What makes The London Classic Car Show special is the selection of English classics. Brands such as AC, Bristol, TVR, for example, rarely appear elsewhere. In addition, British coachbuilders have been allowed to play an active role in the English car industry. Ingenuity knows no bounds.
While the snow melted in Oslo, we took a trip to visit our daughter and her fiancé in Hertfordshire, England, where the daffodils were in full bloom. We spent a nice day and evening in London. While my wife went shopping in Chelsea, I walked around and studied finer classic cars in the old Oympia Hall. There were a striking number of visitors there, most of them grey-haired gentlemen dressed in dark all-weather jackets - like me.
The exhibition consisted of both cars from car dealerships and member cars linked to invited car clubs. Several of the visitors looked at cars they could imagine buying. On Saturday and Sunday the stage was set for auction, but I am not sure how many cars are actually traded in this way. In any case, it creates "life and excitement" in the old halls.
Here are some samples from the exhibition. More pictures are posted under the respective car brands i Cars from A to Z.
Alpine A110
Alpine had a small "stand" at The London Classic Car Show where a classic A110 was lined up between two new cars. Although the new A110 model can already be considered a classic, I am most fascinated by the old one. It was difficult to get good pictures of it, because of everyone who wanted to test drive the new car next to it. It must be said that there is a good environment for the A110 in England. In addition, the new cars are generally both cheaper and easier to get hold of than the old ones.
BMW 3,0 CSL "DIY"
CSL stands for "Coupé Sport Leicht". With reduced weight and extra aerodynamics, the 206 horses in the straight six gave very good performance for its time; 0-100 in 7 seconds and a top speed of 220 km/h. The dream car stood together with 4 other classics that could all be characterized as renovation objects. We've all dreamed of coming across a barn find for a cheap price, but these cars are unlikely to be sold cheaply.
Bugatti Veyron Replica
Do you know what a Bugatti Veyron sells for? According to the exhibitor more than 2 million pounds sterling! But not this edition. It is for sale for just 240 pounds, approximately NOK 000 million. The explanation is that it is a replica - broadly based on Audi components with a chip-tuned Audi 3,2 V4,2 twin turbo and gearbox with brakes and electronics from Audi. The car received plates last year after several years of work and is supposed to drive very well - and it will be the only one of its kind in the world.
Ferrari Stars
In a place like this, of course, there was a large selection of Ferrari cars. Here are a couple of cars that are both classic and within reach if you think life is too short not to drive a Ferrari. The F355 can be taken in according to vintage car rules - the F430 will only be ready in a few years.
Ford Consul mk1 Abbot Body Estate
It's hard not to like this car - an estate version of the Ford Consul mk1 built by ED Abbott Ltd - a body shop in Surrey that has put its signature on several fine English cars. The Consul went into private museums after a full restoration, but has now come out on the road after a full mechanical overhaul.
Ford's Advanced Vehicle Operations
Ford AVO Owners Club was founded in the 1980s to bring together owners of cars produced between 1968 and 1975 under Ford's "Advanced Vehicle Operations". They were a popular feature at this year's London Classic Car Show. According to the club, it includes the legendary Ford Escort models Twin Cam, RS1600, Mexico and RS2000 as well as the Ford Capri RS3100.
Electrogenic
We have previously mentioned the British company Electrogenic which converts classic cars to electric cars. They have previously converted models from Volkswagen, Triumph, Saab and Rolls Royce more. The models they showed off now were none other than Jaguar E-Type, Porsche 911 and Land-Rover. Interest in electric cars is increasing, especially around London due to savings Congestion Load.
Italian stars
In the 60s and 70s, several Italian car factories struggled financially. It went beyond the quality, but not the appearance and the ambitions. If you find a refurbished Lamborghini Espada, Lancia Flaminia and Maserati Ghibli, they are probably better now than when they left the factory.
Unipower GT
An English sports car designed by some of the most skilled British car constructors of the 60s. "Mini-Miura" was made in only 72 copies between 1966 and 1970. The car is tiny. When I saw it next to the Triumph Vitesse - which is also a small car - I thought it was a toy car that wealthy little boys could pedal around the courtyard with. The car has a mid-mounted, transversely positioned Mini engine, independent suspension on all wheels and fiberglass bodywork on a spaceframe frame. Although the Unipower GT was small, it was no cheap car. It was built as a quality car with good driving characteristics and respectable performance.
Triumph Vitesse
The Triumph Vitesse is the best variant in the Triumph Herald family with a 6-cylinder engine - the same as the Triumph GT6 had. For many of the grey-haired gentlemen with dark all-weather jackets, the Triumph Vitesse was perhaps a boyhood dream. At least it was a car that was very flooded.
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2023 The London Classic Car Show
