At this year's Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show, The Lotus Grand Tourers will be welcoming YouTube car restorer Mec-Tec and his daunting Lotus Excel project.

Self-professed "car mad numpty" Mec-Tec has a remarkable range of cars, from a DeLorean to a Reliant Regal van ("Project Plonker"), in various stages of restoration and disrepair.  Watching his videos is always a combination of inspiring, instructive, and entertaining, and he's the epitome of the home enthusiast working on a budget.

Two years ago he rescued a bright red Lotus Excel SE that had been languishing on a driveway for the last 23 years - not even a barn to protect it from the elements!  Since then significant progress has been made, despite the distractions of his other projects, and it has all been filmed for us to enjoy.  A highlight has been the full engine re-build - it was totally seized - and that engine, with its gearbox, will finally be re-installed back into the car live at the Classic Car and Restoration Show.  If all goes well, the engine will be fired up for the first time - will it run??