Classic Car Show - NEC
Discussion
There's a thread on the midlands about it.
I heard from someone who went on friday and summed the event up as follows:
1) The Top hear live but was full of youngsters taking photos of a Veyron on their phone
2) The clasic bit was very small- they had walked around it in an hour, and felt the silverstone classic was much more.
But I've not bene mysefl, this is just what I've been told.
I heard from someone who went on friday and summed the event up as follows:
1) The Top hear live but was full of youngsters taking photos of a Veyron on their phone
2) The clasic bit was very small- they had walked around it in an hour, and felt the silverstone classic was much more.
But I've not bene mysefl, this is just what I've been told.
Just got back from there. We had a TIPEC Committee meet so that was the reason I went, first time I've been to the Classic at NEC & wouldn't have gone otherwise.
Classics OK, nothing mindblowing, seen similar unusual stuff at Bromley. Long way from Kent 330mile round trip & the weather going there was vile. Bloody expensive, full price ticket on the door is 18quid with a rip off 8 quid parking.
Pre-booked the entry was 12quid with a pound booking fee.
Will I be going back, no.
Classics OK, nothing mindblowing, seen similar unusual stuff at Bromley. Long way from Kent 330mile round trip & the weather going there was vile. Bloody expensive, full price ticket on the door is 18quid with a rip off 8 quid parking.
Pre-booked the entry was 12quid with a pound booking fee.
Will I be going back, no.
We went yesterday and there were no veyrons in the mph hall, but there was one in hte classics.
We were in for 10.05am and left at 6.30pm. We saw all the classics which took hours, we saw all the mph which took about an hour, but we didn't see all the classic bikes.
Imho a great show and fantastic value
We were in for 10.05am and left at 6.30pm. We saw all the classics which took hours, we saw all the mph which took about an hour, but we didn't see all the classic bikes.
Imho a great show and fantastic value
I've been there since Thursday on a club stand. If all you do is look, you will get round quickly and not get much out of it - but if you stop and come onto the stands and talk to us, it's a lot more fun for all. (Oh, and wind up some of the snake oil merchants too 
)
Our stand is pretty small but we've had well over 200 people through in the last 2 days, I'm sure. Most have been interested in the cars whether to buy, sell or just talk about one they remembered from years ago.
There's some really nice metal and GRP there - and the classic bikes are worth a look too.
)Our stand is pretty small but we've had well over 200 people through in the last 2 days, I'm sure. Most have been interested in the cars whether to buy, sell or just talk about one they remembered from years ago.
There's some really nice metal and GRP there - and the classic bikes are worth a look too.
Edited by marshalla on Saturday 14th November 20:19
musclecarmad said:
too busy
£8 parking
£18 ticket
terrible traffic
no seats to sit down and have a coffee or eat
If a ticket was £14 and parking £2.50 and there were nice eateries there it would be worth it but its too busy, too expensive and you are treated like cattle so no don't go ON A SATURDAY
efa £8 parking
£18 ticket
terrible traffic
no seats to sit down and have a coffee or eat
If a ticket was £14 and parking £2.50 and there were nice eateries there it would be worth it but its too busy, too expensive and you are treated like cattle so no don't go ON A SATURDAY
It was very busy today, a little uncomfortable tbh. Friday was calm, & Sundays are usually more relaxed.
I agree its a tad expensive, but if you exhibit entry & parking is free every day.
) I always enjoy it when I do go though, so if you like looking at lovely cars then I can't really think of a better place to go.... 
Went on Saturday with my son and just saw every thing in 6 hours. Classic part good, bikes very good (I have not had one for 25 years plus and more interested in cars) friendly atmosphere. MPH was very poor and very chavy and a lot of the stands with nothing to do with cars e.g. fish tanks/prisons?
V8convert said:
a lot of the stands with nothing to do with cars
I have to say, I really resented npower having a stand there and their staff hassling people to change power provider. People don't expect to go to an event like that and have to fend off that sort of universally reviled sales & marketing approach. Getting approached on your local High Street, or even cold called at home, fair enough, but here? 
Now, having a Singleton single malt thrust into my hand, that's more like it, I went back later for another
I went yesterday arriving around 9:30 and I left at about 4 o'clock, I only go for the classic cars the MPH bit leaves me cold... I did go into it because I specifically wanted to see the Volvo S60 concept but that was it. As for the classic show it covered 4 halls plus the motor bikes in the pavilion so I don't see how anyone can say it's small I really enjoyed it and had an enjoyable day. As for the price, I don't know what people expect but for under £20 it doesn't seem bad to me and because I arrived early I parked for a fiver. I had a good day out, my only complaint and I agree with everyone on this, the venue is s
t! The lighting in the classic car halls is very poor so the exhibits are not shown to their best, and the lack of anywhere to sit is appalling! The food outlets are poor too. It was so noticeable that people were buying food and sitting on the floor to eat it! I don't know what the NEC's thinking is on this but it's obviously a specific policy not to have an seating area. It's a poor example of a sad British show hall complex put to shame by the quality of exhibition complexes in other countries.
t! The lighting in the classic car halls is very poor so the exhibits are not shown to their best, and the lack of anywhere to sit is appalling! The food outlets are poor too. It was so noticeable that people were buying food and sitting on the floor to eat it! I don't know what the NEC's thinking is on this but it's obviously a specific policy not to have an seating area. It's a poor example of a sad British show hall complex put to shame by the quality of exhibition complexes in other countries. Edited by RichB on Saturday 21st November 23:11
My tuppence worth , went for several reasons including to meet some folk from TIPEC and their cars and another to see some grest 80's classics and hopefully even a few I had owned. I wasn't disapointed , I even saw a Talbot Sunbean TI as per one I owned in my late teens which I never thought I would see again.
The stalls wee great too with everything from Tools to detailing to clothes and gadgets a real boys toys extraveganza. I met someone who recomended the Ace Cafe Porsche meets to me and picked up a few other tips and avoids as you do. Not enough scantilly dressed promo girls though I have to say but nothings ever perfect :P
One thing I would say was much as I love my family it really isn't ideal with a four year old and a baby in hand and I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I could have made my way round on my own interspersed with the occasaional beer. For me it was worth every penny though as well as the 1 hour 45min drive each way.
Club discount of five pounds on each ticket was worth having too.
Best memories were , that Sunbean TI and a couple of very nice Porsche indeed.
Cheers Mas
The stalls wee great too with everything from Tools to detailing to clothes and gadgets a real boys toys extraveganza. I met someone who recomended the Ace Cafe Porsche meets to me and picked up a few other tips and avoids as you do. Not enough scantilly dressed promo girls though I have to say but nothings ever perfect :P
One thing I would say was much as I love my family it really isn't ideal with a four year old and a baby in hand and I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I could have made my way round on my own interspersed with the occasaional beer. For me it was worth every penny though as well as the 1 hour 45min drive each way.
Club discount of five pounds on each ticket was worth having too.
Best memories were , that Sunbean TI and a couple of very nice Porsche indeed.
Cheers Mas
Went yesterday and really enjoyed it. MPH was indeed dire but I did see a F40 and RS200 which made it for me. Classic bit was very good, and could have gone back for another day. I spent a lot of time chatting to people who owned the cars and it was bloody interesting. Its more than an opportunity to just look at the cars. Special thanks to the bloke on the Bugatti stand who looked a little like Sean Connery and spent 30 mins talking about his life story in cars, fascinating and a true enthusiast.
There were a few ommisions, didn't see many Alfas or Astons but I may have missed them. Topped it off with a ride out in a Marcos Mantala, lovely noise and interesting chat with the owner Mike. Will be back next year, just hope the traffic on M1 is kinder...
There were a few ommisions, didn't see many Alfas or Astons but I may have missed them. Topped it off with a ride out in a Marcos Mantala, lovely noise and interesting chat with the owner Mike. Will be back next year, just hope the traffic on M1 is kinder...
TallTony said:
...didn't see many Alfas or Astons...
Alfa Romeo owners club were there but their stand was entirely made up of SZs and RZs which I assume was an intentional theme, perhaps they had something else last year? I do recollect seeing some lovely older Alfas a few years ago. As for Astons, the AMOC, of which I'm a member have attended in past years but have decided for the time being that they don't want to attend. I agree there weren't many older Astons, there were some DB9s, V8Vs and I saw the new V12Vantage, there was also an Competizione 8C in MPH about which I heard a lady say "I like that" and her bloke replied "It's only an Alfa Romeo" well she said "its nice" and he said "but Alfa are like affordable" to which she said "well buy me one then" ... Edited by RichB on Sunday 15th November 20:54
Just returned home from my annual pilgrimage there. Popped into that MPH thing but it was so chavvy I hope nobody saw me!
Car park martialling was cr4p and at 8 quid a ripoff for yet another year. However the Classic Show is a must IMHO and the choice of cars was different but as good as ever.
Auto Jumble. What auto jumble? I guess this has been killed off by the internet - RIP
Car park martialling was cr4p and at 8 quid a ripoff for yet another year. However the Classic Show is a must IMHO and the choice of cars was different but as good as ever.
Auto Jumble. What auto jumble? I guess this has been killed off by the internet - RIP
I went on the Saturday on the Lancia Club stand, classic bit was excellent (maybe not quite the range of cars there was last year but still good) but especially enjoyed getting an eyeful of the Maserati 5000 (agree about the Alfa stand, last year one of the best - but then we were exclusively Delta this year in recognition of the 30th anniversary). Why on earth any club would book a space in MPH is beyond me - chav city... and when I wanted to get in and look at the 037 and Stratos I couldn't.
RichB said:
Alfa Romeo owners club were there but their stand was entirely made up of SZs and RZs which I assume was an intentional theme, perhaps they had something else last year? I do recollect seeing some lovely older Alfas a few years ago.
Zagato-themed stand, as far as I know, with it being the 20th anniversary of the SZ. I wasn't there, but I'm told there was a '60s Giulietta SZ on the stand as well as the ES30 SZs?5th year running for me. Fantastic as usual. MPH IMO gets worse every year the highlight of that was the celebrity bit a chance to see a couple of James Martin's cars and Jay Kays. Oh and Mays Rolls.
Main show was very good. American classics always amuse me, 19ft long! they are sights to behold, chatted to one owner for a while he had owned it for 30 years!.
Bugatti stand was very interesting to see everyone crowded around the Veyron all egar to get a glimpse of a million pound sypercar yet on the same stand was a car worth in excess of £4million!.
Thought the Vaxhaull concepts were very interesting, its just a shame very little made it from concept to the road. Maybe they wouldn't be where they are now if they hadn't stayed as concepts.
I was disapointed at Mini celebrating their 50th aniversary, very poor if you ask me considering how big the Mini scene is at the moment. I thought Capri did a much better job of celebrating their aniversary.
Main show was very good. American classics always amuse me, 19ft long! they are sights to behold, chatted to one owner for a while he had owned it for 30 years!.
Bugatti stand was very interesting to see everyone crowded around the Veyron all egar to get a glimpse of a million pound sypercar yet on the same stand was a car worth in excess of £4million!.
Thought the Vaxhaull concepts were very interesting, its just a shame very little made it from concept to the road. Maybe they wouldn't be where they are now if they hadn't stayed as concepts.
I was disapointed at Mini celebrating their 50th aniversary, very poor if you ask me considering how big the Mini scene is at the moment. I thought Capri did a much better job of celebrating their aniversary.
jamieboy said:
RichB said:
Alfa Romeo owners club were there but their stand was entirely made up of SZs and RZs which I assume was an intentional theme, perhaps they had something else last year? I do recollect seeing some lovely older Alfas a few years ago.
Zagato-themed stand, as far as I know, with it being the 20th anniversary of the SZ. I wasn't there, but I'm told there was a '60s Giulietta SZ on the stand as well as the ES30 SZs?Overall a great show, if you like looking at, and talking about cars it's a great day and not at all bed value. I'm not sure what some of the above were realy expecting!
Paul
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