London Classic Car Show Highlights

"RWS Motorsport" (rwsmotorsport)
02/22/2016 at 11:00 • Filed to: Events

The London Classic Car Show took over the Excel Arena in East London this weekend, and with an estimated 35,000 visitors coming to see a wide array of classics, and the unique ‘grand parade’ which runs down the middle of the show, I doubt many left disappointed.

The Gold Leaf Lotus 49 made the hall echo with the wonder of DFV engined goodness. Even though the event is indoors, when the ‘motorsport icons’ came out for each of the 6 nations being represented, they were all giving it plenty.

It wasnt just Motorsport on show though. Octane Magazine brought together 6 of the most iconic supercars from the Muira to the Veryon and 918 (not a classic, yet!)

The Octane F40 was one of 3 at the show this year. Oh and there were 2 Muiras, an Enzo, LaFerrari and more E-types than I have ever seen. But thats getting ahead of myself.

I mean, as icons go the F40 is hard to beat. It was the car that was on my bedroom wall when I was younger, and seeing them in person is always special.

There were lots of companies using the show as a sales floor. As being a car salesperson goes, I would guess having a stock of a Mercedes 190SL, Ferrari 599GTO, Bizzarini Strada and a Porsche 911 makes turning up at work slightly more bearable.

The aforementioned Bizzarini. Utterly immaculate in its presentation.

MGBs make a much more affordable route into classic motoring. Unless you let Frontline Developments near it, in which case its RestoMod heaven, but to your wallets detriment.

A Porsche 906, more than a little unusual as 1 of 50, and fully road legal (at the time).

Japan were one of the 6 Nations being represented, and this 2000gt was a treat to see.

As was this Hakosuka Nissan Skyline GT-R, the car that started a legend.

More classic sports cars, this time a Lola T70 which spent time in Japan, Europe and very briefly in the states in its life. Enough power to make the ground shake.

The Mclaren F1 Exhibit:

One of the highlights of the show was a special tribute to the Mclaren F1. Inside were 5 F1s, including the XP3 prototype.

And this GT1 spec Longtail from the 1997 Le Mans in all its semi-clothed beauty.

The neatness of the Dash could only be a Mclaren.

And the business end...

Snazzy arty shot v1.

Snazzy arty shot V2.

The Lotus 49 wasnt the only DFV powered machine on the parade, with this 1971 Matra making the whole hall echo with Ford Power.

10 Internet points* for the first person to correctly identify this car.

*no cash value

A proper Group B Homologation special, the Audi Quattro SWB with HUGE wheelarches for maximum 80s goodness.

I had never realised the 2002 Turbo motif on the BMW 2002 turbo was reversed, so the person that is having their rear bumper hounded by this will know whats filling their mirrors.

You can see the lineage between this and the new GTRs.

This mark 1 Countach was representing Italy, along with the F40, and the 275 California. Not a bad few cars to have representing your country.

That being said, a Bentley from pre-war Le Mans, and the 1995 3rd place Le Mans Harrods Mclaren F1 didn’t let the home side down either.

You can see where the Batmobile nickname came from with that brilliant rear wing, and roof spoiler, because you can never have too much downforce.

And one of the 400 or so M1 road cars was also out. Apparently this was designed as a joint project between BMW and Lamborghini. Suddenly the design makes sense!

And the car that changed the world, the Model T. 19 years and 16 million or so produced.

And the car that changed rallying. The S1 Quattro, with Anti Lag engaged sounding like a shotgun going off in the hall.

Some supercharger porn for you, attached to a 1920s Bentley.

And as if just to show what they can do, this is a project they are about to start.

One of 3 or 4 Carrera 2.7 RS Porsches, in all sorts of colours from this white to Yellow and Green.

The other Muira. If this one looks familiar (it should) its the car that was used in the opening sequence of the Italian Job.

A proper Air/Oil cooled Porsche 911. I feel sorry for the person who has to keep those wheels clean though.

Polished Open Gated manual gear shifter. Yes. Please.

A Ferrari 212 as used in the Carrera Panamerica.

Bare Carbon Ferrari Enzo. This this was absolutely stunning.

Aston Martin were well represented at the show, including this Vantage, and the AMR-1 Group C Car.

Another identify this car game.

BMW Kidney Grills have been around for much longer than I had really realised, and the M colours look pretty epic on the 3.0CSL.

Oh, and there was some Group B goodness on show too.

Martini Rally cars = best rally cars.

And one last touring car icon as my final shot from the show. The Mercedes 190E Evo II. So much aero on this this its ridiculous. I’d have loved to see these things racing in person in period.

All in all the show was really good. The central boulevard with the displays was rather great and made the show more interesting than just walking around static cars.

All photos are my own, and some can be found on my !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and on my !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

DISCUSSION (15)

kanadanmajava1 > RWS Motorsport
02/22/2016 at 11:04

Nice pictures. I think that the mystery car is a Probe 16 that was made famous by one very famous movie.

450X_FTW > RWS Motorsport
02/22/2016 at 11:13

This is why engineers are not allowed to design interiors. If we did, they’d all look like race cars

Kinja'd!!!

Wheelerguy > RWS Motorsport
02/22/2016 at 11:20

What would Danny Ocean do after two days in that event?

Agrajag > RWS Motorsport
02/22/2016 at 11:27

Great photos as always. That sound must have been incredible.

Indoor automotive cacophony is best cacophony.

Tapas > RWS Motorsport
02/22/2016 at 11:31

This is probably the perfect collection of the most Jalop dream cars ever.

RWS Motorsport > Agrajag
02/22/2016 at 11:35

Indoor Rallycar Antilag = the best noise! Admittedly closely followed by indoor DFV.

RWS Motorsport > kanadanmajava1
02/22/2016 at 11:36

First guess is the correct guess! top work sir.

chaozbandit > RWS Motorsport
02/22/2016 at 12:28

Here is the sister #39 F1 GTR on display from across the pond! Spent a good hour gawking at this car by my lonesome because I got in early :) Sadly its not a longtail (as its a 96 car) and they later opened the doors, though photo access was pretty poor and I couldnt get a shot. Chassis #17R is owned by BMW North America and raced in the ‘96 Le Mans, placing 8th overall (6th in class).

Kinja'd!!!