making invaluable contacts and long-term connections, and a perfect opportunity to distract you from the issues that are currently troubling us.

The weekend combines celebrity-tinged interviews, restorer of the year, classic car auctions, live restoration demos, over 150 car clubs and a chance to ride in a classic or sports automobile as part of the charity’s ‘Dream Rides’ campaign, all part of the show’s ever-increasing popularity. A couple of clues to let you know why it’s often known as the UK’s only true classic car restoration show. The event covers almost every aspect of the classic car industry, with everything from artwork to car covers.

There are also interactive areas and skill training stands to help the young and young-at-heart to pick up an untried skill. The event is a hive of activity for three days, featuring practically everything a classic car enthusiast could want. Placed at the start of the classic car calendar, it genuinely serves as the kick-off to what hopes to be a return to form for the classic car event.

We start off with Ollie Cox, who blames his father for his Saab passion. As one of his collections of no less than four Saab 99s (not including his Dad’s cars), he picked this sunning 99 GLE as part of a strong line-up on the Saab Owners Club GB. Supplied new by Blacon Motors in Chester in April 1976, it was featured at that dealer’s launch event and sold promptly on the same day. It has not needed any restoration, largely thanks to it only having two attentive owners. The GLE signifies the top of the range, prior to the Turbo taking on that mantle. Fully loaded with goodies including electrically adjustable mirrors, alloy wheels and heated front seats, it cost more than a Ford Granada 3-litre at the time.

David Roberts has always liked an underdog. One of the 1980s ultimate underachievers has to be the unlamented liaison between Nissan and the Visconti serpent. Having not surprisingly, limited success in finding an Alfa Romeo Arna, he came across its equally as rare Japanese equivalent, the Nissan Cherry Europe. The car came under his radar in 2007 but he was unable to finalise a deal with the owner. Aware of the unlikely chance of finding a solid example, he never forgot about the car. Rewarded by patience, he finally managed to secure the car in 2017, where he managed to get it on display at that year’s Restoration Show as part of the Barn Finds stand. The car was in surprisingly good shape but sensibly was treated to a complete restoration in 2020 to ensure its survival. Rare by any standards, David laments that the Arna is generally dismissed by the Alfasti, but has commented that Nissan obsessives are more sympathetic towards the concept of the Arna.

Another contender for possibly one of the rarest yet underwhelming cars at the show is the Renault 21 Hatchback. The phase 2 Renault 21 was introduced in 1989, which included a new hatchback version. Marketed to take on the BX and Sierra, the somewhat anonymous car made very little impact in the UK but was well received in its native country. In GTS guise, the car was placed at the top of the 1.7-litre engine range and like many higher-spec Renaults of the period, offered plenty of showroom appeal. This initial interest was followed by an almost instant indifference that still seems to run through the brand’s products. As a result, the Renault Owners Club displayed a genuinely interesting and unsung selection of modern classics on their stand, rather than their better-known models.

Let’s have a look at a few more French Fancies and have a quick scan across the Simca Club UK stand, which had a display of some rear-engined treats. Being our neighbours, the French classic car clubs have always maintained a good presence at the event, illustrating their enduring popularity with the British public. This 1963 Simca 1000 GL was sourced via Sweden, and like many other finds out there it’s in surprisingly solid condition. The owner specifically bought this car as it is identical to one that was owned by his grandmother in the same year. He’s confident that it will be presentable and working by the end of this year.

The 2CVGB stand offered a series of the 1970s square-headlamps models, which along with the deliberate solidarity in the blue and yellow selection of the cars on this year’s stand, reflects the always welcoming reception one would expect by the club. Founded in 1978, it’s open to all A-Series vehicles and at the peak of the 2CV6 popularity, the club would serve over 3,500 members. It remains an invaluable resource of parts, advice and an environment to wear a beret without ridicule. Their AGM is less than a month away and is held this year in St Ives in Cambridgeshire.

Here’s something that might stir something inside our editor (it’s very, very yellow, isn’t it? – Pollitt). Seen on the Rover Sports Register which celebrates its 70th anniversary next year, this 1999 Rover Vitesse was part of the club’s three-car line-up. This V reg car was registered in September 1999, around a year after the last example left the Cowley plant but there were quite a few knocking around in dealerships well into 2000. Should you have stumbled into a Rover dealer, the rewards would be a comfortable and brisk ‘Directors’ car for a temptingly discounted price. Painted in a Fiat-sourced Giallo Yellow, it was part of a 22 car collection that its previous owner had amassed, which included several bespoke painted cars. Said to have cost £4,000 to paint, this car is one of the survivors from that collection.

One of my personal highlights of the event is the Carole Nash Barns Find stand, complete with hay bales and a selection of treasured treats. The group is typically eclectic, with Harry Larcombe’s 1949 Jowett Bradford Ice cream van attracting a huge amount of attention. It was originally owned by an Italian man named Andrea Cavacuiti, who owned a café in Cheltenham in the ’40s and ‘50s. After being released as an internment camp prisoner in the early ’40s, he chose to stay in the UK and made a name for himself by providing a little slice of Italian culture to the Cotswolds. Current owner Harry Larcombe was given the award for the best vehicle on the stand.

This 1972 Ford Cortina was also a well-received participant on the Barn finds stand. Originally registered in Guyana, it was last used in 1986 and is fitted with a factory ordered front bench seat, a crossflow engine and specifications aligned to the GT model. It has been in the UK for just 3 weeks and will undergo a complete restoration, retaining those original features.

A brace of rare Fiats also caught our eye. This charming little 1983 Fiat 127 on the Lancaster Insurance stand is one of the last versions of the iconic supermini and has only covered 27,000 recorded miles over its lifetime. Fitted with a 5-speed gearbox, even these standard versions were a hoot to drive, and its agile character and poise helped set the template for the replacement Uno.

Going back a decade, this elegant 1975 Fiat 128 1300 SL coupe sport was one of several interesting Fiats on the Fiat Motor Club stand and has had a similarly charmed life, having been stored in a dry garage for 17 years following a mechanical fault. Restored to its glory in 2011, the restorer was careful to retain some of its patina. It is believed to be the sole surviving RHD 1300 SL in the UK.

Alongside the usual TV classic car presenters – who offered entertaining two-way dialogues to a receptive audience – there was also a selection of YouTube presenters with their unique but equally as passionate philosophy on classic car motoring. Car & Classic managed to herd all three stars of their respective channels for a shot, who happily obliged with their customary geniality and smiles. From right to left, Steph (I drive a Classic), Matt (Furious Driving) and Mr. Hubnut himself, Ian Seabrook.

The Fords were given a little section close to the autojumble, with around a dozen Ford clubs among a cluster of well-presented cars. The MK4 & 5 Cortina Fanatics placed a trio of the MK4 Cortina 2.3 V6 models in S trim. Not a stronger seller in the UK, as sporting customers were persuaded by the cheaper charms of the Escorts and Capris, this marvellous spectacle to see three examples in one spot was a genuine treat.

Passion is everything when it comes to successful projects, a borrowed idea here and an eye for detail there with a twist of originality sums up Graham Smith’s tasteful Popular on the Ford 100E stand. Joined by his father, they travelled all the way from the North East to attend the show. It’s had some period-correct modifications, such as a Pinto engine coupled to a Cortina transmission and some custom rear blinds made specifically for this car by an Indonesian company.

Jaguar’s flagship coupe has spent far too long in the doldrums, with only relatively recent interest helping to raise the profile of the maligned big-cat, but it was a tale of two XJS models on the Turners Classics stand. This 1989 Lister Le Mans has taken the original concept of the XJS and literally packed it with almost every conceivable upgrade. Just 21 were made, and while its visuals might be divisive, the 500 lb of torque from its modified 7-litre engine suggests it has the pace to match the grace.

A slightly more subtle but clever concept was carried out by Mike Sherman on his 1987 Jaguar XJ-S V12 TWR Sport Coupe/Hatchback. It is the second conversion carried out by him, this one utilising an Audi TT tailgate and some talented metalworking. He has created a pleasingly cohesive grand tourer with space for a set of golf clubs.

Situated on the Cherished Vehicle Insurance Services stand, this 1930 Austin Seven, despite its 92 years of use manages to capture the very essence of charm. A genuine barn find, ‘Little George’ embarked on a 2400 mile journey from London to Lisbon, with a little coaxing and mechanical interludes. Designated as the Austin Seven Ulster, this aluminium-bodied sporting variant gained the Northern Irish name due to the car’s success in the Tourist Trophy races on the Ards circuit in Ulster.

A club with a regular and varied selection of cars is the Wartburg Trabant IFA Club UK which displayed this superb little Ukrainian Zaz Zaporozhets 968A. Powered by a 40hp V4 engine, it was saved by the IFA club chairman from a South Wales scrap yard. Currently owned by Alex Goffe, it has seen a fair amount of mechanical renewal and awaits a sympathetic body restoration.

‘What is your car of the show?’ Possibly the most common question asked amongst the thousands of visitors to the show. Personally, if I was pushed, I’d be looking for something compact, well-engineered, stylish, easy to work on and reliable. A tall order perhaps? Not necessarily. The gen-one Toyota Celica meets these criteria perfectly in my humble opinion. The Celica, like many Japanese cars of the era, followed the Detroit styling methodology and its take on those pony car aesthetic touches made it a popular contemporary competitor to the Capri. Of course, fashion is a fickle mistress and by the time the car ended production in 1978 it looked deeply out of touch. Time passes and those coke bottle hips and twin headlamps have been exceptionally kind to the balance of the design. On display on the Norfolk Classic Vehicle Club stand this car is expected to see a full restoration in the near future.

What often makes a car interesting is its provenance. It is used as a useful selling tool and any car with a story will always have an appeal. This very well kept Mazda Eunos was originally bought by the owner’s grandfather, having traded in a Hillman Imp for it as recently as 1997. When his grandson discovered this he was somewhat dismayed but eventually, he inherited this well looked after modern classic as a consolation. As a result, this car has huge sentimental value, with a story that has an added twist. The grandson has actually located his Grandfathers Hillman Imp, which is currently residing in Ireland. The Grandson has the contact details of the owner and is doing his best to encourage the car back home.

This Nissan Bluebird – as beloved by taxi drivers and banger racers alike – has come of age and in Turbo form has become quite a sought after proposition. This UK assembled T72 is fully kitted out in the Executive trim, sporting the oh-so 80’s body kit and decal stripes but none the worse for it. Considered the holy grail of the Bluebird models of this era, the executive also offered a full leather interior and air conditioning. Belonging to Mohammed Mahboob, the car has covered just 25,000 miles, it was one of a selection of cars placed on the Pride of ownership stand.

There was so much to discover and learn at the event, which is half the fun. It also shows what persistence, determination and a little help from a friend, guest star or a live demonstration can do to help you get your motivation back into getting those classics back on the road. After all who doesn’t like creating a little joy and goodwill on the roads?