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Officially the UK’s fastest growing classic car show and hailed the ‘friendliest of car shows’, the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show, with Discovery, truly is Spring’s best classic car show. Taking place in March, this year's show attracted over 28,000 visitors across 3 days, and brought together all aspects of classic motoring. Walking through the halls, visitors were greeted by cars of all marques in various states of repairs; from rusty barn finds, through to concourse quality with everything in between.

The heart and soul of the classic car community is without doubt car clubs, and the same goes for the show. Now attracting over 150 car clubs, the show celebrates the hard work done by all clubs to keep the classic community alive. Visitors got the opportunity to watch what it takes to keep our beloved classics running as on all kinds of live restoration projects took place throughout the weekend. This year we saw brake systems going under full overhauls, new front wings being fitted, head gaskets being replaced and full paint jobs…and this was just one club!

The Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership competition showcases what a bit of elbow grease and a lot of time can result in. 20 of the UKs most cherished cars with some incredible and heart-warming stories behind them, take pride of place in the show, each bidding for visitors votes to be crowned the winner. At the other end of the scale are the rusty wrecks making up the UKs biggest collection of barn finds in the Carole Nash barn find display. The cars on display have been unearthed from garages, sheds and the bottom of gardens. Some need a lot of love to get them back on the road while others should be left to ‘rust in peace.’  

Practical Classics took on their biggest live restoration project ever in 2018, restoring what is believed to be the oldest Citroën 2CV in existence, with the vehicle taken from a shell on day one to being driven off the stage by Wheeler Dealers' Mike Brewer at the end of the show.   A host of TV motoring celebrities graced the stage including Wheeler Dealers' Mike Brewer and Ant Anstead, Car SOS' Fuzz Townshend and Tim Shaw, Salvage Hunters: Classic Cars' Paul Cowland, Fifth Gear's Jonny Smith and the Goblin Works Garage team, Jimmy De Ville, Ant Partridge and Helen Stanley.

Classic Car Auctions held its biggest sale of the year in 2018 where 130 out of 161 classic cars on offer were sold.  The total value of the cars sold reached £2.1 million.  While there was frantic bidding for many cars, notable lots included the highest price paid at the auction for a restored 1972 Alfa Montreal which sold above its upper estimate for £59,400. It was followed by another Montreal project car from the same year which sold for £28,600 to an internet bid from New Zealand, again above its upper estimate. 

For more information about the show and to find out key details for tickets, opening times and how to get to the show, please click here >>

Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show, with Discovery, brings you the latest show news – from the stunning cars on display and the breathtaking restoration stories, to the latest vehicles added to the auction line-up and the famous faces joining us over the weekend. We’ll also keep you updated on what our exhibitors, clubs and partners have planed for what is the spring opener for the 2019 classic season.