The Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show at the NEC in Birmingham has become my favourite event of the year, and it’s time to start getting excited again – it’s just around the corner on the 22nd to 24th of March, so it is time to get the flights booked up and the tickets in the bag.
This show is proof that bigger is not always better. It is smaller than the NEC Classic Motorshow held in November, but it has so much more to enjoy and is much easier to see, especially if you’re only doing a day trip to the very accessible NEC in Birmingham. The name is the giveaway – this show is all about restoration, and every stand you visit will have a vehicle in the middle of a rebuild. In many cases there will even be someone working on the project as you watch, and could even be welding and grinding away.
The other highlight, for me anyway, is the Barn Find Corner. Wow, they sure do find some basket cases to display here, and believe it or not it’s a competition to see what it the best barn find. Last year’s was won by the red Mini with a custom boot added by its owner (see photo). You will always see a car here that you haven’t seen before.
As well as all of this, there will be the Classic Workshop, and the Classic Car Auction always has something to tempt. I tend to try and stay away from this section for that very reason… The Dream Rides will be in action, and celebrities like Mike Brewer, Fuzz Townshend and Ant Anstead will be on the stage and in the workshop area. So all in all, there’s lots to see and do at this amazing show.
If you’d like to read my report from the 2023 event, which appeared in our August ’23 issue, then just click on the cover image.
For more details on the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show, or to get your tickets, then log onto https://www.necrestorationshow.com/. To save £2 on the ticket price, use the code irishvintage24.