A Grand Day Out - NEC Classic Motor Show

[Mr Lobster]

Hey, so as everyone on this board should know, this weekend is the Classic Motor Show. So for those who are going over the weekend, look away now unless you want to see some stuff.

 

I was a bit dubious as to whether the cost of the ticket at £23, plus £8 worth of parking + fuel in the petrol hungry SEAT would be more expense than it was worth just to look at some old cars. But, I'd bought my ticket so that was that really. Got to the car park, paid for that (Gulp) and walked the 39 mile trip from the car park to the halls. Hmmm..

 

But its was ace!

 

It is absolutely vast. Covers 4 halls and has a superb selection of stuff. I spent a fair amount of time happily wandering around the trade stands and autojumble before heading off to the RCCC stand to dump my bags and jacket as for possibly the first time I have been it was actually warm in the NEC. RenCCC stand is in a little haven of French tat - 2CVGB, Citroen CC, Alpine and Simca Club all nearby. Highlight of these was probably Boobydoos Simca - stunning Sadly Mr Boodydoo had vanished so I didn't get to meet him but I did spy Trigger and the very patient Mrs Trigger

 

After nearly six hours of walking around I was fairly well knackered so called it a day. I'm sure there will be plenty more photos along shortly, but in the meantime, have these to keep you going!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi, Can I touch you car? In a sensual, semi erotic manner? No? Oh well, least I asked...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In short, despite the somewhat excessive cost, it was well worth it. Highly recomended day out!

[CreepingJesus]

Nice pics. I'm always amazed at these sort of events, at how the owners take pedantry to a higher plane. It's not a criticism, it's just that restoring, and showing a car is one thing; putting it in a big show as 'best of the best' must take some commitment.

That, and I can't recall seeing a Nova with an engine bay that clean come off the transporter at the time...!

[Mr Lobster]

Also, this chap,

 

 

obviously a lot more knowledgeable than he acts on tv. You get the impression that he's probably quite a nice, decent bloke under all the mockney wideboy car trader act. And also, his wife (who it seem is called Meeeeeshell) is rather hot.

[michiel]

 

Apart from the fact that it's gorgeous, the plate makes me grin as well: ERWT is Dutch for pea, pretty appropriate plate.

[mattblack]

 

A Mk1 Granada and a Hi-vis jacket... where's the Dulux?

[Cavcraft]

Allegro and Nova Sport giving me the horn. All of a sudden the admission price doesn't seem bad at all.

[Owain-328i]

Awww this is stunning! owned one exactly the same until 2004

 

Interesting fact about these, the C reg ones and older are faster than the 1986 D reg onwards cars. Due to the bigger 32/34 DFT weber fitted to the earlier cars. Later models with the 28/32 TLDM weber were a lean burn, and about 7 bhp shy of the earlier cars, which had just shy of 100bhp. It made a big difference, the earlier cars were always the ones to have when i was buying these, they also had black seats as opposed to later ones grey seats.

 

Cool cars though whichever one you owned

[trigger]

GR8 photos Dave, I'll post some of mine once I'm home, I watched Edd China and Mike Brewer do a little question time thing later in the day and I must say they come across as a really nice bunch of lads, I even got they're autographs and photo taken with them.

[trigger]

Just spotted Mr Lobz perving on a R8 in one of my photos!

 

1983 Renault 20 2.2 TX by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

[Mr Lobster]

OMG I HAZ BEEN PAPPED.

 

[pbottomley]

Dirty man!!!

 

 

Had a weird day today, had some twat decide to sit on my bonnet feet on bumper and make a frigging telephone call.... TWAT

 

He got a 23 stone shove and push off the car followed by a stern "Do one"

 

Does my car have public frigging bench written on it?????

[Tonka]

Great pics, looking forward to our day out there tomorrow.

[Mr Lobster]

Dirty man!!!

 

 

Had a weird day today, had some twat decide to sit on my bonnet feet on bumper and make a frigging telephone call.... TWAT

 

He got a 23 stone shove and push off the car followed by a stern "Do one"

 

Does my car have public frigging bench written on it?????

 

 

If you are on a stand or have your car on a stand, it seems that keeping an eye over everyone and what they are doing is a full time job as there are plenty of tosspots like that with no respect for others property.

[trigger]

I was thinking that, I wonder how many cars end up damaged after 3 days of idiots climbing over them, Many of the chavs from the Top Gear/MPH area who come crawling over without a care for classic cars pushing up against them, I'd probably would of hit that twat if i saw him sitting on the bonnet of my car, or at the very least his phone would have ended up in thousand pieces on the floor.

[pbottomley]

Yea I am moving my car tomorrow as its backed up towards a Lotus Omega and loads of people keep coming on our stand pushing past people to get around the back of my car so they can see the rear end of the Omega. (like the back end of a Carlton is interesting ??) They have rucksacks swinging in the wind too close for my liking.

 

Friday it was fine as it was press day and 99% of the people were polite respectful and asked if they could get in, open the door or the bonnet. I don't mind people getting in as long as they ask, and I am always happy to let people do so. But I do dislike people just helping themselves, then getting shirty with me when I ask them to get out of my car, as he drops a chip on the carpet, slams the door and tells his mate loudly they were all "wank anyway". CUNT!

 

By the end of today it has marks on the bonnet, coffee stains all down the inside of the passenger door card (how I have no idea?), and more finger prints than the police database

 

Tomorrow its going to have its windows closed up and the door locked... the fuckers will have to just have to look else where

[flat4alfa]

I showed the Lancia Beta last year and it was tiresome. Big effort getting it tidy and ready, and when you're there you can't do too much as you're on edge. Bored of it all by Saturday morning.

 

I went off for a wander and when I returned I found my keys had been handed over to to let someone crawl about the car... I'm sure it was best intensions and they were watched properly - but the trouble is certain crankier club member types consider a club car being shown as more important than the owner's wishes

 

On the Sunday, I came back to find I'd missed the visit from the scantlily clad ladies. I found fingermarks all over the roof. Maybe they were up to something for the photo journos?

 

Didn't find any nice ladies hiding in the boot for me when I left the show though.

[Pete-M]

Anyone ere other than me, mm5, dnj and wat? Where are ya?

[Mash]

I had an awesome day yesterday (though we had to book into a Days Inn on the way back due to a me developing a stonking migraine and a sicky episode in the car ) and spent ages trawling the jumble stands and came away loaded up with tons of £1 each mags and brochures and a couple of models including the 1/43rd FSO Polonez. Good to see Messrs. Dollywobbler and Reallyloud again.

 

Lots of pics and I'm sure many duplicates to everyone else's but I'll get some in my spotted thread soon.

 

Highlights for me:

 

Black Lancia Aprilia I wanted to bring home.

All the Tatra streamliners on the club stand made me speechless.

Lancia owners club massive stand and especially the early Gamma coupe.

The Simca estate (and of course Boobydoo's 1100 ).

The Alfa Giulietta Turbodelta.

The gorgeous Renner 12 and 16 on the RCCC stand.

The TV detector van.

 

Loads more too I'm sure when I dump the pics.

[eddyramrod]

Not the 1/43 Polo-neck???? I'm jealous! I need a few of those in my collection, but the prices they reach on the Bay (when they show up at all) are way over budget. Oh well, maybe in time....*

 

As for people messing with your car at shows, I agree, it's a right pain, and for these insults to the concept of humanity no punishment will ever be too severe or disgusting. I was actually sitting in my 1991 Chevy at one (rainy) local show in 2008, with all the doors locked except mine, when some tubby teen came along the far side of the car and tried the handles! Obviously I stepped outside... Nobody will ever convince me that I wouldn't have been perfectly justified in throwing the shithead in the trunk and making certain he was never found, and this was a daily-driven car in early middle-age, not some pampered showpiece. A sliding scale of penalties applies, starting where I just described and going UP...

 

*Actually, I must be getting old.... the answer is obvious! I need to have speaks with a certain Sprinter-driving diecast dealer, don't I? Hmm, what else do I need... Vanguards Miami Blue Granada, some A40 Farinas...

[trigger]

Days Inn at Chorley Mash?, Whats where i stayed Saturday night, Room 24 with the Renault 30 outside the window , That £1 brochure stand was great, I'm gutted now what i didn't buy a lot more, I only picked up a 1983 Vauxhall Range brochure and a 1980 Autocar magazine road testing the Metro (all for £1.30).

 

I have over 500 photos that i took! so it's taking an age to upload them all to flickr, many of them came out a bit dark or fuzzy though sadly

[Mash]

Days Inn at Chorley Mash?, Whats where i stayed Saturday night, Room 24 with the Renault 30 outside the window , That £1 brochure stand was great, I'm gutted now what i didn't buy a lot more, I only picked up a 1983 Vauxhall Range brochure and a 1980 Autocar magazine road testing the Metro (all for £1.30).

 

I have over 500 photos that i took! so it's taking an age to upload them all to flickr, many of them came out a bit dark or fuzzy though sadly

 

No it was at Tibshelf Services. I had to force myself away from the brochure stands. I think if I go another year I might make it a more relaxing visit and do it over a day and a half or something.

[trigger]

Same here, It's a lot to do in a day, Getting up at 7.30, driving 2 1/2 hours there, Then on your feet for another 8 hours looking around, I had a banging headache by the end of the day and i feel as if i missed lots of stuff as well.

[Mr Lobster]

Lot of my photos didn't come out that well either. The ones I posted were the best of a relatively bad lot. Again, there was a lot more I could have seen but tbh by the time I left I felt a bit like I'd had enough, especially given that I had a Friday afternoon M6 to face.

 

Eddyramrod - yes, yes you do

[Tonka]

Massive apology from me.........

 

Having started the meet thread we were all set to meet some of you today , mobile numbers exchanged etc but my son who has been on a diet of flu remedies since yesterday had had enough of trying to find somewhere to sit down as he was exhausted so after hastily eating a pre-arranged lunch with friends we made our excuses and ended up outside so he could get some fresh air and by 3pm we were on our way home

 

I tried to ring Jon and Phil but it wouldnt connect I did leave a message and Jon phoned back while I was driving but Matty could hardly talk so it was hard to explain what was happening. I did try to ring you both when I got home but still no answer.

 

Anyway enough of my waffling, the show was excellent as usual with lots of new and interesting exhibits, my son was impressed with a certain HA Viva but we didn't dare get too close

 

I've taken a few pics as we walked back through the car park I'll try and post them later.

[pbottomley]

The unusual suspects!!!

 

unusualsuspects by paul.bottomley, on Flickr

 

 

 

 

Today was made up as the cure for those dirty finger marks was found c/o the Simoniz polish rep!

 

polish by paul.bottomley, on Flickr

[eddyramrod]

I can't help thinking I'm looking at a cause of dirty fingermarks there, rather than a cure!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I've been there today, had a great day cruising around. kept my head down like and got a load of footage. Check out this old boy surrounded by rammel, he's loving it.

 

[Station]

Had no idea the NW lot were going down to this?

[Mr Lobster]

Looked like there were quite a lot of people like him who were absolutely LOVING every last bit of the experience.

[Pete-M]

For me, the highlight was finally getting to drive a 604 (many thanks to dieselnutjob, and finding one possibly for sale - thanks again to DNJ.)

 

Show was pretty good, loads of good things to look at and some nice cars. Had a laugh with Jon and Mark and met a few more AS lunatics.

 

I shall post my (admittedly not full of shite) pics shortly.