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Background info & history of the cars on show.

For me, one of the most interesting things about mooching around an old car show, is to read about the individual history of the cars on display. It needn't be War and Peace, but a brief run-down of a car's known history could, for example, set the scene for when the car was new, and the environment it lived in when in regular use. This is especially useful with cars that pre-date the people looking at it, who may have no first-hand knowledge of those times.

Not all cars have a known history, so perhaps an on-screen snippet of information about the car's specification is all that can be presented. But whatever, I'd urge anyone displaying a classic at a show, to put a few words down on paper, and place it in the car's screen during the event.

This information may take some digging up, but if a car comes with a pile of old receipts, papers, tax discs and MOTs, a very interesting snapshot of the car's history can be put together quite quickly. Details of who owned the car prior to you, where it was found by you and in what condition, and the work done to it to keep it on the road, will all be of interest to people walking around the show, regardless of whether they too own an old car, or are members of the general public out for a pleasant afternoon's viewing. It could also get people interested enough to take on their own restoration project, and encourage new blood into the hobby, which can't be a bad thing either.

A show I went to recently had a smart Lagonda on display. Being an unusual car, and not the kind of machine that monthly car mags feature too often, it was handy to see an information sheet in the screen, highlighting some points about its specification and, in this case, a well-known owner back in the 1950s. Another car not far away, a Rolls-Royce, had also had a 'celebrity' owner in the 1970s, and this was mentioned on a display board. Without this info the rest of us would carry on walking by and perhaps take less notice or interest in these cars.

Equally, there was an example of a more run-of-the-mill '70s car, the type of motor that would have sold in large numbers back in the days of flared pants, but are now almost extinct outside of enthusiast circles.

This is exactly the type of car that most people can relate to, as they were as much a part of the furniture for many families as formica tables, and radiograms. It turned out that it had been off the road since 1976 due to the failing health of the car's first owner. The car was pulled out of the same garage many years later by a new owner, re-commissioned, and sympathetically cleaned up and restored to roadworthy condition, while keeping it as original as possible, with a tiny mileage showing on the clock. All this was presented on a wooden board leaning on the front of the car.

Without this background information, I'd probably not have spent much time looking at this car, as these modern classics aren't really my thing. Despite this, it was interesting to read about this time-capsule of a car, and gave some insight into where it had been for the last 30+ years.

I like looking at photos of cars 'as found', and 'during restoration', probably because they inspire me to get on with non-running relics I have dotted about the place. Information about a car's rebuild, including both words and pictures, gives a good idea to anyone who stops to look just how much work it has taken, to get this vehicle (whether it be a car, lorry, motorcycle or whatever) back into running order. The public at large probably have little idea of how much effort goes into restoring and running these old motors, and just how big a hobby this is, with an equally large industry in the background supporting it all. If presenting a car's history furthers not just the fellow enthusiasts', but also the public's, understanding of this pastime and preserving older cars in general, it can only be to the good of the hobby.

Agree or disagree? have your say on the Classic Car Forum! A free-to-download screen history sheet is available here on oldclassiccar, simply print it off and fill out your car's details.

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This Austin Eaton has a comprehensive display board talking the reader through the finding and restoring of this old car, with some fab photos showing just how poor the car's condition was. Its positioning may not win many friends with keen photographers, but taking the time to put together a snapshot of the car's history like this is very much appreciated!!

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