Organizers say London Classic Car Show a success, and it will return

(January 13, 2015) LONDON — The purr of stunning classic cars, the raucous yowl of an evocative F1 car, the excited chatter of thousands of visitors and the constant clicking of cameras… these were the sounds of a hugely successful inaugural London Classic Car Show.

Indeed the new show, which closed its doors on Sunday night Jan. 11 after a four-day run at ExCeL in London’s Docklands, was such a massive triumph that plans are already well advanced for the 2016 event.

“Our first London Classic Car Show has exceeded our wildest dreams,” said Event Director Bas Bungish. “The feedback from visitors and exhibitors has been universally positive.

“And the great news is not just that we’ll be back for next year, but also that the 2016 London Classic Car Show will be at least 50 per cent bigger with even more fabulous cars and more special displays. What’s more we will be ensuring that we don’t lose the intimacy that made this year’s Show so special.”

Packed full of innovative features, highlights included a special display focusing on the career of legendary Formula 1 designer Adrian Newey.

There were also displays of iconic cars from Le Mans courtesy of Octane magazine and the Motor Sport Hall of Fame, while James May from BBC Top Gear chose the car that changed the world – he believes it’s the Corgi James Bond Aston Martin of which more than six million were sold. James Martin provided the show with another unique dimension; the TV chef and petrol-head providing show goers with a well deserved pit-stop at his James Martin Classic Café.

But perhaps the show’s defining feature was The Grand Avenue presented by Motoriety. Running the entire length of the hall, The Grand Avenue brought the show to life as dozens of classics from pioneering veterans to sixties supercars — were put through their paces during the show. While the spectacular blasts by F1 cars put smiles on faces it was mouth watering Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder SWB once owned by film star James Coburn and valued at more than £10 million that won the most hearts and thus took the People’s Choice Award sponsored by Admiral.

“The idea behind The Grand Avenue was to allow visitors to see and hear some iconic classic cars in action… and it proved so popular that we had to arrange extra shows,” said Bungish.