There were plenty of assorted non-make-specific selections, too, such as the Tame Valley Vintage Classic, Cheshire Classic and the Black Greyhound Invitation Classic Car Clubs.
The Rochdale Vintage & Collectors’ Car Club went to town with an American theme welcoming visitors to Radiator Springs, Gateway to the Ornament Valley, to land the Best Club Stand award. The corral included Luigi’s Casa del Tires ristorante and Harry’s V8 Cafe. Fittingly, one of the oldest vehicles on the stand originated in the US: a 1928 Willys-Overland Whippet.
As always at Tatton, there were also some real gems to be found among the 460 individual entries.
David Rochford brought his magnificent 1924 Panhard et Levassor X46 ‘Sans Soupapes’ – or ‘without valves’ because of its 3.2-litre Knight sleeve-valve engine. “It was bought new as a rolling chassis by a Swiss millionaire, came to the UK to be fitted with the Salmons Landaulette coachwork and has been here ever since,” he explained.
Just behind it was another Gallic rarity, the Alpine A310 that John Brady bought in March 2011. “It had been off the road since ’88, so the engine was seized, with water inside it and the brake pipes were leaking,” he recalled. “Since then, I’ve rebuilt the V6 – twice, in fact – cleaned the rust off the chassis and repainted it, and then refurbished the interior. The next job is the respray, which it’s booked in for in October.”
Rob Jacks from Frodsham had been on the lookout for a suitable Austin Seven project for 12 months, until he tracked down his ’33 Box saloon in Oban, Scotland. “It was a bit of a leap of faith when I got it,” he said, “but the previous owner e-mailed me about 40 photos and that was it. He’d bought it with a view to restoring it but never got around to it.”
Huge group from MkIII Zephyr-Zodiac OC – including a couple of police cars and an estate – alongside The Independent Porsche Enthusiasts’ Club
Elaine Wright’s mint right-hand-drive ’65 VW Beetle ‘Toby’ was built to American spec
Massive Wolseley Owners’ Club group spanned all eras
Kaiser M725 ambulance on Military Vehicle Trust stand had served with US Air Force
Viva Owners’ Club went for silver theme, fronted by Mike Edwards’ HF Firenza (one of two on the stand), including a Chevette 2300HS
Lovely MG Car Club North West line-up featured the ’47 TC that Chester Maddox bought for £150 in ’64. He restored the car from 1990-’95 and has used all-year-round ever since
Excellent Dolomite Club line-up featured a Panther Rio and a Sprint engine
Individual entries spanned everything from glorious vintage Bentleys...
...to an immaculate Lhasa Green Mk1 Volkswagen Golf GTI
If you fancied a change, Life’s Motors – the world’s oldest Morgan dealer – brought a tempting selection of Malvern’s finest.
