2019 NEC Classic Car Show– The Commencement of the Alvis Centenary.

Our cars this year were all selected to try to conform to a cross-section of models produced over 5 decades. We felt we should concentrate on cars from the vintage, post-vintage and post-war eras with the very fine Alvis 12/60 of David Webster, and the immaculate Alvis 3 ½ litre Gurney Nutting two-door saloon, very much fresh from the paint shop, which would dazzle the show visitors; Post-War, the TA14 just had to be included, not only because it is some time since we had one on the stand, but it coincided with the final re-commissioning of the Jack Meredith/Peter Milne car being offered with the Young Driver Loan Scheme, for hand-over to the young 29-year old , Josh Bennett . The car was very well presented, having been resprayed by young students from the North East College in Aberdeen, and the subject of major mechanical work to ensure the car proves reliable in Josh’s hands for the next 12 months.

Fisher Restoration supported us by bringing along the Robin Johnson TC 21/100 drophead-coupe and also with the presence of Steve Wilson, himself or his chief engineer Dave Wilson, both popping between the Lagonda Club and Aston Martin stands alongside our stand 510. I understand our involvement in the Young Driver Scheme may also translate across to other cars owned and maintained by Fisher’s clients, and we also had strong interest in one AOC members loaning a further TA14 to the pool of cars available to these young drivers. Another owner bringing his car was John Hampshire, in his TC 108G Willowbrook driving all the way from London.

Our Chairman, David Salter, had entered the Club into a number of the Classic and Sportscar awards, a ceremony which takes place on the Friday evening, courtesy also of Lancaster Insurance and primarily compered by Simon Fisher of Classic and Sportscar magazine. We were winners of Best Car in The Show 2019; out of three selected as candidates, the car which they felt best epitomised originality, sympathetic restoration and stunning good looks was Ann Bradnum’s 1936 3 ½ Litre , transported all the way from Wales by Earley Engineering.

Once again, an excellent show that was well supported by AOC volunteers for each day, and we offer our thanks to them and to those who displayed their cars this year, many of whom drove their cars in wet weather to get them to NEC.