Perhaps it’s the endless repeats on TV or maybe it simply was the frustration of being at home but there was an itch that needed to be scratched. Car and Classic decided to check online listings for classic car events in the limbo-period in between Christmas and New Year.
Luckily, there was. Taking advantage of the lull of weekday business, the Brackley Classic Car Show holds a regular pre-new year get together in front of the Town Hall car park and surrounding areas. Brackley, for those who aren’t aware, is best known for being a town close to Silverstone. Now you know it, don’t you?
The picturesque market town event accommodates around 150 classic cars on the day and is free for all. Both owners and spectators can roll up and enjoy the morning. With basic rules of a post-1995 cut off date, this request was fairly flexible but perhaps aimed at stopping hoards of modern sports cars taking up the spots of more deserving cars. The mix of cars was as good (if not actually better) than some of the paid shows that the reviewer has attended, covering the wide interests and demographics of the ownership. Organised by volunteers, the grassroots hold considerable esteem among the owners and thanks to its use of public spaces can be seen as a boon in promoting the town.
A large percentage of the Town centre was closed off for the morning to accommodate the cars. The cars were immaculate, thanks to the lack of recent rain. This Cobra was an early arrival, with Porsche GB’s 928 not having to travel far to attend.
Two generations of Rover 800’s were seen, the later version was recently acquired due to a passing of its first owner. The MK1 was a later 820SLi example.
This Jensen was styled as a hardtop version of the convertible, built in the dying days of the company, 40 where produced in 1975-1976. Note the penny-pinching use of the Marina Coupe badge.
Plenty of bread and butter ‘70s family transportation in attendance. The Maxi was owned by a local enthusiast and the Hillman was similarly stock, with a few neat touches.
Several examples of more recent Japanese cars, combining individuality with utter reliability. The Honda Accord is an RHD example but is visually different to UK cars, suggesting it might be a JDM car.
Two generations of Celica’s, the original Liftback version is a Polish restored German car, now living with its happy owners in the UK. The later cabriolet was very expensive when new, but are an underrated bargain these days.
Proving as popular in the winter as they are in the summer, BMC/BL material dominated the event.
Two variations on a theme, both Volvos sporting their original factory colours. The ES model was introduced 10 years after the original but gave the design plenty of kudos for its practical application.
A handful of commercial vehicles were in attendance, including this delightful Australian-imported Standard, now being used to promote a vintage emporium.
This converted XK120 is now electric. Very eerie watching it drive away in near silence – a total contrast to the Pontiac which turned heads for the opposite reason.
Classic cars still have that ability to stop you in the street, for a moment of contemplation. Perhaps those memories and reflections are more rose-tinted than we’d admit.
