A further ten finalists have been selected for the Autumn Final of the Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership next month, with cars coming from all over the UK and even from across the Channel to take part.
Held at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery, the final will see a total of 20 cars compete for honours at Birmingham’s NEC on November 9-11. Two will have to cross water to get there; including David Selfridge from County Antrim in Northern Ireland with his 1938 Citroën Traction Avant Light 12. Having been parked in the garage for ten years by the previous owner, the vehicle has been restored by David over the past three years and he will be driving it to the show.
Kevin Peck will have an even more challenging journey to the show, given that he resides in France, but it will be worth it to display the Bugatti Type 35 replica he purchased for just £1000.
Visiting a friend in hospital, Kevin met the then owner in the next bed who had bought the car, crashed it after eight miles on its first trip out, and not taken it out the garage since. He offered to sell it to Kevin for a knock-down price, who then restored the car back to its best.
Representing the 1950s will be Christopher Joyce’s ’1956 Daimler New Drophead Coupe and Nick Pollitt’s ’1955 Triumph TR3. Chris’s Daimler is one of 56 built with very few in the UK, while Nick’s TR3 was retained by Standard Triumph as the press and publicity car. Moving forward into the ’80s, meanwhile, will be Lucas Reynold’s 1982 Lotus Esprit Turbo. This example was built by Lotus for the 1982 British Motor Show at the NEC so it will be great to see it return some 34 years later. It’s resplendent in metallic Ice Blue, a new colour used by Lotus on all of its display cars that year to ensure that they stood out from the crowd. Talking of standing out, Josh Lydiard’s 1972 Volkswagen Trekker is not something you see every day, especially with the unique patina and tasteful modifications that Josh’s example sports. “The car was originally used by the German air force in the ’70s and still sports its original military markings which lead me to finding out it was a radar and artillery car at an airport in Germany near Munich,” said Josh. “The car was very unusual in factory form, but this example is one of a kind.”
The oldest car in the Final is Gillian Caldicott’s 1922 Calthorpe All Weather Tourer, affectionately known as Connie. Believed to be one of only nine examples left, the Birmingham-built machine was discovered partly-dismantled in a semi-derelict building, before being lovingly restored.
At the other end of the scale, one of the youngest cars – and the youngest finalist – is 20-year-old Tahmid Haque and his 1989 BMW E24 M635CSi. Believed to be the last example finished in Diamond Schwartz Metallic, it’s car number 508 of a mere 524 produced.
Completing the set will be a pair of Fords – but they couldn’t be more different. Rob Sargent’s 1969 Mk2 Ford Cortina is a rare Savage V6 model, while Mark McClelland’s contender is a 1994 Ford Escort RS Cosworth Lux. These ten cars and owners will join Richard Pinkett and his 1939 MG TB, Michael Jones’ 1960 Jaguar MkII, Andy Nash’s 1966 Morris Mini Traveller, and Mandeep Sandhar and his 2000 Nissan Skyline. Sadly, Mark Stewart’s Ford Escort XR3i has been withdrawn and a new finalist chosen in its place.
Andrew Evanson, Senior Operations Manager of sponsors Lancaster Insurance, said: “At the show, there is always a real buzz surrounding the Pride of Ownership as it showcases incredible cars with some fantastic stories behind them. It’s always exciting to hear about who will be displayed and these ten cars will be a fantastic addition!”
Visitors will be asked to vote for their favourite car and story, with the winner announced on Sunday November 11 by Wheeler Dealers’ star, Ant Anstead.
For more information, visit www.necclassicmotorshow.com.
