The first London Classic Car show

In a busy weekend of Motoring heaven, the first London Classic Car show was held at ExCel on the same weekend as the Autosport Show, and I was fortunate to attend both.

For a first attempt, this was a very professionally run and staged show, with a great mixture of to die for machinery both modern and classic, with some great iconic racing cars on show too, think Senna’s first win Lotus, Jackie Stewart’s Tyrrell, and a great selection of cars chosen by Adrian Newey and James May.

My favourite car, the Mark 2 by Ian Callum, a Classic, but with a modern twist, absolutely stunning.

The show was well worth the journey to London, and can only grow in years to come. Next yesr’s date is already in my diary, and I look forward to seeing some great action in the central Grand Avenue yet again.

SOUND OF SUCCESS

The inaugural London Classic Car Show was such a resounding hit that it will be back bigger and even better in 2016

The purr of stunning classic cars, the raucous yowl of an evocative F1 car, the excited chatter of thousands of visitors and the constant clicking of cameras- these were the sounds of a hugely successful inaugural London Classic Car Show.

Indeed the new show, which closed its doors on Sunday night (11th January) after a four-day run at ExCeL in London's Docklands, was such a massive triumph that plans are already well advanced for the 2016 event.

“Our first London Classic Car Show has exceeded our wildest dreams,” said Event Director Bas Bungish.
“The feedback from visitors and exhibitors has been universally positive.

“And the great news is not just that we'll be back for next year, but also that the 2016 London Classic Car Show will be at least 50 per cent bigger with even more fabulous cars and more special displays. What's more we will be ensuring that we don't lose the intimacy that made this year's Show so special.”

Packed full of innovative features, highlights included a special display focusing on the career of legendary Formula 1 designer Adrian Newey (below right).

There were also displays of iconic cars from Le Mans courtesy of Octane magazine and the Motor Sport Hall of Fame, while James May from BBC Top Gear chose the car that changed the world Рhe believes it's the Corgi James Bond Aston Martin of which more than six million were sold (below left). James Martin provided the show with another unique dimension; the TV chef and petrol-head providing show goers with a well deserved pit-stop at his James Martin Classic Caf̩ (below right).

But perhaps the show's defining feature was The Grand Avenue presented by Motoriety (above). Running the entire length of the hall, The Grand Avenue brought the show to life as dozens of classics from pioneering veterans to sixties supercars – were put through their paces during the show. While the spectacular blasts by F1 cars put smiles on faces it was mouth watering Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder SWB (below left) once owned by film star James Coburn and valued at more than £10m that won the most hearts and thus took the People's Choice Award sponsored by Admiral.

“The idea behind The Grand Avenue was to allow visitors to see and hear some iconic classic cars in action- and it proved so popular that we had to arrange extra shows,” said Bungish.

The show was launched with a spectacular VIP Preview evening on Thursday (8th January) attended by stars of track and screen. May, Martin and Newey were joined by ex-F1 drivers Martin Brundle and David Coulthard, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and TV presenter Jake Humphrey while BBC Radio 2 broadcaster Chris Evans took over as MC.

No fewer than 25,200 visitors attended the show over its three full days- and they came with an urge to spend money. Dealers reported countless genuine enquiries and some serious purchases too. Among the notable cars sold off stands were a £1.5m Ferrari, three £500,000 Aston Martins and a £500,000 E-type Jaguar.

But it wasn't all million pound motors. There were also hundreds of more affordable, but equally desirable, classics up for grabs.

Manufacturers including Maserati (below right), Aston Martin and Citroen – the latter celebrating the 60th anniversary of its avant-garde DS (below right) – were also overwhelmed by the quality of enquiries.

And Motor Sport magazine found its tribute to motor racing's greatest names so popular that it sold out of its current issue not once, but twice. It was the same story throughout ExCeL with the James Martin Classic Café reporting double the expected number of customers and busy trade stands enjoying huge interest. Indeed more than 80 per cent of exhibitors have already rebooked for 2016.

The London Classic Car Show is the latest creation from Brand Events, the team behind the globally popular Top Gear Live extravaganza. “Our aim with the London Classic Car Show was to create a show that really raises the bar. We did that ¬- motor shows will never be the same again.”

And with the 2016 London Classic Car Show promising to be even better make sure you don't miss out by marking the dates in your diary now: ExCeL, 18-21 February 2016.