11 November 2024 | Event News
The classic car community came out in force to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show at Birmingham's NEC. From the minute the doors opened on Friday, the Jaguar Drivers' Club stand in Hall 1 was inundated with enthusiasts.
Commercial Director Bryan Mander had curated a stunning display of six cars to represent the club and for petrolheads to enjoy. At the front of the stand, the very first and the very last Jaguar E-Types. On loan from the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust (JDHT), 77 RW was the first Series 1 OTS off the production line while HDU 555N was the very last Series 3 to be built, showcasing the full story from beginning to end.
Nestled behind the E-Types was David Rodgers’ 2017 F-Type 5.0-litre 550bhp Supercharged AWD, a regular competitor in our 4-Hills and Sprint Championship, with Nigel Webb’s striking evocation of the 1955 Le Mans winning D type next door. sticking with Le Mans, another JDHT car sat beside the D-Type.
This time the XJR-5 Group 44 racing car that started the Le Mans campaign for Jaguar in 1984 with its striking white and green livery. At the back of the stand, near to our seating area and club marquee/shop, was Richard Arnold's Champion of Champions winning 2010 XKR 75.
With something for everyone, the display received lots of interest and praise. We'd like to thank everyone who visited the stand as well as all the directors and volunteers who helped over the weekend.
But it wasn't just on the stand where the JDC had a presence. At the entrance to Hall 1 sat Matt and Birtwhistle's 1950 XK120 Roadster OTS, a previous Champion of Champion and the 2023 Meguiar's Club Showcase winner.
Meguiar's was also where 2024 Champion of Champions finalist James Tetherton with his 1996 XJS Celebration Convertible and 2024 Endeavour Cup winner Tim de la Fosse with his 1950 XK120 were under the scrutiny of the men in white gloves. Sadly neither of these JDC members lifted the crystal trophy, that honour was given to Andy Nash and his 1958 Fiat Nuova 500N.
In Hall 2, the 2023 Champion of Champions winning car was centre stage for the show’s inaugural Hall of Fame.
Revealed by Wheeler Dealers’ host Mike Brewer, inductees were invited into four categories - Motoring Club, Industry Ambassador, Classic Car and Community Ambassador.
The Jaguar E-Type was inducted in the Classic Car category. The organisers said: “An enduring motoring icon due to its blend of groundbreaking design, performance, and accessibility, the E-type is a combination of beauty, speed, and engineering innovation ensured its place as a timeless classic.”
The JDC was represented by Paul Crowther’s E-Type Series 1 Roadster and Paul was presented with the award by Show Director Lee Masters.
Stunt driving legend Russ Swift was in Hall 3 with his stunning 1937 SS Jaguar 100 for the Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership competition. With 20 cars vying for the visitors’ votes, there was fierce competition and it was Richard Stacey’s 1967 Ford Mustang that was crowned the winner.
With several Jaguar model specific clubs on display as well as our friends from the Jaguar Breakfast Club, there was plenty for big cat enthusiasts to enjoy.
But there was also a chance to be informed as our own Bryan Mander was involved in the Meet the Experts Theatre talking about High Mileage Heroes with YouTuber ‘Auto Alex’ Kersten. With one of his cars boasting over 340,000 miles on the clock, Bryan shared his thoughts and tips on how he’s kept his car on the road for so long.
As well as all the clubs, there were an abundance of Jaguars and Daimlers in Iconic Auctioneers’ sale. A highlight was the 1977 XJ-C Restomod created by renowned Jaguar specialists Tom Lenthall Ltd. Auctioned in commemoration of Tom’s friend, Emma, who passed away in 2023 from cancer, all proceeds were being donated to the RNLI.
The original 1977 Coupé had covered less than 100,000 miles and was already a sound example having benefitted from a restoration in the 1990s. It was a great basis to turn this 1970s icon into the refinement of a 1990s Jaguar, starting with the removal of the original 4.2-litre six and its replacement by an AJ16S supercharged six-cylinder offering 322bhp and 378lb/ft mated to a Getrag 290 5-speed manual gearbox. All subframes and suspension are from the mid-1990s X300 XJ with Brembo brakes from the X100 XJR. Other improvements include an Emerald K6 Plus ECU running the fuel-injection and bespoke exhaust system by Fast Road Conversions, with the engine now generating in the region of 370bhp. The full build inventory is too vast to list here but is well documented in the ten YouTube episodes of 'Jaguar XJC Restomod' will provide lots of answers.
The standard of the car was obvious, hence the hammer going down at £56,000 with the final total reaching £63,000.
With a world record of 338 clubs exhibiting. The 2025 show will return to the NEC from 7-9 November. However, the JDC will be back in Birmingham in March for the Practical Classics Classic car & Restoration Show. Make sure you use your member discount when booking tickets.
