MARVELLOUS MARQUES HEAD FOR LANCASTER INSURANCE PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP SPRING FINAL
By Lancaster Insurance Services |
21st March, 2018
The final line-up of the spring final of the Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership has been revealed ahead of the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show, with Discovery, held at Birmingham’s NEC from 23-25 March – and it’s a fantastic mix of marvellous marques!
Twenty cars feature, with cars from the 1950s to the 1990s, including classics that are regularly used on the road and some that are fresh from the garage where they have been lovingly restored.
One of the cars bound to receive great interest is the 1989 Aston Marton V8 Volante, fresh from a two-year complete restoration. Owner Jeremy Levison purchased the car in 2012 and enlisted the help of Andrew Underwood, an Aston enthusiast who he met at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show in 2013. Together with a group of Aston Martin experts, the Volante has been brought back to showroom standard.
Ian Smith acquired his 1954 Triumph ‘long door’ TR2 in 1983 in a very sorry state but didn’t get the time to start a total nut and bolt restoration until 2008. Restoring the car at home and being let down by reputed suppliers of body work and trim, Ian didn’t complete the work until 2013. Since then the car has been in full use, both in the UK and overseas. It even had the honour of taking Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton on the drivers’ parade lap at the 2017 British Grand Prix.
Rob Jones is the original owner of his 1979 Triumph Dolomite, purchased in 1981 from Caffyns, Sevenoaks – who Rob says were desperate to get rid of it. The car is standard apart from Leyland ST springs and later uprated shock absorbers, an electric fan and a stainless exhaust as mild steel exhausts are no longer available. It is maintained and used year-round except when there is road salt around.
Nick Leviton’s 1981 Lancia MonteCarlo Series 2 Spider has been owned by the same family from new. Purchased by his late uncle Peter Ashton in 1981 from the West Country Lancia Dealer in Devon in May 1981, it passed to Nick in 1997 following his passing. The Lancia is unrestored and in totally original condition, used in the summer only and never allowed to get wet. It is polished but maintained without expense with regular servicing and cam belt changes.
No one could be more proud of their car than Bron Burrell and her 1969 Austin Maxi – or ‘Puff’ as it is better known. Reunited five years ago, Bron drove Puff in the World Cup Rally in 1970 as part of an all-female crew. The car was discovered in a barn in 1997 and a restoration began in 2009. But it wasn’t until August 2013, that Bron saw the car again and in 2016, Bron finally purchased Puff and has been back rallying ever since.
Andrew Evanson, Senior Operations Manager at Lancaster Insurance, said: “The Pride of Ownership stand is a must see for anyone visiting the show, with 20 beauties vying for attendees votes and to be crowned the overall winner! Once again there is a very diverse mix being celebrated. I’m looking forward to seeing the display this weekend, meeting the owners and hearing the incredible stories behind each car!”
Visitors to the show will be asked to vote for their favourite finalist on the stand, with the winner announced on Sunday afternoon at 3pm by Wheeler Dealers Mike Brewer and Ant Anstead.
For more information on the Practical Classics Classic Cars & Restoration Show, with Discovery, as well as all the ticket prices and booking details, visit www.necrestorationshow.com