Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership
The Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership celebrates classic cars and their owners, gathering together those enthusiasts with heart-warming stories behind their vehicle that show they are some of the rarest, most unusual and most cherished cars in the UK. Cars up to the year 2000 are considered. The standard of the car is obviously important, but the passion of the owner and the journey the car has gone on is equally, if not more important.
This years' competition has 20 well deserving finalists who collectively put on a fantastic display.
With the first five finalists announced earlier in the year - John Smith’s 1964 Volkswagen Type 2 ‘Splittie’, Annie Lloyd’s 1961 Bond Minicar Model G, Paul White’s 1990 Eunos Roadster, Robert Nauer’s 1970 Dodge Challenger RT, and a 1992 Toyota Starlet GT Turbo owned by Sammie-Jo Webster - the remainder do not disappoint in keeping the competition as diverse as possible.
Andrew Evanson, Senior Operations Manager at Lancaster Insurance, said: “The Pride of Ownership display is a must see for anyone visiting the show, the standard of cars is simply outstanding! As always there’s a great mix of marques and years being celebrated which truly means there is something for everyone – I can’t wait to see them all and hear the stories behind them.”
The oldest car in the spring final is a 1925 Ford Model T one tonne truck, which was little more than scrap when owner Arthur Dewberry found it. The chassis, engine, gearbox, axles, wheels, steering, etc are all original along with the front wing and steps. Arthur started by making the cab frame himself and just went from there.
The youngest owner in the final is 17-year-old George Loveridge with his 1969 Triumph Herald. Not the usual car of choice for many learner drivers, George comes from a classic motoring and historic motorsport family and so has been brought up with these sorts of cars around him.
A trio of Fords showcase the breadth of the blue oval range. Dave Parson’s 1968 Ford Mustang bringing some American muscle, Ian Thompson’s 1971 Mk1 Escort reminds enthusiasts of the rally era, while Jane Aaron’s 1980 Ford Fiesta brings the start of the hot hatch movement.
Coolen’s 1981 Volkswagen Scirocco, Steven Horne’s 1988 Volkswagen Polo Ranger 1.3 Mk2 and Tom Morley’s 1989 Austin Metro 1.3L keep that 80s vibe going while British manufacturers best models of the 90s are represented by Richard Grant’s 1990 Rover 216 GSi and Tanya Field’s 1994 Austin Montego Countryman.
The final five round out the display with John Selfridge’s 1970 Rover P5, Roger Bovingdon’s 1973 Citroen SM, Steve Doye’s 1973 Fiat 128SL joined by two splendid Minis - Dave Tassell’s 1971 Austin Mini and Thomas Bradley’s 1974 Morris Mini.
With 20 cars vying for votes, the choice was not easy with a stunning mix of marques spanning 70 years of motoring. Some fresh restorations while others are daily drivers, but all are driven rather than showroom ornaments.
The winner - Volkswagen Type 2 Deluxe Microbus
Lancaster Insurance has been arranging specialist classic car insurance for over 30 years. With their experience and knowledge of the industry, they can arrange bespoke and tailored policies which meet their customers' needs and can include discounts such as limited mileage and up to 25% discounts for classic car club members. The classic car insurance specialist arranges insurance for a diverse range of vehicles such as modified and performance classics, as well as offering a multi-vehicle policy option. To speak to a dedicated member of the team to see how they can help you, call 01480 400 950 or visit www.lancasterinsurance.co.uk
