Page 155 - Bespoke Issue

It hardly seems a year ago since we were at London Excel for the London Classic Car Show, but its come around again. The four day show
opened on Thursday afternoon in time for the preview evening and the launch of the latest special from icon racing company Lister, the Lister Thunder.
Although the show is based at the vast Excel Arena is maintains an intimate feel, with a great turnout of dealers displaying some lovely examples. All based around the central ‘Grand Avenue’. There was a good balance of automotive art, some interesting garden furniture and summerhouses and few drinks brands. There’s always new artisan gins at these events and this one was no exception. We usually run into our friends at Shawbury Vintners who sit us down to sample some interesting wines (last year I ended up ordering a few cases) and there were superb small scale petrol cars on the Footman James Insurance stand, so a varied display of content.
The show is great place to run into old friends, like the guys from ‘Small Car Big City’ whose display of Mini’s is almost as impressive as there London tours in these iconic little classics. TV actor Philip Glenister had curated the display of ‘Getaway Cars’ this year, which bought back some memories of classic TV shows when the bad guys drove Ford Granada’s.
The big attraction of this show that sets it apart from the many other excellent classic car shows is ‘Grand Avenue’. A moving display where cars take to the road up and down the centre of the hall, so you can see, hear and smell these amazing machines. The highlight for me was hanging out in the paddock area ‘back stage’ where they were stored and lined up to go.
Even with both roller shutter doors open the fumes could make your eyes water as a Lamborghini LM002 and Miura Jota would re up to take their place on Grand Avenue. There were classic Lotus F1 cars accelerating up the avenue to remind us what the sport used to sound like as well as more accessible classics like Fiat Abarth’s and Sierra Cosworth’s and a good contingent of fabulous Ferraris. An old friend of Paddock Life, Ed from Front Line engineering was there with his amazing reincarnation of the MGB roadster that we tested a year or so back.
Nigel Mansell the former F1 World Champion and Indy Car Champion was in attendance to collect his Icon Award some 25 years after he achieved the holy grail of his career in 1992 when we won his rst FIA Championship, whilst a stunning display of his cars marked the occasion.
Over 40,000 people attended the show over the 4 days, 60 ‘specials’, racers, one offs and prototypes drove down the Grand Avenue each day as the classic car community came into London.
WORDS CRAIG BLAKE-JONES IMAGES JENNIFER SCHAUERTE
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LONDON CLASSIC CAR SHOW