After two years of Covid inflicted disruption the February 24-26, London Classic Car Show returned to Olympia for 2023, London’s historic (Grade II listed) 137-year old exhibition complex with its steel and glass arched structure providing a classic backdrop for the cars it encased. Motor shows have featured in the venue’s history since 1905 with the British Motor Show based there for over 30 years. It would appear a popular return as a 500-yard queue of visitors had formed outside by opening time on the first day, all eager to sample the offerings on display in Olympia’s halls.
London’s show was anniversary driven for 2023 celebrating three significant births in 1963 and one in 1953 more of those later. Supporting the birthdays were areas featuring Fortysomethings-cars that are just reaching classic status, Endangered Species-mundane classics now facing extinction, Barn Finds-focusing on long forgotten rusty gems, Classic Car Auctions offering of over 100 vehicles that went under the hammer on Saturday and finally a plethora of specialist car clubs-many displaying some pretty unusual vehicles. In addition a host of dealers were exhibiting their restorations or classics to tempt the wallet and, of course, the now familiar option of having your classic electrified. Opinions were also aired at Olympia, Fighting Torque-their dreadful pun not mine-took the form of a live debate on stage by a cast of experts, pundits, commentators and iconic industry figures who mixed it on the burning classic car topics of the day with subjects as diverse as ‘what’s a modern classic’, ‘market movers’ to ‘the first supercar’ and-yes you’re right-‘classic car electric conversions’. A consensus was rarely reached but the hourly discussions were always interesting and enlightening.
Barn finds and survivors also being a subject for discussion by the pundits was equally well illustrated in the hall. Survivors it could be argued were represented by the Endangered Species and Fortysomethings where everyday machinery such as the Morris Marina, Austin Cambridge and Vauxhall Cresta were on display along with the much maligned Austin Metro but this example had been on steroids as it was the Rally XR4 version. Barn Finds an interesting section with several cars in various stages of decay on display including an experimental Jaguar XJ Series 1 that had been used by the factory to trial a Stromberg V12 engine and then left to rot in a corner for 45 years. Illustrating opinions on restoration was a 1957 MGA that, according to its placard, had ‘Sat outside and unused in the Texas weather for 30+ years perfecting its beautiful finish’ remember beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The MG had been mechanically restored with the Texas patina retained, not all the Torquers were in favour of this form of preservation.
Neither it appears were the displaying auto clubs in favor of excessive patina, none of their vehicles showed any signs of Texas baking particularly the Ford AVO Owners who exhibited three immaculate MK1 Escort RS 2000s in better than new condition. The TR Register offering probably comprised the most unusual selection with a beautiful Michelotti styled Coupe’ based on the Triumph TR3A chassis, of which only 329 were produced between 1959-62, standing beside a 1961 Team Prize winning Le Mans Triumph TRS that had been driven by Leston & Slotemaker at Le Sarthe. Completing line-up were two Swallow Dorettis built by the Swallow Coachbuilding Co and based on the Triumph TR2 chassis with production between 1954/56 just 276 were completed.
2023s main features in the halls were reserved for the Porsche 911, Mini Cooper and Aston Martin DB5 all reaching the age of 60 in the year only to be upstaged by the Chevrolet Corvette reaching 70. On entering the Grand Hall visitors were greeted with a display of all eight 911 models ranging from the original 901 model to todays 992 still a must-have car after over half a century. The Mini Cooper was celebrated in the centre of the hall where three Beatles’ bespoke examples took centre stage, coachbuilder Harold Radford was commissioned by the ‘Fab Four’ to customise a ‘pocket rocket’ for each of them. Paul’s being finished in Aston Martin green with a full leather interior, Ringo’s had electric windows and a hatchback conversion to accommodate his drum kit, John’s psychedelic Cooper was originally metallic black until 1967 sadly John Lennon’s example no longer exists. Flanking these customised Coopers was a works rally CooperS, in this form John Cooper’s modified mini took the rally world by storm and made Sir Alec Issigonis’ design a legend.
Was it James Bond or just beautiful design-possibly rivalling the Ferrari GTO?-that gave the Aston Martin DB5 its iconic status? Probably a combination of both, anyway the Aston is still sought-after 60 years on and sells for mega-money. Where better to see examples of this sexagenarian than on the Aston Martin Heritage stand where visitors could drool over a complete example and examine a part restored body-shell.
Daddy of them all at 70 is the Chevy Corvette others have come and gone but America’s own sports car is still going strong. Sixteen were displayed to celebrate the anniversary some two tone with whitewalls, others candy orange, from drop-heads to fastbacks and stingrays to spoilers all were represented. So many in fact the display had to be split into two sections.
Saturday’s auction brought mixed fortune with some very desirable vehicles not reaching their reserve while others surprised as the bids rose way past expected levels. Most notable sales were a 1971 Ferrari Dino 246GT fetching just shy of £270,000 a 1966 Land Rover Series II newly restored went down at £29,432! But it was three of the Show’s featured marques that really drew the bids a 1954 Mini Cooper S sold for £30,000 (small car big bucks), a 1969 Porsche 911S at £99,616 and well over half a £million for a 1964 Aston Martin DB5 at £611,280.
As yet no show dates have been announced for 2024 but details will appear at www.theclassiccarshowuk.com
