Community / ‘There is something for everybody’ – classic motor show attracts the crowds
“I am overwhelmed by the interest”, Duncan Mcintosh smiles when asked how he is finding his first visit to the Shetland Classic Motor Show.
He and his wife Sheila have travelled from near Edzell to the isles in their fully restored 1966 Land Rover lorry with the serial number 001.
No wonder that in a Land Rover mad place like Shetland this unique vehicle is generating a lot of interest and Duncan, slightly uncomfortable by all the attention, is trying to take it in his stride.
Happy to share how he spent seven years on a nut and bolt restoration job of the vehicle, he reveals that in the process of rebuilding the vehicle he added a few extras – such as power steering, a five-speed gearbox and modern seat belts – to “increase safety and drivability”.
An engineer by trade, he bought the vehicle 15 or 20 years ago and only started restoring it in 2015 following retirement.
The 20th Shetland Classic Motor Show, which is being held at the Clickimin Leisure Complex this weekend, is according to Sheila “everything we had hoped it would be”, while Duncan adds that he particularly likes the friendliness and non-competitiveness nature of the whole event.
Show chairperson Colin Nicholson agrees and adds that it has always been a very deliberate decision by the organising committee not to run competitions and hand out prizes for the many different categories of entries.
“Who am I to say which vehicle is the best? They are all their owners’ pride and joy, and we are delighted to have them all here,” he says.
And since this is the 20th such event since it all started as a very small exhibition with 28 bikes and eight cars in the Gilbertson Park games hall in 1984, there is a bit of a celebratory atmosphere in the Clickimin.
“The variety and quality of exhibits really is first class. People will see something here that will rekindle memories from childhood, or their first car, or the car they had when they got married – it is a real nostalgic event,” Colin says, adding that there is something for everybody here at the show.
And, in addition, for the first time, organisers are also trying to attract some of the cruise ship visitors to the motor show by promoting the event on Victoria Pier to disembarking visitors.
Meanwhile, one of the more unusual exhibits is hidden among a row of Jaguar models; it takes some time to realise that this particular Jaguar is different than the others – it’s an estate, and it is not a converted estate.
Built at Whitley in 1992 the Jaguar XJ40 is a prototype estate that was considered for serial production which then never happened.
So, it is the only one that exists. Owned by the Jaguar Heritage Trust, the vehicle has been off the road for the last 15 years, and has now been driven the 500 miles from Nottingham to Shetland to be on show for the first time.
David Marks, who runs a garage servicing Jaguars, describes the drive a “supremely comfortable”, adding that he was looking forward to the journey south again which will take him via Orkney and the north of Scotland.
The second day of the Shetland Classic Motor Show, on Sunday, is open between 10am and 6pm. Admission costs £6 for adults and £3 for senior citizens and children. Under 5s are free.
