So please enjoy and feel free to email us at classiccarblog@outlook.com with your thoughts.

Alfa Romeo Spyder (266 WY)

Aston Martin DBS (AJW 877 M)

Austin 10 (MMF 259)

Austin A110 Westminster (KHV 524 D)

Austin A35 (1798 AC)

Austin A35 (458 JRF)

Austin A35 (512 FJO)

Austin A35 (CSL 372)

Austin A35 (KTP 558)

Austin A35 (PBL 612)

Austin A35 (PGX 190)

Austin A35 (POB 523)

Austin A35 (TXW 876)

Austin A35 (TYT 479)

Austin A35 (YKO 375)

Austin A40 (357 CUY)

Austin A40 (4332 FD)

Austin A40 Somerset (YSL 194)

Austin A50 Cambridge (TFH 766)

Austin A50 Cambridge WJW 541)

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Chevrolet Pick Up Truck (732 YUE)

A 1970′s red Jensen Interceptor looked almost brand new and a dark green TVR Griffin waited under dappled shade for the owner to return and fire up the throaty engine.

Jensen Interceptor (CJW 940 H)

Crossing into the showground there was a cavalcade of numerous classic vehicles. First to greet the eye was a row of MG’s from the late 1960′s, all with glinting chrome and highly polished painwork. Next up were the Mercedes enthusiasts, including a particularly attractive silver 230SL, which was also known as a ‘pagoda’ due to the shape of it’s hardtop.

Mercedes Benz 230SL (739 JON)

Our eyes were then drawn to a row of gleaming Austin A35′s, in greens and blacks their condition belying their over 50 years old. There was also a very striking Austin Nash Metropolitan in a wonderful 1950′s aqua and white. The car was a co-production between Austin and the American Nash company and was sold in the US as part of Britain’s post-war export drive.

Austin Nash Metropolitan (PMR 884)

ClassicCarBloggers were like kids in a sweetshop with so many pristine vehicles, not knowing which one to chose next. In no particular preference, we noted Triumph Stag’s, with one in an unusual purple shade, Triumph TR’s and MG Magnettes, definitely on our shopping list as an early GTI ! Then we saw a trio of Ford V8 Pilots, followed by many, many more British cars of the 50′s and 60′s. Absolutely wonderful ! Not forgetting our American friends, the contingent were out sporting Mustangs, Cadillacs and a gorgeous eye catching Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, in a metallic pale blue livery.

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray (KPK 390 C)

No show would be complete without samples of the ever popular Ford range, if you’ll excuse the pun !  And Catton Hall didn’t disappoint with Capris, Escorts, Granadas, Cortinas,  Zodiacs and Fiestas, all polished up and giving an excellent show. We wandered on and then found a brace of 1950′s Vauxhall Crestas, in maroon and grey and in pale blue and white. With their big rear wings and wrap-around windscreens, they typified the American influence on the British car designers of the era. A rare Morris Oxford Traveller then caught our attention, in pristine british racing green and pea green, it looked immaculate and was a strong contender for a class winner.

Morris Oxford Traveller (UJG 148)

Equally rare was an Austin Maxi rally car that took part in the 1970 World Cup Rally and was driven in the event by all woman crew. The rally was from London to Mexico and was an endurance race timed to finish in Mexico City just before the start of the 1970 football World Cup. The rally winner was a Ford Escort driven by Hannu Mikkola and Gunnar Palm.

Austin Maxi Rally Car (MCE 7 G)

Moving along the rows of lovely cars, we came to a delightful AC Ace, which was the predecessor to the world famous AC Cobra. It was a delight to the eye, seemingly immaculate in all departments.

AC Ace (EOF 609)

On the back rows, close to Catton Hall itself, were the commercial vehicles and military vehicles. A fine display of Volkswagen camper vans and a perfect unusual Morris J2 Paralanian camper van, which I’m sure would be a star in any episode of Endeavour or Heartbeat on TV. A few WW2 US Willys Jeeps and more modern army Land Rovers were there, which our sister website www.miliblog.co.uk will no doubt feature in their show report.

Morris J2 Paralanian Camper (343 BOL)

We walked on past the auto jumble section, with many traders having an excellent day selling parts and accessories, until we came to the pre-war section, where we found some absolute gems. On show were Austins, Morris’s, a three wheel Morgan, a couple of lovely Alvis’s, Buicks, Wolseley, a BSA and a top of the range Rolls Royce, which even had a separate compartment for the driver with an open top.

BSA Model T10-B Tickford Coupe (AVW 532)

And finally, after passing many wonderful cars, we came across what we guess to be the contender for Best in Show. An Austin Healey 3000, something befitting a Hollywood starlette. In better than showroom condition, it had metallic ice blue and ivory paintwork, with polished engine and chromed carburettor air intakes that shone in the late afternoon sunshine. Quite simply breathtaking !  With it’s FRE 3A number plate, it’s no competition to guess the owner had called her Freda !

Austin Healey 3000 (FRE 3 A)

All in all a great day out,  with the crowds all nodding their approval and enjoyment as these lovely old vehicles began their journeys home. As we stood by our car in the car park, a cheery wave, a smile and a toot from the drivers of these much loved cars as they passed us by, said it all. A lovely day out, lovely surroundings, we’ll do it all again soon. And ClassicCarBlog will be their to report it ! See you there and once again, three cheers or pips to Transtar !

MG Midget (792 TDV) on Dartmoor, 1969

A big thank you to Mr Alan Harries who contacted us to say he’d had the surprise of his life to find a picture of his old MG Midget he used to own in the 1960′s on our website, and very kindly sent us a photo to compare. Below is the same vehicle we saw at the Kington Classic Car Show in August 2009. We hope the current owner is a reader of Classiccarblog and can see these photos !

MG Midget Mk1 (792 TDV)

Alan also very kndly sent in some photos of the old 1968 Alfa Romeo Spider 1750 Boat-tail he drove in the 1980′s.

Alfa Romeo Spider 1750 (1968)(LWV 33 F) with owner at Chester College, 1982

Alfa Romeo Spider 1750 (1968)(LWV 33 F) St Breward, Cornwall 1987

Alan’s since found the car again and it’s enjoying life in Scotland, for whom we’re grateful for the current owner’s photos.

Alfa Romeo Spider 1750 (1968)(LWV 33 F) in Scotland

Alfa Romeo Spider 1750 (1968)(LWV 33 F) in Scotland 2

As they say, once a sports car enthusiast, always a sports car enthusiast and Alan certainly lives up to this saying ! Below is the before and after photos of Alan’s superb MGA, which looks even better than when it left the factory ! A credit to Alan’s hard work and determination, and we’ll be looking out for it on the show scene next year !

MGA (8710 KB) Before

MGA (8710 KB) After

Finally, if you’d like to see a bigger photo of any of these fine cars, just click on the photo and they’ll enlarge on your screen before your very eyes !