There’s something special about seeing a classic car brought back to life in real time, spanners turning, engines coming apart, problems being solved on the spot. This year, that magic is bigger than ever, with a record-breaking 120 live restorations happening across the halls. It’s the closest you’ll get to stepping into dozens of working garages at once and the best part? You can watch, learn, and ask the experts questions as the work unfolds.

From full recommissions to engine strip-downs and brake overhauls, these aren’t polished display cars behind ropes. This is proper, hands-on restoration, oily, noisy, and brilliantly educational.

Marking 130 years since the UK’s first production car, the club is rolling up its sleeves to recommission three historic non-runners live on the stand:

• 1934 BSA 10hp drop-head coupe

• 1952 Daimler DB18 Special Sports

• 1960 Daimler ‘Dart’ SP250

Expect engine, electrics, bodywork and brake systems being tackled in front of you and plenty of chances to quiz the team on pre-war tech, fluid flywheels and early disc brakes as these rare machines edge back towards life.

If you love Jaguars, this stand is pure theatre. Live demonstrations cover body repairs, braking overhauls, rear subframe restoration and door actuator fixes. All while members talk you through common XJS pitfalls and how to keep them roadworthy.

The headline act is a fully restored 1985 XJS Hypersport V12, fresh from a £75,000 rebuild and now running a rebuilt high-compression 5.3-litre V12 with modern EFI. Around it, you’ll see XJS projects at every stage of the journey, from “awaiting restoration” to recently finished. Plus a standalone V12 engine display for proper nerdy deep-dives.

Sometimes restoration is about preservation, not resurrection. The Morgan stand is all about showing how to look after your classic properly, with live servicing, cleaning, polishing and protection work happening throughout the show.

With a gorgeous mix of 4/4s, a fully restored Plus 4 and a rare Plus 8 drop-head coupe as the backdrop, it’s a masterclass in everyday classic car care, perfect if you want practical tips you can take straight back to your own garage.

Proving that preservation isn’t just for pre-war icons, the Focus MK1 Preservation Club is giving visitors a hands-on look at what it takes to keep 2000s classics in top shape.

You’ll see live rear suspension replacement on a rare Focus Ghia saloon, engine bay cleaning and maintenance demos on a cherished hatchback, and a concours-level example showing just how good an original MK1 can look when properly cared for. It’s practical, relatable restoration you can learn from.

One of the most jaw-dropping live projects belongs to the Volvo Enthusiasts Club. On the stand is a possibly unique 1954 Volvo PV831 Limousine, once owned by King Gustaf VI of Sweden.

Over the weekend, the team will be removing the seized 3.7-litre straight-six engine live, stripping it ready for a full rebuild. You’ll also see brake inspections, pipe replacements and a rebuilt master cylinder being fitted, a proper recommissioning job happening before your eyes.

Club Triumph’s stand is all about rolling up sleeves. Alongside a brilliant mix of Dolomites, Spitfires and a V8-swapped Roadster chassis, you’ll see:

• Suspension, exhaust and gearbox mount replacement

• Brake line and component overhauls

• Electrical work

• Wheel bearing swaps using a 5-tonne press

It’s gritty, practical restoration that shows how much work goes into keeping classics usable, not just shiny.

This stand tells the full Lotus story: a project rescued after 23 years on a driveway, a daily-driven Excel with over 200,000 miles, and Elites at various stages of recommissioning.

Live on the stand, the team will refit a freshly rebuilt engine and gearbox into a red Excel with fingers crossed for a first fire-up in front of the crowd. Door beam replacements and practical upgrades will also be tackled, showing exactly what it takes to make these lightweight GTs roadworthy again.

With 120 live restorations happening across the halls, this is restoration culture at its rawest and most rewarding. You’re not just looking at finished cars, you’re watching problems being solved, techniques being shared, and classics being saved in real time.

Whether you’re knee-deep in your own project or just love seeing proper workmanship up close, this is your chance to learn directly from the people doing the graft, ask questions, pick up tips, and get inspired to tackle that job you’ve been putting off.