Rev Your Engines: The London Classic Car Show Returned with a High-Octane Weekend of Excitement at Olympia!

London, 28th February 2023 - The London Classic Car Show revved up with a full tank of fuel last weekend from the 24th-26th February at Kensington, Olympia, kicking off the classic car season with all cylinders firing. Now in its ninth year, the three-day show treated car enthusiasts and aficionados to a weekend of high-octane excitement with riveting panel discussions, a live auction, car photography workshops and, of course, a lineup of outstanding classic cars to gawk at. 

Taking over the prestigious Olympia venue, the capital’s premier automotive event let in a crowd of over 20,000 people in total, with an impressive 4,000 visitors entering within the first 34 minutes on Friday alone! Attendees were greeted by a stunning 60 years of the Porsche 911 exhibit before snaking their way around to the Grand Avenue to check out an Icon 917K and heading over to the 60th anniversary display of the Mini Cooper S - where the three surviving Beatles’ Minis were reunited in London for the first time in 55 years. 

Friday saw the cast and directors of the upcoming film, CLASSIC, including Sally Phillips, Tony Pitts, Ronni Ancona and Katherine Kelly take to the main stage. They shared their excitement with the keen crowd on what the darkly comic tale will bring to the silver screen later this year, before posing by the other cast member: a 1974 MG Midget 1300 (with a few tasteful modifications). As well as starring in it, the film also marks a new chapter for Sally Phillips and Tony Pitts’ acclaimed careers as their directorial debuts. 

Visitors were swept up in a thrilling live auction hosted by Historics Auctioneers on Saturday, where over 100 exquisite classic and collector motors went under the hammer. History was made with the sale of a stunning 1964 Aston Martin DB5 clocking 10,920 miles that sold for over £600,000, marking Historics Auctioneers’ most expensive sale to date. Another notable sale was for a 1971 Ferrari Dino 246 GT, which went for an impressive £195,000. Filled with much-loved automotive icons from yesteryear, the auction was another exciting dimension to the 2023 show.  

Over on the Fighting Torque main stage, hosts Alex Brundle, Alexandra Legouix and Vicki Butler-Henderson steered conversations with an informed cast of guests. Panel discussions (and sometimes heated debates) centred on a range of classic car ownership topics, as well as the classic car market, EV conversions and restoration modifications. 

Commenting on the show Alex Brundle, race car driver and broadcaster, said: “I’ve had a mega time sharing The London Classic Car Show Fighting Torque stage with amazing Alexandra and Vicki across the weekend. It’s been great to chat and debate with guests that are just as passionate about the classic car world as I am - and more importantly, share those conversations and discussions with the equally eager crowd. We’ve also had some fantastic motors to look at, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for next year!” 

Elsewhere across the Grand Hall, visitors got up close and personal with a spectacular range of classic Aston Martins, explored 70 years of the Chevrolet Corvette as part of the Generations display and marvelled at the industry’s top-level models in the Market Makers exhibition. The Barn Finds and Survivors exhibit provided a fascinating insight into the uncovering and restoration of recently discovered relics, meanwhile, the Young Turks took a more recent look back at the last 10 to 20 years to see how the classic car industry predictions of 2003 and 2013 panned out. Further dazzling displays put spotlights on Modern Classics and Endangered Species - the latter focusing on cars such as the Austin Metro, which, once ubiquitous, is now a rare sight to behold.

Martin Clarke, Content Director at Brand Events, adds: “After being away from Olympia for three years, I’m delighted to have the show back under the venue’s stunning roof once again. It’s wonderful to see such an engaged and enthusiastic audience make their way through the various exhibits, get involved in the live auction with our partner Historics Auctioneers and share in the excitement of the classic car world. This enthusiasm gives us a great platform to put on a bigger and better event for next year.” 

Ends

Editors notes

About The London Classic Car Show: The London Classic Car Show was launched in 2014 at ExCel London and is now firmly established as the capital city’s premier showcase for discerning classic car owners, collectors, experts and enthusiasts. The annual event has quickly become an international celebration of the finest classic road and race cars across the UK and Europe, bringing together the very best dealers, manufacturers, restorers and car clubs.

For 2020 the Show moved to a new home at Olympia, a more central venue boasting significant automotive history… and then, to provide a Covid-compliant setting, The London Classic Car Show 2021 relocated to a new outdoor setting at historic Syon Park, in West London.

The 2023 Show will take place between 24th - 26th February and advance tickets start from £25 per adult, £20 per child (6-16). Entry for children under the age of six years is free. Premium tickets are available for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, starting at £65 per adult, which include fast track entry and show guide.

For more information visit: www.theclassiccarshowuk.com

About Brand Events: Brand Events has been responsible for the creation of many of Britain’s most innovative events. It is the company behind the globally successful Top Gear Live show as well as the CarFest family festivals and The London Classic Car Show. With the advent of the global pandemic, Brand Events continued to innovate with a range of Covid-compliant events including the successful The Classic Car Drive In Weekend staged at Bicester Heritage in September 2020 and The London Classic Car Show in 2021 set outside in the grounds of Syon Park in West London. Brand Events also organises a series of hugely popular Pub in the Park festivals with 10 family-fun weekends of great food and live music announced for 2023.