Classic Car Show NEC - 10th Nov

[Graham]

You need to be of an age, to know about this show.

A few friends of now pension age, have been going for over a decade.

I guess it shows the maturing membership here, that there's a thread and attendees lol

 

[Reno_LV]

I'll throw a report up soon. Mixed emotions about the show tbh, but still worth a visit over.

 

[Gaz]

Awesome photos @Reno_LV ..... didn't know you were over, we could have met up!

 

[Lyons]

Think I’ll head back to this next year. Haven’t been in over 20 years! A lot easier to organise than Goodwood too.

 

[KevM]

Is that the original V12 Proto??

 

[Cooper]

Is that the original V12 Proto??

View attachment 416891

It is indeed. 12 trumpets of awesomeness.

We did a short pod at the show, @Phil_D making a voice appearance!

 

[Gaz]

It is indeed. 12 trumpets of awesomeness.

We did a short pod at the show, @Phil_D making a voice appearance!

For one night only.............

 

[Reno_LV]

Awesome photos @Reno_LV ..... didn't know you were over, we could have met up!

Sorry didn’t know you were either or would hve caught up for a coffee indeed. I did see a few local boys there but never saw you or mr Cooper. What was the craic with all the paintworks and more importantly that horrendous 15 tone 8 series bmw that won an award. I really am struggling to write a report and say nice things about some of the stuff there i know auld folks don’t value paintwork but it was bad even on some of the very expensive cars for sale :/

 

[Gaz]

Sorry didn’t know you were either or would hve caught up for a coffee indeed. I did see a few local boys there but never saw you or mr Cooper. What was the craic with all the paintworks and more importantly that horrendous 15 tone 8 series bmw that won an award. I really am struggling to write a report and say nice things about some of the stuff there i know auld folks don’t value paintwork but it was bad even on some of the very expensive cars for sale :/

View attachment 416898

We were talking about this over there. I don't think it's a new thing tbh; I've been going to the show on and off over 15 years and there's always been a fair proportion of the vehicles there that have less than perfect paintwork. The lighting in the NEC is also fantastic, but harsh on the cars as it shows up every single score. I don't know if it's just a trait of a show like this - it's not like Dubshed or the like where most of the guys are incredibly fussy and the cars have been detailed, some of the cars at the Classic show are much older, some in various states of restoration and so on.

That particular 850 - I looked round it a few times as the CSi has always been of huge interest to me (my old man has a CSi too and it's very rare to see another, given there were less than 50 in the UK - and I wrote an RMS article on them Retrospective : BMW 850 CSi - RMS Motoring). I did remark to the guys that the front bumper section looked like Stevie Wonder had blown it in, so couldn't believe when I opened Facebook and it had a major award. The rest of the car was in nice condition but there were others there that I thought were more deserving, like that ruby coloured Escort Cosworth Monte Carlo.

Is that the original V12 Proto??

View attachment 416891

It was so long - hard to tell from that pic but it looked huge. Real overhang on the rear section.

 

[stuartyvilla]

Looks like a cracking show, one I will defo have a look at in the future! I agree with @pablo that Mk1 V6 Clio in blue is fantastic! On a side note I get annoyed when I see a Ph1 V6 Clio with a Ph2 tailgate (like the silver one posted above). Looks much better with the PH1 tailgate.

 

[Boydie]

Did that mod to my mk2ph1 back in the day had to swap the backing panels for them to work properly from memory

 

[technics100]

6 of us went, good day out.. although long... flight was delayed for an hour on the way back..

 

[Boydie]

That RWB!!

 

[Graham2]

Great mix of cars at this, must get over next year.

 

[Cooper]

Sorry didn’t know you were either or would hve caught up for a coffee indeed. I did see a few local boys there but never saw you or mr Cooper. What was the craic with all the paintworks and more importantly that horrendous 15 tone 8 series bmw that won an award. I really am struggling to write a report and say nice things about some of the stuff there i know auld folks don’t value paintwork but it was bad even on some of the very expensive cars for sale :/

View attachment 416898

Look, I agree, the front bumper of that 850 was from a different universe. However, I'm a bit surprised you are struggling with writing about a show which was stuffed with what 3000+ cars, some truly amazing, all under one roof. Its the A-Z of automotive from day one, all in one place. I don't know of another event like it.

 

[Lyons]

What time do the doors open/close?

I assume a full day Saturday and Sunday would do it if you flew over Saturday morning and home Sunday night?

 

[technics100]

What time do the doors open/close?

I assume a full day Saturday and Sunday would do it if you flew over Saturday morning and home Sunday night?

Sunday was 9am-5pm..

We were talking about this over there. I don't think it's a new thing tbh; I've been going to the show on and off over 15 years and there's always been a fair proportion of the vehicles there that have less than perfect paintwork. The lighting in the NEC is also fantastic, but harsh on the cars as it shows up every single score. I don't know if it's just a trait of a show like this - it's not like Dubshed or the like where most of the guys are incredibly fussy and the cars have been detailed, some of the cars at the Classic show are much older, some in various states of restoration and so on.

That particular 850 - I looked round it a few times as the CSi has always been of huge interest to me (my old man has a CSi too and it's very rare to see another, given there were less than 50 in the UK - and I wrote an RMS article on them Retrospective : BMW 850 CSi - RMS Motoring). I did remark to the guys that the front bumper section looked like Stevie Wonder had blown it in, so couldn't believe when I opened Facebook and it had a major award. The rest of the car was in nice condition but there were others there that I thought were more deserving, like that ruby coloured Escort Cosworth Monte Carlo.


It was so long - hard to tell from that pic but it looked huge. Real overhang on the rear section.

I thought the paintwork on a load of things was well below standard.. maybe the lights just showing it up, but some was shocking..

 

[pablo]

@Lyons ypu could cram a single day if you only wanted to see the show

 

[Reno_LV]

Look, I agree, the front bumper of that 850 was from a different universe. However, I'm a bit surprised you are struggling with writing about a show which was stuffed with what 3000+ cars, some truly amazing, all under one roof. Its the A-Z of automotive from day one, all in one place. I don't know of another event like it.

I liked the show as I said and believe it to be best classic show hands down but… paintwork on majority of cars was very bad, even compared to local shows. It is different type of show yes I agree and classic cars are never going to be immaculate maybe here but I don’t believe so many cars there were representing UK best cars by any means. Nor clubs. And I don’t mean even just bad paint etc on club stand cars - i mean dealers selling 400k cars with many not even properly washed parts of car, paintwork damaged etc. Auction section was crammed beyond acceptable limit to safely walk around. Then there are traders selling garden tools and socks and fake goods at a car show?!. It is one great show but in the right hands it would be on another level imo. And that is what i struggle to write about. It is not fair to say it is unreal show and best classic cars in UK. Also it really lacked many classic cars - like even bmw m3s etc. That is just my opinion and none of it counts. As long as it is successful and keeps going, and folks love it who cares!

 

[Cooper]

We have just published - The NEC Classic is a special thing.  Nowhere else will you see over 3000 cars, under one roof, bridging the entire automotive spectrum, from a pre-war era Austin-7 to an eighth generation right hand drive Chevy Corvette from this year.   A broad church, in fact cathedral wouldn't cut it Read the Full Article Here



Read the Entire Article Here

 

[Lyons]

Absolutely tremendous. What a mix. The Monte is delightful, but just look at that row of 356's.

Is the "M1" not just an E24 6 series though?

 

[Cooper]

Absolutely tremendous. What a mix. The Monte is delightful, but just look at that row of 356's.

Is the "M1" not just an E24 6 series though?

You are right. Will update. And if you saw it in the tin it was no ordinary car. It was some effort.

 

[cauld1]

Is the "M1" not just an E24 6 series though?

Yep. Like someone thought about a cool engine swap then tried to make it look like a M1 if you squint really, really hard. A lot of work to look so, ermm, something!

 

[Gaz]

I liked the show as I said and believe it to be best classic show hands down but… paintwork on majority of cars was very bad, even compared to local shows. It is different type of show yes I agree and classic cars are never going to be immaculate maybe here but I don’t believe so many cars there were representing UK best cars by any means. Nor clubs. And I don’t mean even just bad paint etc on club stand cars - i mean dealers selling 400k cars with many not even properly washed parts of car, paintwork damaged etc. Auction section was crammed beyond acceptable limit to safely walk around. Then there are traders selling garden tools and socks and fake goods at a car show?!. It is one great show but in the right hands it would be on another level imo. And that is what i struggle to write about. It is not fair to say it is unreal show and best classic cars in UK. Also it really lacked many classic cars - like even bmw m3s etc. That is just my opinion and none of it counts. As long as it is successful and keeps going, and folks love it who cares!

Fair points, some of which I agree with. In previous years, the trade stands were all motoring stuff for the most part - somehow this year we had furniture on some stands and other unrelated crap. And yes, they seemed to have too many cars squashed into the Auction stand given that they know how busy that area gets - although this year I could have sworn the stand space was smaller than usual.

A lot cars were below standard for sure, but I've always found that to be the case at this show. Equally, there were a lot of absolute minters, amazing restorations and so on. I guess with 3000 cars you never feel short changed either way.

 

[technics100]

We have just published - The NEC Classic is a special thing. Nowhere else will you see over 3000 cars, under one roof, bridging the entire automotive spectrum, from a pre-war era Austin-7 to an eighth generation right hand drive Chevy Corvette from this year. A broad church, in fact cathedral wouldn't cut it Read the Full Article Here



Read the Entire Article Here

The paint on that Cossie was fantastic..