Our 21 favourite cars from the NEC Classic Motor Show 2019

Even among the thousands of cars on display, these ones stood out

The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show is one of the highlights of our year – and with good reason.

A six-hall extravaganza at the Birmingham NEC packed with thousands of cars from hundreds of clubs and dealers, it offers a scarcely believable variety of classics. Whatever your preference, from humdrum saloons to sexy sports cars, you’re catered for.

All of which makes picking out our favourites a tricky experience – albeit an entirely enjoyable one. Scroll or click through to see what caught our eye.

1. Bolwell Nagari

I had to pick this car because I’ve always loved the Bolwell Nagari – I think it must have something to do with the name – but I’ve never before seen one. 

That’s not surprising, though, because this particular example of the glassfibre-bodied, V8-engined Antipodean special is one of only two to leave Australian shores.

Weighing just 912kg, these Aussie supercars are extremely rapid and this one, on show with the Historic Sports Car Club, has been raced its whole life.

Chosen by: Alastair Clements, editor in chief

2. Hillman Imp

This little terror of a bright yellow, race-inspired Hillman Imp has been re-engineered to within an inch of its life, and I love it.

Super-clean and super-low, this is ready to cause havoc on any B-road.

Chosen by: Damon Cogman, art editor

3. AC Greyhound

Chassis 2582 is believed to be the last Greyhound fitted with a Bristol 100B2 engine.

Its second owner – Vic Yates – became one of the first victims of the 70mph speed limit on the M1. He promptly locked the car away until his death.

Chosen by: Greg MacLeman, features editor

4. Nissan Skyline C110 2000 GT-R Racing Concept Car Replica

This Skyline isn’t real, but it is spectacular.

Displayed as a concept at the Tokyo Motor Show with the intention to campaign it in ’73, it was never raced because Nissan pulled out of motor racing due to the oil crisis. 

This car is a 1976 C110 GTX, imported to the UK in 2014. 

Chosen by: Lizzie Pope, associate editor

5. Triumph Herald hardtop convertible

My Herald rut is getting deeper, not helped by the perfect two-tone convertible surrounded by other variants on the Sports Six Club stand.

With hardtop in place it looks nicely American, without turning to caricature. That Herald itch needs to be scratched soon…

Chosen by: Jack Phillips, deputy editor

6. Alfa Romeo Alfa 6

An Alfa 6 is a rare sight, but Alfa Romeo Owners’ Club member Tony Ludovico’s 1983 example is particularly special, because instead of the usual 2.5-litre motor it’s fitted with a compact 2-litre V6 to dodge period Italian taxation rules that penalised engines of more than 2000cc.

With six – yes, SIX! – Dell’Orto carburettors, this super-niche executive saloon still musters an impressive 135bhp.

Chosen by: Alastair Clements

7. Ford Escort RS1600

How very ’70s is this original RS1600 supplied to Hebling Racing in 1973 complete with ‘Clubman’ pack?

Its original owner added wide arches and wheels in ’76, and they still adorn this fantastic Ford today. 

Chosen by: Damon Cogman

8. 1960 Reliant Sabra prototype

Built in 1960, the Sabra prototype was a combination of an Ashley Laminates body and a chassis from Lesley Ballamy, plus the 1703cc engine from a Ford Consul.

The production car was named for a cactus that grows in Israel.

Chosen by: Greg MacLeman

9. 1964 Citroën Bijou

This late example, known affectionately as ‘Monique’, has been with its current owner since November 1990 – bought following its owner’s first visit to that year’s NEC Classic Motor Show!

Based on the 2CV but with styling influenced by the DS, this car was bought in a dismantled state and has since been slowly pieced together, as near to original as possible. 

Chosen by: Lizzie Pope

10. Austin Seven Chummy

Normally you’d expect an Austin Seven to be happily wearing its years with every scratch, scuff and dent. But this 1929 Chummy was nigh-on perfect, and has been meticulously restored to original spec.

The owners have taken it around Europe, too, which sounds as challenging as it does appealing.

Chosen by: Jack Phillips

11. 1961 Austin FGK80

If you thought the Classic Motor Show was all sports cars and exotics, check out this magnificent beast on show with the Morris Commercial Register.

Recently restored to its original form as a mobile library in Aberdare, Wales, the 3.4-litre Austin has also served as a builder’s van and a horsebox during an eventful life.

Chosen by: Alastair Clements

12. Lancia Beta Berlina Saloon

This unbelievably clean Lancia Beta in Bangkok Yellow has 36,000 miles on the clock and perfect shutlines.

Everything about it is immaculate, right down to the brown velour interior. Amazing.

Chosen by: Damon Cogman

13. Frisky Coupé

It’s not hard to see why this 1959 Frisky Coupé, presented by the Frisky Register, caught our eye!

This car was bought from a field in 1979, rebuilt and pressed into service. It’s been awaiting a full restoration since 1982 and is one of only six known to exist. 

Chosen by: Lizzie Pope

14. Jensen 541

Heather and Danny Bristow’s stunning Jensen 541 played a starring role on the Jensen Owners’ Club stand, which recreated a control on the 1959 London to Paris Bleriot Anniversary Race.

The car is the very same as that campaigned by John Webb.

Chosen by: Greg MacLeman

15. Toyota Corolla GT

It’s not the most famous of the warmed ’80s hatches, it’s not even the most famous or revered of Corollas. But the slant-backed, twin-cam E90 was a welcome sight at the NEC. It’s utterly mint, too.

Chosen by: Jack Phillips

16. Maserati Mistral Spyder

Hamish Roberts’ gorgeous Mistral Spyder on the Maserati Club UK stand  is one of just 123 built and, for me, the perfect colour combination of gunmetal grey with a deep burgundy leather interior.

Any Mistral is a thing of beauty, but the roofless version makes it even easier to enjoy the fabulous 4-litre fuel-injected twin-cam straight-six, an engine that can trace its lineage back to the all-conquering 250F Grand Prix car.

Chosen by: Alastair Clements

17. Ferrari F40

Hands up if you had one of these on your bedroom wall? 

Even better, this Ferrari F40 took pride of place on the Classic & Sports Car stand at the NEC Classic Motor Show, and also features in our new Ferrari Greatest Hits magazine, onsale now.

Chosen by: Lizzie Pope

18. 1969 Adams Probe 16

This wild and impossibly low-slung creation was the star of both Stanley Kubrick’s 1971 dystopian movie A Clockwork Orange and of the Marcos Owners’ Club display at the NEC Classic Motor Show 2019.

Owned by Colin Feyerabend, the Probe is powered by a Janspeed-tuned BMC 1800 engine giving 95bhp and stands just 34in from the floor.

Chosen by: Alastair Clements

19. Unipower GT

To see one Unipower GT is special but three very historic cars were presented on the Unipower GT Register stand including the original 1965 production prototype.

The only Unipower fitted with a 997cc Cooper engine and featuring many unique details, the car was last exhibited at the 1966 Racing Car Show.

Recently rescued in very poor condition, the car is close to restoration completion for a return to the road.  

Chosen by Mick Walsh, international editor

20. Bugatti Type 50 Tow Car

The Bugatti Owners’ Club have produced some amazing groups of Molsheim marvels at the NEC and this year’s racing set was very special.

Centre stage was Mike Preston’s magnificent, much-driven Type 50 Le Mans car towing his Type 35B racer. Driven to the event and present with road grime, it looked fantastic.

Chosen by: Mick Walsh

21. Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost

Celebrating 60 years of ownership, the Rolls-Royce Enthusiast’s Club displayed Graham Adam’s magnificent 1919 Silver Ghost.

Fitted with rakish tourer coachwork by Fripps of Birmingham for first owner Alfred Ash, the body has several aviation-inspired details.

Presented in superb fettle, the car “is definitely not a museum piece as I love driving it”, says Adam, who motored to Switzerland and back last summer with the Ghost.  

Chosen by: Mick Walsh