Rust and wrecks: the 2024 Restoration Show

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For many British enthusiasts, the Classic Car & Restoration Show which takes place near Birmingham every March marks the start of a new show season. It seems appropriate that it should fall so near Easter, for the theme is one of death and rebirth. Much of the interest in that show stems from many cars being exhibited for the first or last time; many have just been restored after decades off the road, but others are being given a respectful send-off before they end up being broken for parts.

Visitors to the Wolseley Register's stand could pay their respects to a forlorn 1938 18/85, which was scheduled to sacrifice itself to keep another 18/85 on the road, but other cars brought happier tidings. Although Vintage models are regrettably scarce at the Restoration Show, it was heartening to see a 1926 Ford Model T in the process of restoration by an enthusiastic teenager, Rosie Hodgson-Jones. The Daimler & Lanchester Owners' Club also presented quite an outstanding exhibit in the form of a 1927 Daimler 35/120 landaulet, the restoration of which is only just about to commence although the car was rescued from a scrapyard in 1969.

Visitors to Vintage Sports-Car Club driving tests and trials might well have come across Bruce Girvan, who champions vintage Jowetts. He was present with the Jowett Car Club, busily trying to assemble his rather skeletal 1930 7hp Long Two, and the Ford Sidevalve Owners' Club also presented an interesting project in the form of a 1938/39 Prefect drophead coupé, one of about fifty made before war halted production, of which only two or three are known to the club.

The Standard Motor Club really did well, championing the philosophy of preservation wherever possible through a trio of extremely rare survivors. Shaun Russell was just about to begin the restoration of his 1937 six-cylinder Flying 20, which is scheduled to reappear completed at the Classic Motor Show in November. Meanwhile, Graham Hart and Gary Edwards have both completed the restorations of their respective cars, a 1937 Flying 20 V8 and 1931 Big Nine Swallow, but with all their original paint, trim and fittings retained wherever possible.

Rover enthusiasts had not one but two vehicles to appeal to their tastes. The Rover Sports Register displayed a 1935 10hp saloon in as-found condition, while the Tickford Owners' Club fielded the 1939 Rover 20hp Tickford drophead coupé, which was discovered derelict in 2022 and sold that year at the Beaulieu Autojumble. It has since benefitted from a very sympathetic oily-rag restoration.

It is disappointing that the Pride of Ownership Competition is fairly indifferent towards cars which genuinely merit preservation—ten of the twenty cars were of post-1985 manufacture while pre-war cars did not feature at all—but a PVT gem was to be found in the Barn Find Competition. Mike Attle bought his 1934 SS2 five years ago. It was in a parlous state and was to be sold on, but it's fully deserving of a brave and sympathetic restorer.

For all that, the star exhibit was the 1905 Riley 9hp exhibited with the Riley Motor Club, next to the recent recreation of Percy Riley's first car of 1898. It has been rebuilt over several years from just a pile of parts, and we hope to see it out and about with the Veteran Car Club in due course.

For more information, follow this link to our report on PostWarClassic.com.

Words and photographs: Zack Stiling
 

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