If you need a couple of reasons to head to the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show at Birmingham’s NEC from 13–15 November, we’re not short of them this year. From never-before-seen club cars and extreme supercars to an Iconic Auctioneers sale packed with celebrity-owned machinery, there’s plenty to get the pulse racing.
First time in the spotlight
For 2026, car clubs have been challenged to bring vehicles that have never appeared at the Classic Motor Show before. With more than 3,000 classics spread across seven halls, they’ve certainly risen to the occasion, with a fascinating mix of rare, unusual and downright desirable machinery making its show debut.
Among the highlights is the Honda NSX-R NA1, presented by the NSX Club. Honda’s celebrated supercar was stripped back and sharpened into a more focused driving machine, making this a particularly exciting addition to the line-up. Lotus fans can look forward to the Lotus Esprit V8, brought along by the Lotus Drivers Club, with its unmistakable wedge styling and twin-turbocharged power.
British performance takes centre stage with the 1973 Aston Martin AM Vantage, displayed by AstonOwners.com, combining imposing muscle with traditional Aston Martin elegance. Meanwhile, The 289 Register brings a Hawk Shelby Cobra 289 Sebring, a Cobra-inspired machine with a competition-bred attitude.
There’s plenty for fans of more accessible sports cars, too. The MG Car Club MGF Register will showcase the 1999 MGF Super Sports Concept, while the Porsche 924 Owners Club brings a Porsche 924S Le Mans, a rare special edition with a distinctly 1980s motorsport flavour. MG enthusiasts should also seek out the 1970 MG Midget K-Series from MGs on Track, which swaps the standard car’s modest power for a much more potent engine transplant.
For something altogether more exotic, Maserati Club UK will display the MCXtrema, a 730hp, track-only supercar limited to just 62 examples worldwide. It’s a spectacular reminder that the classic and modern performance worlds have plenty in common.
These are just some of the debutants visitors can discover. The challenge to the clubs means there’s a real opportunity to see cars that haven’t been part of the show before, making 2026 an especially tempting year to explore every hall.
An Iconic auction with star quality
If the club displays provide the discoveries, the Iconic Auctioneers Super Sale delivers the drama. This year’s sale is the biggest yet, with more than 600 cars on offer and a remarkable selection of machines with celebrity connections, television appearances and genuine motorsport pedigree.
Television fans will recognise several headline lots. The 1982 Lancia Montecarlo Spider was the last car driven by Jeremy Clarkson in The Grand Tour: One for the Road, while the 1978 Lincoln Continental Mark V featured in the trio’s Lochdown special. Both are offered without reserve. Clarkson’s 1983 Alfa Romeo GTV6, another car made famous by The Grand Tour, is also offered without reserve.
For a slice of British pop culture, there’s the 1969 Reliant Supervan III, registration APL 911H, the original Only Fools and Horses van used in all thirteen episodes of the first two series. It’s estimated at £30,000–£40,000 and offered without reserve.
Music fans might be tempted by the 1978 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II, formerly owned by Noel Gallagher. The car transported him to the Cool Britannia party at 10 Downing Street in 1997 and carries an estimate of £25,000–£30,000.
At the more exotic end of the market, the 1983 Lamborghini Countach LP5000 S boasts fewer than 16,000 miles and a signature from its designer, Marcello Gandini. Its estimate is £700,000–£900,000. There’s also a Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG, owned by Jenson Button for nearly 15 years, estimated at £400,000–£500,000.
The sale also features two cars from Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason’s Ten Tenths Collection: a 1973 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 V12 Roadster, a manual, low-mileage example estimated at £60,000–£70,000, and a 1928 Morgan Supersport 8-Valve Anzani, offering three-wheel thrills and genuine competition history, with an estimate of £35,000–£40,000.
Finally, car journalist Harry Metcalfe’s 2018 Jaguar XE Project 8, finished in Merlin Purple and owned by him from new, is estimated at £140,000–£160,000.
Whether you’re hunting for a future classic, hoping to spot a television star on four wheels or simply enjoy seeing some extraordinary machinery gathered under one roof, the Iconic Auctioneers sale is well worth adding to your itinerary.
Make a date with the classics
The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show takes place at the NEC from 13–15 November 2026, bringing together thousands of classic vehicles, hundreds of car clubs and a huge range of traders and specialists.
With an unprecedented crop of debutant cars and an auction catalogue full of headline-grabbing machinery, there’s every reason to make this year’s show a date in the diary.
The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show takes place at the NEC, Birmingham, from 13–15 November 2026.
PLUS, Classic Cars readers can save £2 on tickets by using code MDCCWEB.
