The U.K.’s Rarest Cars are Returning to The Classic

Get ready to stir up those precious motor car memories, as an array of attention-grabbing family favourites will be returning to Silverstone for The Classic over the August Bank Holiday weekend (26-28 August). 

It wasn’t so long ago that our roads were packed with Sierras, Cavaliers, Cortinas, and Avengers, motoring down every road that we were sick of the sight of them! How times change. Despite being mass-produced, these once unexceptional and uninspiring mainstays have now become proper rarities and cherished icons of motoring yesteryear. 

Their nostalgic cult reputation has been ignited further by being regularly featured in The Telegraph: ‘The UK’s Rarest Cars’, which was brought to press in 2018 and has generated a huge following. Bringing this collection to life, its author – the historian Andrew Roberts – curated a unique show of motors as featured in his editorial at The Classic last year.

Instead of selecting one-off prototypes or limited-edition (and obscenely expensive) hypercars, Roberts places the spotlight on familiarly quaint, mainstream vehicles from bygone eras that are rarely seen on our roads nowadays. 

Some are ‘Limited Edition’ rehashed offshoots delivered by marketing teams to add more sheen, whilst others were much more popular back in the day, but have become significantly scarce today.

The display became an instant hit, delivering an atmosphere enthused with nostalgic glee that was almost palpable. So much so that an extensive showcase of these highly popular and evocative past bastions is returning to stir ‘my mum used to have one of those’ recollections at The Classic this coming August. 

“We had such a warm response from the public to last year’s line-up that this summer’s ‘U.K.’s Rarest Cars’ display is the biggest and best yet,” announced Paul Hudson, Motoring Editor from the Daily Telegraph. “There will be 50 vehicles over three days, with a selection of special cars signifying anniversaries, alongside a collection of eclectic cars that were once ten-a-penny, but are now worryingly rare. Incredibly, lots of these so-called ‘ordinary’ motors are now more endangered than most Aston Martins and Ferraris.”

Roberts has already confirmed a host of past motoring mainstays and left-field curiosities as part of the 50 models on display. Those mainstays include such classics as the MG Metro, Austin Allegro, Hillman Hunter, Fiats 127 and 128, Rover 2300 SD1, and Vauxhall Chevette, in addition to a raft of Fords: Sierra, Cortina, Consul, and Escort.

Joining those much-loved motors will be some less well-know – but no less fascinating –  cars, such as the Renault 17, Fiat Argenta, Citroën Ami Super Estate, and a few extremely rare Japanese vehicles.

“I’ll be showing some rarely spotted cars that are sure to spark evocative recollections and emotions,” Roberts explained. “A selection of the vehicles were mass-market cars that owners took for granted; whereas other models were imported and had no obviously defined position in the U.K. There are also saloons that became battered by rust or/and used for banger racing. And every car tells a tale about British motoring history.”

In light of this, every car showcased in the ‘The UK’s Rarest Cars presented by The Telegraph and MotorEasy’ collection will have their story told on their individual display board. Visitors with their personal reminiscences of those cars on display will be able to tell their recollections and personal memories with the cars current owners.

This unique show of memorable, but increasingly vanishing repmobiles will flawlessly compliment the hundreds of legendary racing motors plus thousands of much-loved collectors’ cars all taking pride of place on and off the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit at The Classic. They will undoubtedly add an extra dimension to the festival’s 2022 theme: ‘The Best of British’.

For an extended 3-day weekend in a (hopefully) glorious summer, Silverstone’s paddocks will be filled with unrivalled retro racers, all revving up to renew past rivalries from yesteryear. Similarly, the infield car shows have thousands of treasured motors from decades ago, many celebrating marque and model milestones with record-breaking parades on the hallowed Grand Prix track. 

Tickets for The Classic deliver exceptional value, providing access to both racing paddocks, grandstand seating trackside, and access to the Foodie Fest when your appetite gets ahold of you. All three nights will have live music, alongside the best family entertainment and attractions possible – ensuring you fully take advantage of the long Bank Holiday.

If you’re as keen as me to book your place, the 3-day inclusive tickets are currently available for just £129, with single day admission for adults starting at £54. Also available are camping and VIP hospitality tickets. You are welcome to donate to The Classic’s official charity partner Alzheimer’s Research UK. 

Click this link for full details of tickets for The Classic 2022 at Silverstone.