Classics returned to Birmingham with renewed focus for a show to remember
WORDS CHARLIE CALDERWOOD PHOTOGRAPHY MAX EDLESTON
The cars, not the theatre around them, were the headline-grabbers at the NEC from 10-12 November, as the crowds were wowed by a greater concentration of exotic and obscure cars than weʼve seen at the Classic Motor Show in years. The eventʼs main theme for 2023, ʻPerfect Partnersʼ, struggled to inspire many clubs, which meant they were freed to focus on their rarest gems. And the result was a case of less show, more go.
An icon of the 1970s, the Rolls-Royce Merlin-engined ʻBeastʼ, made its post-restoration public debut (see panel on p16), while the Jaguar Driversʼ Club showed real ambition with a host of significant machines borrowed from the extensive Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust collection. Few cars could avoid being overshadowed by the Le Mans-winning Silk Cut Jaguar XJR-9 that headed up its display, but the prototype XJ220 that stole the headlines at the 1988 British Motor Show 35 years ago did just that once again. Longer than the production car, with active aero, a V12 engine and four-wheel drive, it was a reminder of what an even more ludicrous supercar the XJ220 could have been. The real Jaguar nerds would have been further excited to see the 1975 Sports Car Club of America championship-winning Group 44 E-type V12. Competition-spec Series 1s are a familiar sight, less so the S3s.
The TR Register impressed with its connections, too, hosting the Makkina Triumph TR25 concept car alongside the Jabbeke speedrecord TR2 that inspired it on its stand, complete with a daily interview with the carʼs designers.
Elsewhere, the Bugatti Ownersʼ Club and the Aston Martin Ownersʼ Club both pulled historic pre-war racers out of the bag, the former a 1933 Type 59 hillclimb car with twin rear wheels, the latter an ex-works 1931 LM7 that twice raced at Le Mans. The first Costin-Nathan GT built, as shown at Olympia in 1967, was presented by the Marcos Ownersʼ Club.
Britainʼs more obscure classic vehicle clubs, some of which arenʼt regulars at the show, provided extraordinary displays of their fascinating curiosities. The UK Borgward Driversʼ Club brought not only an Isabella Coupé and Combi, but also an extremely rare right-hand-drive Lloyd Alexander. One of the Borgward groupʼs four marques, the Lloyd was originally ordered
