Mini wins top award at Classic Nostalgia

Classic cars flood Worcestershire for Shelsley concours

A 1959 Morris Mini-Minor saw off exotic competition to take Best in Show as the Classic & Sports Car Concours returned to play a starring role at the brilliant Shelsley Walsh Classic Nostalgia last weekend, 17-18 July 2021.

Morris bolsters its trophy cabinet

John Powrie’s lovely Clipper Blue Mini – one of two near-identical cars in the concours, both with fascinating histories – wowed the judges with its intriguing past, having been a pre-production model that was supplied new by BMC to John Bolster, technical editor of Autosport, for long-term test.

The car was packed with charming details that told the story of Bolster’s ownership, such as a hood he fitted over the indicator stalk to avoid its flashing light blinding him when driving at night, and featured several modifications fitted in period for Bolster to try out, such as its wood-rim wheel and short-shift gearlever.

Climbing to the top of the podium, and the hill

After being presented with his trophy by two of the judging team, C&SC editor in chief Alastair Clements and Hagerty manager of automotive intelligence UK John Mayhead, Powrie and the Mini led a parade of all of the class winners up the hill.

Practising what you preach

Chief judge Simon Taylor, Classic & Sports Car’s editor at large, was already in the paddock awaiting his first competitive run of the day aboard his mighty HWM-Chevrolet ‘Stovebolt Special’.

Having started life as an HWM single-seater with an Alta engine, in which form it was driven by a young Stirling Moss, the Stovebolt later went to America where it was fitted with its current Chevrolet V8 engine and played a starring role in the 1955 Kirk Douglas film The Racers.

Hot rod steals the judges’ hearts

There was a heated debate over which car would land the Judges’ Choice award, with a deliciously patinated Austin Ten Drophead and an Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV among the leading contenders.

In the end, however, it was Richard Parker’s magnificent 1939 Ford Standard Coupe that carried off the trophy. Owned by Parker for the past 30 years and rebuilt by him incorporating some superb period hot-rod mods, the flathead V8-powered machine looked and sounded magnificent.

Much-travelled Austin-Healey

The Mini’s overall victory promoted Eric Adams’s superbly restored 1954 Austin-Healey 100 to top spot in Class 2, for cars built from 1945-’59.

Enthusiast Adams has owned the spectacular blue-over-white roadster for 51 years.

Healey takes to the hill

After Adams bought the car in 1969 it gained a wild Le Mans Kit conversion and engine modifications by Bill Blydenstein, competing regularly including at Curborough, Shelsley Walsh hill climb plus occasionally at Oulton Park and Caldwell Park.

216 BME was rebuilt in 2018/'19, with body by JME Healeys of Warwick and the mechanicals by Adams.

Runners up in the running

Fighting it out for the runner-up spots in Class 2 behind the Healey were a pair of regal British classics, with a 1950 Bentley MkVI Coupé by James Young (above) just coming out on top. The rare coachbuilt two-door has been owned by Don MacLean since 1977.

Third place went to the 1954 Jaguar MkVII brought along by Ted Pearce. The Birch Grey saloon has an intriguing history, having been originally supplied to Max Hoffman in New York in April 1954 in right-hand drive. Sitting on unusual wire wheels, the manual-overdrive Jaguar returned from Pennsylvania to the UK some 61 years later.

Much-loved Austin charms the judges

Competition was hot in Class 1 for pre-WW2 machinery.

There were two Austin Sevens in the running, but in the end the judges fell for the patina of Paul Cooper’s delightful 1929 Chummy, presented in lovely ‘used’ condition.

From Molsheim to Shelsley

An early contender for class victory – and indeed for Best in Show honours – was Paul Tebbett’s much-loved and extensively campaigned 1922 Bugatti Type 22 ‘Brescia’.

Originally delivered new to Dublin, Ireland, the black-and-blue Molsheim marvel is a regular sight at Shelsley.

A victory for patina

One of the great pleasures of the Classic & Sports Car Concours at the Classic Nostalgia event is the judges’ preference for cars with real-world charm and a fascinating story over immaculate restorations.

No car better embodied that spirit than Class 1 winner Mac Taylor’s wonderful 1927 Humber 9/20. Taylor is usually an Austin Seven man, but couldn’t resist the Humber when it came up for sale after spending time in the Peter Black Museum in Yorkshire from 1965-’96.

From its cracked paint to its corduroy interior, the 9/20 had the kind of real character that is impossible to replicate in today’s ‘oily rag’ restorations.

Renault swings for the ’60s

Among the most tightly contested groups was Class 3 for 1960s machines, in which a fabulous – and rare in the UK – Renault Caravelle came out on top (above).

Just beaten into second place was a 1963 Porsche 356SC, an original matching-numbers UK right-hand-drive car that has been in the hands of present owner David Roberts for the past 26 years.

In contrast, the 1968 Lancia Fulvia Rallye 1.3HF that took third spot is a relatively recent acquisition by owner Andy Boyle. The gorgeous Coupé in Amaranto Montebello (dark red) is one of fewer than 1000 lightweight versions built with no bumpers, aluminium bonnet, boot and doors, Perspex side and rear windows, and a lightweight interior, saving around 135kg.

Variety rules the super ’70s

Class 4 for 1970s classics produced the most varied selection, as epitomised by the two runners-up.

Taking second place, Peter Reeve’s magnificent 1974 Rover P6B 3500S (above) looked superb in its immaculate Almond paint and sitting on non-standard (but highly appropriate) Jensen Interceptor wheels. It was just as smart inside, having covered only 32,000 miles, with evocative brown cord trim looking barely worn in.

Third in class went to Martin Gvard’s Spanish-built ‘FASA’ 1971 Alpine-Renault A110, which was imported in 1988 and marked its 50th birthday on the day of the concours.

From Trolhättan to Worcestershire via the USA

Despite some fine competitors, the judges were unanimous when it came to the choice for the winner of Class 4.

Iain Graham’s vivid yellow 1972 Saab Sonnett III was originally a USA car, superbly restored Stateside before being imported to Britain in 2017. It has since been ‘de-smogged’ to improve performance, and is thought to be one of around 15 examples in the UK.

Swedish rarity stars

Third place in Class 5 for 1980s machinery went to Nigel Moore’s super-rare 1984 Saab 900i Tjugofem. One of only 300 examples built to mark Saab’s 25th anniversary in the UK market, car 151 has covered just 59,000 miles and remains totally original, still wearing its factory decals and numbered gearknob.

“It’s a member of the family,” said Moore of the Saab, which has now been with him for some 35 years.

Just pipping the 900i for second place was a 1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SL, which has been subjected to a superb 17-year rebuild by owner Ian Butlin.

Blue Oval lands top spot

It’s hard to believe it, but the winner of Class 5 had spent 15 years sitting in a barn before owner Stephen Fitzpatrick brought it back from the brink.

The immaculate Graphite Grey 1984 Ford Sierra XR4i now looks resplendent, and Fitzpatrick is lucky enough to have traced the full history of the 93,000-mile rarity.

One-off Lotus adds to the intrigue

The huge entry for this year’s C&SC Concours in association with Hagerty brought together a fascinating variety, from a pre-war Bentley tourer to a modified Volkswagen Jetta.

One of the more unusual machines on show was Roger Makhlouf’s unique Lotus Elan shooting brake. Built from scratch around 15 years ago by Lotus guru Paul Matty, the pretty ‘Estralle’ was an attempt to create a car that Makhlouf reckons Lotus should have made all along.

Riley Register secures top club spot

Not only was John Mayhead part of the C&SC judging team, but he and his Hagerty colleagues also had to wander the many and varied club displays to pick a favourite.

After much deliberation, the Best Car Club Trophy was awarded to the Riley Register.

Can-Am V8 roars into action

In addition to the competition on the famous Shelsley Walsh hillclimb, there were several outrageous cars giving demonstrations during the weekend.

None were more spectacular than the BRM P154 Can-Am car, designed by Tony Southgate and driven by Mexican ace Pedro Rodríguez for three rounds of the 1970 Can-Am Challenge Cup.

Subaru commemorates Burns’ win

Sadly, several of the cars slated to give demonstrations were struck down by track-and-trace after appearances at the Goodwood Festival of Speed the week before Classic Nostalgia, but there were still some incredible machines to enjoy.

Not least the ex-Richard Burns 2000 Safari Rally Prodrive Subaru Impreza, on hand to mark 20 years since the Englishman clinched the WRC title in a final-round showdown.

Making its first public appearance in action for a decade, the Impreza was piloted by Prodrive stalwart Paul Howarth.

Spectators’ successful return

Few sights are as evocative as this Worcestershire venue in the sunshine, and with COVID-19 restrictions easing an impressive turnout of enthusiasts was able to enjoy a dose of normality, Shelsley-style.

Gorgeous Porsche replica on song

If the car park and concours seemed to offer a varied selection, it was trumped by the machinery tackling the steep, twisting hillclimb course.

Here Bill Drysdale returns from the holding area at the top of the hill after his first competitive run on Sunday in his Porsche 904 FF Special, part of the Sports Cars 1970-1985 class.

Scimitar in the scenery

Shelsley Walsh is among the UK’s most scenic motorsport sites, and spectators could enjoy the views as well as the action from the hill.

Here Ian Stainburn pushes the 3-litre Ford Essex V6 of his Reliant Scimitar SE4A Coupé on up the early flat-out section.

Flat-out Fulvia Fanalone

Morgan Jenkins’ Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1600HF Fanalone was among a number of rally-bred classics swapping loose surfaces for tight and grippy Tarmac for the day.

Mini proves mighty once more

A gaggle of tiny tin-tops contested the Road Going Minis and Competition Minis classes, proving once again the versatility of Alec Issigonis’ iconic design.

Here Peter Flanagan’s Morris Cooper ‘S’, one of the stars of the latter group, dives into the Bottom ‘S’.

Lotus classics old…

With marque stalwart and specialist Paul Matty Sportscars being just down the road, and sponsoring two classes at the event, it was no surprise to see plenty of Lotus sports cars both on the hill and in the car parks.

Here’s Richard Swindall’s Elan, one of several competing, making its way back down the hill after a high-speed run.

…and Lotus classics new

It wasn’t just older Lotus models on show: there were all manner of Elise variants, from relatively standard S1s to this spectacular 2-Eleven racer, shared by Keith Bristow (pictured here) and Tim Grasby.

Glamour behind the scenes

Clerk of the Course David Nursey was regularly taking to the hill aboard a borrowed black Jaguar XK120 as course car, but tucked away behind the startline was Nursey’s own fabulous silver roadster.

The Midland Automobile Club lynchpin has owned the delightful Jaguar since 1975, and it was looking fabulous on steel wheels with crossply tyres and elegant rear spats.

A fabulous weekend draws to a close

As action on the hill wound down and the concours competitors began to pack away, visitors reflected on a superb weekend of motorsport.

There were also emotional tributes to a pair of lost heroes, as a blue plaque was unveiled to commemorate legendary commentator Murray Walker OBE, and a new trophy was inaugurated in memory of Shelsley regular Joy Rainey, who held the Ladies’ Record at the venue for an incredible 22 years.