The inaugural Practical Classics Restoration Show, held at Birmingham’s NEC at the weekend, proved to be a hit as just shy of 12,000 enthusiasts attended the first outing which included live demonstrations, celebrity seminars and fantastic restoration displays.
With over 300 cars in various states of repair – from pristine and roadworthy to barn find and project – the two halls were buzzing with the sounds of the 30 clubs working on their cars, with the Triumph Dolomite Club welding and the Jowett Car Club, who won Practical Classics’ award for Club Stand of the Show, actually building a car over the two-days.
Kevin Price’s Volvo P1800 car from ‘The Saint’ won the Restorer of the Year title after winning the public vote while the Wolesley Owners Club won the club challenge after removing and replacing a valve on an A series cylinder head in just one minute nine seconds.
The Practical Classics Live Stage, hosted by editor Danny Hopkins and sponsored by Silvabronz, saw the audience treated to celebrity appearances from Wheeler Dealers Mike Brewer and Edd China, motoring journalist and presenter Quentin Willson, Red Dwarf star Chris Barrie, Car SOS presenter Fuzz Townshend and Fifth Gears’ Vicki Butler-Henderson.
Vicki was reduced to tears as her 1979 Ford Fiesta L, which was originally her grandmother’s car, was restored to its former glory in just 48-hours and presented to her in front of a packed crowd at the end of Sunday’s show.
The special guests also hosted a myriad of seminars on the Footman James Classic Car ER stage offering expert advice on buying and selling project cars, planning a restoration and preparing for MoTs. The line-up also included demonstrations from Rustbusters, Furniture Clinic and Professional Valeters and Detailers.
One of the busiest areas was the Heritage Insurance Barn Find display where 25 barn finds from all over the UK had been gathered. The cars ranged from a 1960 Aston Martin DB4 to a Morris Oxford that was barely in one piece!
The team from Leeds City College worked non-stop in the Workshop, sponsored by Patina, as they were besieged with visitors asking advice and getting their hands dirty as they go hands-on tuition.
Silverstone Auctions’ first Restoration Sale was also a huge success with the auction house reaching it’s highest ever sale rate of 85% and over £1million worth of sales. With 80 lots on offer, the top seller was the 1962 Facel Vega HK500 which sold for a premium inclusive £64,400 while the Minder Daimler sold for £15,525.
Dealers were also displaying sold notices while traders and Autojumblers reported good business, as visitors headed for the car parks armed with car parts, spares and automobilia.
Dan Nwaokolo, Show Director, said: “The response has been completely overwhelming and we can’t thank those who have helped us make this event a reality enough. It’s been an incredible effort by all involved to create this show over the past few months so we’re thrilled with the reception it has had by the classic car community.
"We’ve had a huge influx of requests from clubs to join us next year, with those attending this year already asking for more space so they can do more work on the cars and bring bigger displays. Even our celebrities were coming up with new seminar ideas as they came off stage. A truly awesome weekend.”
The next Practical Classics Restoration Show will take place on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th March 2015.
