Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

Recent updates re the forthcoming NEC show:

-----------------



CONTRASTING CLASSICS WITH HERITAGE CLASSIC CAR INSURANCE AT THE NEC CLASSIC MOTOR SHOW

Heritage Classic Car Insurance is set to showcase a pair of contrasting classics at the NEC Classic Motor Show from the 15-17th November. The insurance brokers’ stand will play host to a 1968 Ford Escort Twincam Road Rally Edition and a 1972 Chevrolet Camaro.

Sold by Haynes of Maidstone, the Escort spent the first 11 years of its life competing in various road rallies, but when the owner’s wife fell pregnant, the car was put into storage where it sat for the next 31 years.

Today, it’s owned by Anthony Manning. The former owner took quite a bit of persuading to part with the Ford, but after a year of negotiation, eventually, in November 2011, the Escort was his. Since then, it has undergone a total restoration, taking almost two years to return it to a better-than-new condition.

The restoration has been sympathetic, with Anthony keen to retain as much as possible. “When the car was stripped we kept all the original parts to be refurbed. Once the shell was soda blasted it was fitted with new old stock panels by ASM Motorsports (Andrew Stapley).” recalls Anthony.

It was finished in August 2013 and the following day took a concours class win at Silverstone Classic.

Contrasting the all-English Escort is a piece of pure American muscle in the form of John Gorbould’s 1972 Chevrolet Camaro. The theme for this year’s show is ‘Classics Reunited’ and John’s Camaro certainly embodies that idea.

"Back in 1990 my best friend Tony Dickson, who knew everything about Auto Americana, decided to build a circuit race car called Money Hungry Too as he used to campaign an earlier Camaro dragster known as Money Hungry”, recalls John. “I, at that time was going to race a Vauxhall Astra GTE but decided to throw my lot in with Tony.


“Well we were both pretty busy so whilst a lot had been done to her she was nowhere near finished. Then Tony passed away in 2002. He left it to me in his will but as it was his car and I was his assistant, I knew nothing about Auto Americana and didn't have the facilities he had. I sold it to a chap who promised me he'd finish it.”

Ten years later John got a phone call. “The guy I had sold it to said he was never going to finish it so would I like to buy it back.” John had always regretted his decision, so was quick to take up the offer – “I thought about it for less than a nano second – thinking I brought back what I sold. He'd sold the engine, gearbox, lost most of the parts that went with her and left her in a cold draughty damp shed for years.”

John’s ploughed hundreds of hours work into the Camaro, as well as a huge amounts of money but at last he has returned the car to full race condition.

Heritage Classic Car Insurance can be found in Hall 19 on stand 19-400 where the team would love to hear all about your classic and offer any insurance advice you may need along with competitively priced quotes.

The NEC Classic Motor Show runs from 15th-17th November 2013. Tickets cost from £18.50, for more information on the show visit www.necclassicmotorshow.com or for more from Heritage Classic Car Insurance visit www.heritage-quote.co.uk
_________________
Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop

[Rick]

OLD-SKOOL COOL COMES OUT TO PLAY: RETRO RARITIES GATHER FOR 30TH LANCASTER INSURANCE CLASSIC MOTOR SHOW

Fans of retro classics will be spoilt for choice with everything from works Group B monsters to legendary hot hatches at the upcoming 30th Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show on 15-17 November at Birmingham’s NEC.

This year’s show will cover a mammoth 82,000 square metres – compare that to the first show back in May 1984, when the entire show took up just a single hall. From small beginnings the show has grown and grown and is now the biggest classic car gathering in the UK.

While the show has got bigger and better over the years, one thing that hasn’t changed is the ardent support of the enthusiasts and owners clubs who pour through the NEC’s doors each November.

2013 marks the 30th anniversary of the Peugeot 205 and Club Peugeot UK will be celebrating this with a range of 205s on their stand, including a five-door GT and, the ultimate 205, the T16.

The T16 was an 80s rally legend and its Group B rivals are set to start at the show too, with Club Audi’s stand featuring a whole host of Quattros, including a 1983 Ur Quattro and a limited edition 1985 short wheelbase Sport Quattro.

The MonteCarlo Consortium will be marking the 30th anniversary of Lancia’s World Rally constructor’s championship with an original Group B 037 on its stand, alongside a kit-car replica and several rally-themed MonteCarlos.

The Sunbeam Lotus Owners club stand will feature a trio of cars, one of which is an original, ex-works car. It’ll be joined by a modified road car and a standard, original spec example. The Classic Z Register is also celebrating rallying, this time with a replica of the 1973 Safari rally-winning 240Z.
The Z Club of Great Britain is back for this year with a selection of cars covering over 30 years of Nissan Z history, including a 280 ZX and 300ZX.

The Nissan 300C Owners Club is marking their 10th birthday as a club at the show and will be supporting Help for Heroes with their stand this year. They’ll be showing an ’86 300C, amongst others.

There’s plenty for Veedub fans too, with the Corrado Club of Great Britain celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Corrado, while the MkI Golf club will be displaying amongst others, a Golf Campaign and a Sportline. The Beetle of David Founder, who won the Top 25 title at VolksWorld, the Karmann Ghia, owned by John Figg, and Chris White’s mkI Golf GTi cabriolet will compete for top honours in Meguiars’ Club Showcase.

Ford fans are well covered with plenty of cars to choose from, from the MkI Cortina Owners Club, who’ll be showing Jim Clark’s own Lotus Cortina, to the MkI and Mk2 Granada Drivers Guild, who are 20 this year, through to the Ford RS Owners club who will be showing a mkI RS Escort, an RS 1600i and for those with fond memories of the 80s, a Sierra Cosworth.

With clubs ranging from the Alfa Romeo Owners Club to the Vanden Plas Owners club one thing remains true - wherever your classic love lies, you’re bound to find it at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show.
_________________
Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop