The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show returns to Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre (NEC) on November 13-15, 2026, with more than 3000 classic cars and motorcycles, 320-plus clubs and over 450 specialist traders across seven halls.
This year’s theme, Débutants, challenges every club to bring at least one vehicle that has never been exhibited at the show before, so visitors can expect plenty of unfamiliar machinery.
The most valuable débutant of all is the one-off Jaguar XJ13, brought by Tyrrell’s Classic Workshop. Built for Le Mans in the 1960s but never raced, the mid-engined prototype is on loan from the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust. Tyrrell’s will also display a Lamborghini Islero, which it is restoring in the run-up to the NEC Classic Motor Show 2026.
The XJ13 will be joined by a number of other historically significant Big Cats. The Jaguar Drivers’ Club, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, brings the original XJ220 concept car, powered by a prototype quad-cam V12, which Sir John Egan unveiled at the International Motor Show at the NEC in 1988. It is joined by a production XJ220 converted to V12 power and four XK8s, including development mule MP 19, marking 30 years since the XK8 made its debut in 1996.
A dedicated Débutants display near the entrance to Hall 5 is headlined by Richard Hammond’s Series 1 Land Rover, which the presenter bought in “a moment of madness” during a 2003 Top Gear episode. After more than 20 years in storage, its restoration by Hammond’s firm The Smallest Cog has now been completed, and the finished car is being publicly unveiled at the NEC Classic Motor Show 2026.
Alongside it is Dr Ed Barsley’s 1955 Series 1, converted to electric power ahead of a round-the-world drive due to begin in spring 2027. The display also includes the Hillman Avenger Tiger press car, the very first production Rover Mini Cooper Sport (VIN 01), a Hotchkiss-Grégoire Chapron Berline and a 1937 Ford V8 boat-tail racer imported from Argentina.
Other clubs have embraced the theme with aplomb, too. The Maserati Club marks 100 years of the Trident with cars from four eras of the marque’s history, including the track-only MCXtrema. At the less exotic end of the spectrum, the Morris Minor Owners Club celebrates its 50th anniversary with a stand made up entirely of cars new to the show, while the TVR Car Club brings the Tuscan S that starred in Looney Tunes: Back in Action.
The Hall of Fame, launched for the show’s 40th anniversary in 2024, returns to welcome its latest class of inductees on Friday November 13. It covers four categories – Motoring Club, Classic Car, Industry Ambassador and Community Ambassador – with three names shortlisted in each.
The show’s competitions also return for 2026. In Hall 1, the Meguiar’s Club Showcase pits cars that have already won a national club event against each other, with its Best in Show announced on Sunday November 15. Visitors can vote for their favourite of the 20 finalists in the Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership.
Elsewhere at the NEC Classic Motor Show 2026, the Sporting Bears Dream Rides offer passenger rides in enthusiasts’ classics in return for a donation to children’s charities, while the UK’s biggest indoor autojumble returns with the show’s trader village for anyone hunting rare spares.
New for 2026 is the YouTube Village, where creators Tasty Classics, JayEmm on Cars, idriveaclassic, Garage of Luke and Driven by Meg bring cars from their channels, ranging from Meg’s £100 Volvo 940 estate to JayEmm’s Ferrari 550. In Hall 5, meanwhile, the new Zircotec Modified Zone gathers 15 modified machines built before 2006.
Iconic Auctioneers holds the largest sale in its history in Hall 2, with 622 vehicles worth more than £16m across three auctions on November 14 and 15. Highlights include a 1983 Lamborghini Countach LP5000 S signed by Marcello Gandini (est. £700,000-£900,000), Jenson Button’s 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG (est. £400,000-£500,000) and Ron Dennis’s 1986 Porsche 930 Turbo SE ‘Flachbau’ (est. £350,000-£400,000).
For tickets and more information on the NEC Classic Motor Show 2026, click here.
