Here’s all my coverage from yesterday at the London Classic Car Show in Olympia London
I loved the London Classic Car Show that I attended for the first time last year, when it was held at the Excel centre, so obviously I just had to go and check out this year’s edition.
The London Classic Car Show opened yesterday and runs till Sunday 23rd February. It’s shifted to the splendour of Olympia London with well over 500 spectacular classic cars, worth more than £70 million, on show, although gone is the live runway display that had become a big draw for the event.
Exhibitors include classic car dealers, restorers and specialists, as well as collectors and car clubs and there is also a live stage with activity throughout the event. Tiff Needell will be hosting shows including a tribute to Bruce McLaren (backed up with a spectacular static display), stories from the likes of car designers Adrian Newey and Ian Callum, as well as a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Audi ur-Quattro (see my review of the legendary classic on DriveTribe).
Specialist auctioneers Coys opened viewings of the 80 consignments that it will auction across 22 and 23 February, which include a 1983 Ferrari 512 BBi that’s covered just 211 miles, 1970 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 SS Spyder and 1970 Ferrari 246 GT ‘Dino’ in Giallo yellow. See my video walkaround of some of the amazing machinery up for grabs this weekend in the video below.
The car world’s most famous car artist, Ian Banu-Cook or PopBangColour is also painting live at the show and you can see our exclusive full interview with him below.
Undoubtedly one of the coolest vehicles on show was this 70s and 80s Motown-themed 1979 Ford Transit van presented.
We also talked to Waterloo Classics about a new company offering tutored track-drives of classic cars.
A personal highlight for me was meeting the arch-rivals that were the subject of my movie of the year, Ford V Ferrari (AKA LeMans 66) – see my 2020 Movie Car Awards on DriveTribe now – the Ford GT40 and Ferrari 330 P4. What a sight to behold. And it didn’t even matter that these were replicas, presented by Total Head Turners.
But these were about as real as they kit, the GT40 was built in the 1970s, and both were utterly convincing. Thanks so much to Alex Parkinson for making a dream come true and allowing me to sit in the GT40 – yeah I can fit, and yes it was extraordinary to immerse myself in such a legendary machine and try to imagine what it was like to race one!
If all this classic car goodness has got you excited enough to want to invest in one but you bank account says something different, we find out about a new opportunity starting up that allows you to get into classic car ownership from as little as £20, thanks The Car Crowd!
Of course with concerns about the environment now also impacting classic cars, would you convert your old Volkswagen, Fiat 500 or even Magnum-era Ferrari into electric? The Electric Classic Car guys can do it for you.
“It’s been a fantastic opening night at Olympia, bringing the show back to the original home of motoring and classic car event. And it really does feel like ‘home’ for an event like this,” says Bas Bungish, The London Classic Car Show’s event director.
“We’ve welcomed classic car collectors, aficionados and industry personalities, which has created a real buzz around this year’s show, alongside of course the real stars – the cars. We’re delighted to bring together so many incredible cars that are available to purchase, and those to admire as well, and look forward to welcoming guests throughout the weekend.”
Find out more details at https://www.thelondonclassiccarshow.co.uk
Brown Car Guy 
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