Classic Car Show launched in central London

Hosted by Quentin Willson and Jodie Kidd, the world premiere of this landmark series airs at 7pm, Thursday February 5th on Channel 5In one of the most powerful collaborations in TV history, viewers will be given the opportunity to own a one-off Aston Martin V8 Vantage*The Classic Car Show is also delighted to announce Jaguar Heritage as a web partner and www.watchfinder.co.uk as the TV series sponsorCompelling viewing for all the family, The Classic Car Show gives viewers a back-stage pass into this glamorous world but also celebrates affordable machines too New series will be globally distributed by Sony Pictures Television

All-new global TV series, The Classic Car Show, has been officially launched at a VIP event at The Soho Hotel in central London. On hand to celebrate the world premiere of the new landmark show airing at 7pm, Thursday February 5th on Channel 5 were hosts Quentin Willson and Jodie Kidd.

The ground-breaking new peak-time TV series captures the passion, glamour and remarkable stories of the multi-billion pound global classic car industry. Richly shot in HD with movie quality production values, the run of 13 x one-hour episodes will put the spotlight on prestigious historic cars with contributions from A-list celebrities, but it also picks the cars to buy now before their values go stratospheric.

The Classic Car Show is delighted to announce one of the most powerful collaborations in TV history. Aston Martin will provide one of its future classics – an Aston Martin V8 Vantage – for one lucky viewer to have the opportunity to own.

This bespoke model is the work of Aston Martin’s expert design team, led by Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman. Viewers will be able to follow the build of the V8 Vantage each week through a series of short films shot at Aston Martin’s home in Gaydon, Warwickshire. At the end of the series, one viewer will own this work of automotive art.

Marek Reichman commented: “Aston Martin’s rich heritage of world-class sports cars is clearly a great subject for this exciting new series, and I’m sure the lucky recipient of the V8 Vantage – whoever he or she may be – will be thrilled to join our select band of sports car owners worldwide.”

Further details of this unique opportunity will be revealed in the first episode.

The Classic Car Show is also proud to announce that Jaguar Heritage – a key division of Jaguar Land Rover’s new bespoke product and services Special Operations business – is a web partner. John Edwards, managing director of Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations said: “We’re delighted that Jaguar Heritage is partnering The Classic Car Show website. No-one celebrates classic cars quite like Jaguar but it’s great to see the excitement of the entire classic car world and the enthusiasm of their owners being given such exposure. We can’t wait to watch the show.”

The Channel 5 TV series will be sponsored by Watchfinder & Co - www.watchfinder.co.uk - the world’s leading retailer of pre-owned fine watches. “Classic cars and classic watches go hand-in-hand and we at Watchfinder are delighted to support this exciting new show,” said Lloyd Amsdon, co-founder of www.watchfinder.co.uk.

Quentin Willson, presenter and Executive Producer, The Classic Car Show, commented: “To have Aston Martin, Jaguar Heritage and Watchfinder collaborating on our first series of The Classic Car Show is a dream line-up. They are amongst the most revered and powerful brands in the world with one lucky viewer experiencing a life-changing moment, when they take the keys to a future classic Aston Martin. We will be revealing full details in the first episode.

“Like our partners, The Classic Car Show does things differently. No-one has done a TV show like this ever before. We've got gorgeous cars, passionate stories, an extraordinary filming budget and endless enthusiasm. The Classic Car Show is an amazing, insightful series without a socket set in sight.”

In the first episode, Quentin Willson heads to California to celebrate the Ford Mustang’s 50th birthday. Meanwhile, Jodie Kidd falls in love with the Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder. Now worth in excess of £10,000,000, it’s a heart-stoppingly beautiful car with the price tag to match.

Co-presenter Will Best joins a host of A-listers at London Men’s Fashion Week, including male supermodel David Gandy and rapper and designer Tinie Tempah. With other A-list contributors, they ponder which car, the original Mercedes-Benz 300 SL ‘Gullwing’ or brand new Mercedes SLS AMG, radiates the biggest halo of style.

Meanwhile co-presenter Alex Riley celebrates the Triumph TR7 and discovers that the controversial wedge-shaped British sports car can be had for just £5,000 too. Finally, classic car auctioneer and barn find expert Chris Routledge unearths a rare and glamorous Studebaker Silver Hawk, which has literally been hidden under a hedge for almost three decades.

And that’s just the first episode. Later in the series Quentin Willson takes Keith Richards’ Ferrari 246 Dino for a spin in Monaco, Jodie Kidd goes on a petrolhead pilgrimage in a Ford GT40 to Reims, while Bruno Senna puts 10 historic racers through their paces on The Classic Car Show track.

Meanwhile, Alex Riley heads back to the Eighties, discovering the surprisingly affordable Porsche 928, Will Best looks at a classic car rental club and Chris Routledge uncovers a rare model from forgotten French maker, Amilcar.

Presented from a studio at the Brooklands racing circuit in Weybridge, Surrey, The Classic Car Show has been produced by Jim Wiseman and Stephanie Fox – from Top Gear and Top Gear Live – and developed by Infinity Creative Media Ltd. It has been conceived as a global format and will be distributed around the world by Sony Pictures Television.

Jodie Kidd, The Classic Car Show presenter, said: “Classic cars are beautiful, sexy and evocative; when you climb in and turn the key something magical happens. The Classic Car Show is a VIP, backstage pass to one of the most exciting and exhilarating forms of art that we have.”

Jim Wiseman, Series Producer and Director of The Classic Car Show said: “The Classic Car Show is the programme I’ve always wanted to make. We’ve spent the last year travelling the globe, delving deep into the glamorous world of classic cars. The show is a unique mix of fantastically engaging stories about the allure of classics, from those owned by Hollywood icons, through action packed historic racing, to a car hoarding family from Hampshire.”


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