Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

How much effort do you go to before taking a car to a show?

Generally, I make sure the car - and especially the windows - are clean, and I usually put together a potted history to go in the car's window. The back seat has various period-correct books or magazines on it - including either an RAC or AA handbook for the year of the car, and maybe one or two non-motoring bits and pieces, for instance an old camera, or a radio.

I've never gone for concours - nothing I've ever owned has really been up to that standard - so it'd also be interesting to hear from anyone who regularly wins a pot or two at shows they display at!

Rick
_________________
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

[Nic Jarman]

I am always in awe of the beautifully presented concours cars but I could never build/own one because I could not spend that amount of time on the smallest of details. I need to get the car on the road and be driving it. If one of my cars is not making timely progress I start dreaming that I am working on the car. I think I need to get out more.
_________________
1936 Morris 8 Series 1
1973 MGB roadster
1977 MG Midget 1500
Dax Rush

[Salopian]

I much prefer to see a used patinated car than a garage queen and having seen one of your cars I think the your preparation is just right. Makes an interesting exhibit.
I'm afraid shows as in the static sense are to me a waste of time and I now never attend any with a car - when I did a quick bucket of water wash was all I did.
I find it more enjoyable to go for a while as a member of the public to these things really - can go/leave as I please that way. Anyway it seems most events require a fee to enter now plus restrict entry/exit times and neither are acceptable to a member of the awkward squad like me.
Each to their own of course and I'm drifting well off topic!
_________________
Jonathan Butler
Alvis SD 12/50 1928 MG TD 1950

[Fluffle-Valve]

Been there and done that with the concours look with a Triumph Spitfire I had. I put a 2 litre Fiat Twincam in it and spent the best part of six months building the engine alone...

The problem is that you dare not use it like you want too.

I drive a 1972 Land Rover Series III now and it looks like it's 38 years old.


_________________
Series 3 1972 LWB Truck Cab Pick Up. My daily drive.

[Richard H]

I rarely go to shows, and when I do go to them I make no effort whatsoever. At the last show I went to the car was splattered with mud, full of rubbish and with a load of (mostly rusty) spare parts from the autojumble piled high on the back seat. If I can be bothered I might wash the car, but that's it!

Cars are meant to be used, not shown
_________________
Richard Hughes

[P3steve]

On the one hand one of you is complaining about the charge of entering a car in a show so go with out their car then some one else is saying that they go with their car splattered with mud with a load of rusty junk piled on the back seat, come on guys we cant have it both ways if we want to get in free (and as a rule I do only go to the free for exhibits shows) then don't we have a duty to the organizers to at least have the car presentable as they are putting on a show for the paying public and if the displays aren't any good the public will just stay away, and then to not take a car and then pay as a member of the public - doesn't that defeat the object some what OK I see your trying to make a point but if you then pay to go in the organizers have the money anyway and unless you stand on a soap box proclaiming to the worlds that you didn't bring your car who will know. I object to having to pay but if I do it means I usually get reduced entry usually two for one so its better than just paying as a member of the public so get to see the show for less than them and above all I get the joy of having a day out with the car driving to and from the rally and although I often use the car (1949 Rover) for everyday things (like shopping at Tesco's and trips to the DIY, its amazing how many six foot fence posts will go through the sliding roof) I care about it too much to leave it splattered with mud and with rusty junk on the back seat. As to entry and exit times I have been on the committee of a regional car club and the planning that goes into these events starts as the last show ends and organizers now have to abide by insurance obligations and risk assessors and cars driving around a field full of people and don't forget that's not just petrol head dads that's wives and the kids who are often running ahead of parents unaware of the dangers on a field where no car is supposed to be moving so get real and have a thought for the work that goes into these events

[Roger-hatchy]

Been to many a show, as joe public.
Not yet had the DLM at a show, well not as an entant.


Most I have been to you tend to get three catagories, Concours, Spit and polish and the daily.
Never had problems with all three, nice to see a car attend even if it is time off from work, as might be the case of the user with the daily who might not have the hours to spend on the car.

I like to see a car in as new, or better, condition
The Clean and Tidy one,
And the one having a day off from work

I have found that the concours owners tend not to like joe public around their vehicles, having read some of the horror stories I'm not suprised, some of the tidy brigade might talk to you if pushed and the day off from work are more than willing to chat about the joys of Running a classic.

But at the end of the day I would imagine it's the drive to and from the venue and meeting like minded people, with or without a classic car.

I think I would be between the Spit and polish and the daily, dependng on my mood

Roger

[gillberry]

Going to a show the car is always washed , sometimes polished but we don't go to many as we like to pick and choose the ones that suit us . Our classic wasn't bought for others but for our use and pleasure plus we know we will never win any prizes not that we're bothered about that aspect . It is nice to talk to fellow classic owners although our current classic seems to attract the least amount of interest of any classic we have owned .

[Jim.Walker]

If my car (or bike) goes on display at a car show it stays in the condition it arrives, having always been DRIVEN there.

I mostly ignore the concourse cars, because they offer more of "look what silly things I've done and unlikely things I've polished" than the appearance and condition of the car (vehicle for you commercial buffs) in its heyday when new.

Except for super luxury, coach built cars, the paintwork on any car over 30-40 years old inevitably left much to be desired against todays offerings. Sometimes with quite marked "orange peel" etc. Brass radiators (except where part of the outside appearance) were never polished because it reduces their efficiency. Carb's were rarely shiny and brake pipes did not gleam ----- I could go on and on and .......

I like the cars which are representative of the original product, especially if I know they are used. And if they got dirty driving to the show, well they will probably get more dirty returning home - at least that's my excuse for not being seen with leather and polishing cloths at shows.

Jim.
_________________
Quote from my late Dad:- You only need a woman and a car and you have all the problems you
are ever likely to want". Computers had not been invented then!

[buzzy bee]

Hi

Depends what I take, if it is a car, with shiny paint, I will wash it over, clean the windows, and make sure the indisde is tidy.

If it is no shiny, maybe a wipe over with oil or diesel, or a dust off. Glass still needs to be clean, etc

If I am helping with a steamer, then it is all taken there, then on the morning of the first day it is unloaded early on, lit up, and then given a good wipe over with Diesel, and polished up, brass work is then done, and any other bits. Usually time for breakfast then!

Cheers

Dave

[Richard H]

[Riley Blue]

Though I rarely go to static shows (only two or three a year) I'm with Jim - my Riley is displayed in the state it arrives, flies and all. Others may obsess about cleaning and polishing but that's not for me; I'm notorious in my club for not polishing my car (the car care kit I won in a raffle two years ago hasn't been opened yet).

I wash the car when it needs it, not every week or every time it is driven, polish it once or twice a year (not a lot of point as the paintwork is dull and faded) but I do like a clean windscreen so there's always a bottle of glass cleaner in the boot.

[Roger-hatchy]

[bob2]

I used to go to such show 'n' shine competitions locally and have quite a collection of trophys especially when I used to enter my Rover cooper, but have also won some with my green mini in the customised section. (although compared to concourse cars seen in uk, mine would not have been up to standard)
I used to wash, polish and wax the exterior (including windows), vacuum the intrior and booth, put vinyl care on the seats and door cards, auto glym the dashboard and any black plastics etc, polish the engine bay and all chrome or polished accessories, and dust the underside and polish wheels and tyres.

Well doing no more of that nowadays (been off the scene for 6/7 years now), prefer driving them and working on them although I still enjoy cleaning them every now and then.

However I know the time and effort one puts in these concourse cars and it surely has to be appreciated by the public.

[Riley Blue]