28 head-turning classic cars for sale at the NEC Classic Motor Show

Classic car shopping

The Classic Motor Show is back at the NEC in Birmingham, UK, from 8-10 November.

More than 3000 cars will be on display, including 170 in the Iconic Auctioneers sale.

They will cross the block from 10am on the Saturday, before Sunday’s auctions of ’bikes and automobilia.

The auction catalogue is packed full of temptation so, after careful consideration, here are 28 of our favourites,  presented in chronological order.

1. 1916 Morgan Grand Prix Model (est: £18-23,000)

Morgan didn’t make a four-wheeler until 1936. Before then, it focused solely on three-wheeled products, like this sporting cyclecar.

A previous owner bought this example in 1959 and began to restore it, however, by 2007, the project was still incomplete and it was handed over to a Morgan specialist, who finished the job.

Now this JAP-engined car is ready for its next adventure.

2. 1943 Ford GPW ‘Willys’ Jeep (est: £20-25,000)

Off-road connoisseurs might have already noticed the small differences that identify this as a Ford-built Willys MB, which was based on the blueprints created by American Bantam Car Co.

Manufactured during WW2, a plaque in this car’s cabin also reveals that it was reconditioned in November 1944 by Higgins Industries – one of the companies contracted to repair and rebuild Jeeps for the US Army.

3. 1956 Mercedes-Benz 190SL (est: £50-60,000)

Heaps of 1950s Mercedes-Benz glamour for a fraction of the price of a 300SL.

The 190SL is perhaps the ultimate boulevard cruiser.

This classic car, finished in black with a red-leather interior, has covered fewer than 50,000 miles and will be offered with no reserve when it goes under the hammer at the Classic Motor Show in November.

4. 1963 Lotus Elite S2 (est: £45-55,000)

About 1000 Lotus Elites were built between 1959 and 1963, and this was one of the final examples produced.

Before the end of the 1960s, 323 CDA had been repaired after a crash at the hands of an overambitious driver.

The Lagoon Blue car has since had its engine, gearbox, differential and more rebuilt, too.

5. 1963 Maserati 3500GTI Vignale Spyder (est: £400-500,000)

Italian coachbuilder Vignale was tasked with producing the open-top version of Maserati’s 3500GT – albeit without the latter’s all-aluminium bodywork.

Fewer than 250 were built, including eight right-hand-drive cars, such as this.

This Maserati was restored in 2016, when it was also repainted in Blue Scuro and its engine (correct but unoriginal) was rebuilt.

In total, the work cost c£175,000.

6. 1969 Ford Escort Twin Cam (est: £65-75,000)

British rally driver Mick Briant bought this Ford Escort Twin Cam in 1969.

Shortly after, its engine was bored out to 1860cc, fitted with Cosworth pistons, larger valves and more.

Mick Briant competed in the Motoring News Championship with NBH 769H and later won the 1971 London Counties Rally Championship.

Following a £65,000 restoration, the Escort Twin Cam was reunited with Mick Briant and co-driver Peter Robinson at the 2021 Classic Motor Show.

7. 1972 Datsun 240Z (est: £40-50,000)

This UK-spec, 91,000-mile Datsun 240Z is for sale for the first time in 15 years.

It previously belonged to Datsun specialist Andrew Turner, who took it on European road trips and maintained it impeccably. 

Apparently this 52-year-old classic car has never suffered from bodywork corrosion, but it was treated to a fresh lick of paint about two decades ago.

8. 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL (est: £80-100,000)

Staying with the green theme, this BMW 3.0 CSL was one of 500 examples imported to the UK in period.

It’s powered by the later, fuel-injected 3003cc engine, good for more than 200bhp.

This Taiga Green car also has the City Package option fitted, which reinstated the standard interior’s mod cons.

9. 1974 Triumph TR6 PI (est: £20-25,000)

RDU 998M was built in January 1974 and was soon put to service on Triumph’s press fleet.

It was used by road testers and appeared in several magazines and newspapers, including a feature in Thoroughbred and Classic Cars, a copy of which is included in the sale.

Finished in bright-yellow Mimosa, RDU 998M has covered just 132 miles since 2019.

10. 1975 BMW 1602 (est: £24-28,000)

BMW’s Neue Klasse range of cars helped to secure the Munich firm’s future in the 1960s.

This three-owner 1602 (fitted with the marque’s M10 ‘four’) has covered just 3349 miles since it was bought new from Normand (Bromley) Ltd in 1975.

It’s finished in Schwarz with a cream-leather and cord interior, just as it left the factory 49 years ago.

11. 1975 Triumph Dolomite Sprint (est: £16-20,000)

The Dolomite Sprint was Triumph’s jab at a sporty saloon with a race-inspired, overhead-cam engine.

This well-loved example was enjoyed when it was new, but was then laid up in a garage for decades.

Inside, the doorcards are still protected by the plastic film with which it would have left the factory.

This 11,846-mile example has been recommissioned by classic car specialist Ken Clarke Motorsport.

12. 1977 Porsche 911 3.6 ‘911-50’ (est: £170-190,000)

To celebrate the 911’s 50th anniversary, Porsche dealerships were invited to take part in a UK-wide restoration competition, and this Viper Green model was Porsche Centre Guildford’s entry.

It started life as a 2.7-litre car, but was fitted with a modified 993 unit, modern electronic systems, RS-spec suspension and more.

More recently, it received further upgrades from Porsche Centre Reading, who also upped the power output to c320bhp.

13. 1978 Ferrari 512BB (est: £160-180,000)

This Rosso Corsa Ferrari 512BB was bought new from dealer HR Owen for £27,750 in 1978.

Rather more recently, it has been recommissioned by marque specialist Simon Campbell and a six-page report of the work carried out is available for prospective buyers.

Plus, this classic car has got just 55,518 miles on the clock.

14. 1979 Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk1 1600 (est: £25-30,000)

Another, somewhat more affordable, 1970s icon.

This one-owner Volkswagen Golf GTI is an early 1.6-litre model.

A trickle of left-hand-drive examples entered the UK from 1977, but it wasn’t until 1979 that official right-hand-drive imports began, making this one of the earliest.

Before 2018, this Mars Red car had been in storage for nearly 20 years.

15. 1980 Ferrari Dino 308GT4 (est: £40-50,000)

Singer-songwriter and Ferrari fan Chris Rea is the current owner of this 53,000-mile 308GT4.

Recently, the engine was rebuilt and the suspension was overhauled, while the red-leather interior and Cromodora alloy wheels were also refreshed.

The work has just been finished, so a running-in period is still necessary.

16. 1981 Porsche 924 Carrera GT (est: £50-60,000)

The 924 turbo helped to convince critics that Porsche’s entry-level sports car was more than a rebadged Volkswagen, and the Carrera GT went further still.

Just 406 were built, enough to homologate the model for motorsport.

This example bounced between German collections before it was acquired by its current keeper, who drives it regularly in Switzerland.

17. 1982 Maserati Merak SS (est: £60-70,000)

The Maserati Merak shared a lot with the V8-powered Bora, but it used an upgraded version of the V6 unit found in the Citroën SM.

This SS model – a more powerful, lightweight version – has been restored to the tune of £60,000.

The numberplate, MER 44K, is included in the sale.

18. 1985 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 (est: £30-35,000)

Two Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16s were supplied to the Team Lotus F1 outfit in 1986, when the driver line-up consisted of Johnny Dumfries and Ayrton Senna.

The pair – including this car – was apparently used by management, including designer Gérard Ducarouge, and the drivers during the 1986 season.

19. 1987 Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth (est: £100-120,000)

While Team Lotus high-ups were enjoying a pair of Mercedes-Benz saloons, Benetton Formula One team manager Peter Collins was driving around in this Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth.

Initially one of three examples used for Ford press duties, Iconic Auctioneers says it was loaned to Benetton (the team’s F1 cars were powered by Ford engines at the time), who serviced and maintained it.

20. 1989 Ford Escort RS Turbo S2 (est: £30-35,000)

The second 1980s fast Ford in this list is a low-mileage example of the Blue Oval’s turbocharged Escort.

With 130bhp and a 0-60mph time of 8.3 secs, this classic Ford will still be fun to drive.

It was sold new to Northern Ireland, moved into Ireland and was imported to the UK in 2017, then consigned to a sale with the same auction house it’s being offered through today – that was in 2019 at 29,000 miles.

In the intervening five years, it’s barely added to that mileage, due to being carefully stored, and we’re told it will be detailed, serviced and receive a fresh MoT prior to its sale on 9 November – 35 years to the day since it was first registered.

21. 1990 Citroën 2CV6 Spécial (est: £15-20,000)

This ‘tin snail’ was built in the last year of Citroën 2CV production. What’s more remarkable is that it has been driven just 557 miles since it rolled off the production line. 

Finished in Vallelunga Red, this 2CV6 Spéciale was a 21st-birthday gift from the current owner’s father, who bought it new in 1990.

It will be offered with no reserve at the NEC Classic Motor Show in November.

22. 1990 Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth BTCC (est: available upon request)

Tim Harvey raced this Labatt’s-liveried Ford Sierra in the 1989 and 1990 British Touring Car Championship seasons.

The Andy Rouse Engineering-built RS 500 achieved two successive third-in-class finishes, including a pair of race victories in 1989, at Thruxton and Donington Park.

Unrestored, but gently modified to compete at historic motorsport events, this car presents a fantastic opportunity to own a slice of BTCC history.

23. 1991 Audi Ur-quattro 20V (est: £55-65,000)

In 1990, the Audi quattro gained a raft of updates including a new Torsen differential and a double-overhead-cam engine that also had its capacity increased from 2144cc to 2226cc.

This Crystal Silver example from 1991 is a three-owner car that’s been with its current custodian for a decade.

In 2021 it went to SJH Motorsport Ltd for a mechanical refresh.

24. 1993 Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evolution II (est: £70-90,000)

Lancia was the marque to beat in the early years of rallying’s Group A regulations.

The dominant Delta morphed from HF to 8v Integrale and eventually into the 16v Integrale Evolution II, as seen here.

This classic car has covered fewer than 28,000 miles and everything from its Alcantara interior to its turbocharged engine appear to be in great condition.

25. 1994 Renault Clio Williams (est: £40-50,000)

The 1990s was a great time to be a hot-hatchback fan, and the Renault Clio Williams was one of the era’s best.

This sub-10,000-mile example is finished in Metallic Sports Blue (as were all Phase 1 cars) and belonged to its first owner for nearly 25 years.

It comes with a huge history file, too.

26. 1999 Ferrari 550 Maranello (est: £90-120,000)

If hot hatchbacks aren’t your thing, then how about this modern-classic Ferrari?

Perhaps the greatest Prancing Horse all-rounder, the near-200mph 550 Maranello’s V12 engine and 100-litre-plus fuel tank make it the perfect road-trip companion, too.

What’s more, this car boasts Ferrari Classiche Certification.

27. 1999 Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R (est: £70-90,000)

Alternatively, you could look to Japan for late-1990s top-speed thrills.

Made even more popular thanks to its role in the Fast and Furious films, the R34-generation model is one of the most sought-after Skylines.

This Bayside Blue car was imported from Japan in 2022.

The odometer shows 57,848 miles, however little is known about the car’s life in Japan.

28. 2001 Ferrari 360 Modena (est: £48-58,000)

The 360 Modena could be the best-value used Ferrari right now.

Granted, this car’s £48-58,000 estimate isn’t exactly cheap, but for that you get a 31,000-mile example with a full service history, a naturally aspirated V8 engine, Bordeaux-leather interior and, most importantly, a six-speed manual gearbox.

You’d be hard pressed to find more bang for your buck.

If you’d like to find out more about any of the lots in this gallery, or you want to see what else is for sale at the Classic Motor Show at the NEC Birmingham on 9 November 2024, click here to view Iconic Auctioneers’ full catalogue.