Defender of Tradition: NEC Classic 2025
Now in its 41st year, the Classic Car show is the largest of its type in Europe. Land Rover Life attended to see what this years show offered the Land Rover Enthusiast.
Words and Pictures – Ian M. Garner
Every November, I make my annual pilgrimage to the NEC for the Classic Car show. It’s a weekend I look forward to with great anticipation. Whilst Land Rovers are my main focus, I do like classic cars of all shapes and sizes, from fast Fords to some of the more exotic offerings. The Classic Car show has it all. The 2025 NEC Classic Motor Show brought together over 3,000 classic cars, 310 clubs, and 450 specialist traders for one unforgettable weekend, spread across 6 of the NECs halls.
The Land Rover scene is always well represented both from a club and a trader perspective, and there are always a great selection of Land Rover products featured in the annual Iconic Car auctions which are held across both the Saturday and the Sunday.
The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show was launched in 1984, making it the UK’s premier indoor classic motoring event, and in 2024, the show celebrated its 40th anniversary. Since its inception, it has grown into the largest classic vehicle club event in the world, attracting visitors from across the UK, Ireland, and beyond.
As the alarm sounded at 6am, I was already excited for the weekend ahead. My bags were already packed, camera batteries fully charged, and the Defender brimmed with diesel for the journey. Collecting my friend along the way, we arrived at one of the NEC’s many car parks around 8.30am and went for breakfast as we waited for the doors to open. Whilst you can do the show in one day, I wouldn’t recommend it. To fully immerse yourself in the experience, you need to meander around. Soak up the atmosphere, chat to the many enthusiasts and generally take a more relaxed approach. There is a lot to do, and you wouldn’t want to rush things, would you?
Our plan, as always, was to complete one hall at a time, in no particular order. Except for the Iconic Auction. That is always the Sunday treat and judging by the amount of people queuing to get in, on the Saturday, Sunday was a good shout.
Left – This Land Rover Ninety has been worked on by Richard Hammonds Smallest Cog team, and looked amazing
The first Land Rover we came across was representing the Smallest Cog. Richard Hammond has been a huge Land Rover fan for years, and Team Cog had done their own take on the Classic Land Rover Ninety, called the Cog Edition 90. Starting with a 1990 V8 Hard Top, they created – on behalf of a customer – a classic take. Whilst some bespoke Land Rover builders go for the bling approach it was refreshing to see that Team Cog had taken a more traditional approach. With a classical blue hue and colour coded steel wheels, the Ninety looked perfect. Finished off with a canvas roof, I could see myself actually driving something similar. Tasteful, full of character and definitely not a fashion accessory as many Defenders have become.
One stand that was of particular interest to the Land Rover enthusiast was the Juncheng stand, which featured a full Defender Puma 110 Station Wagon shell. Looking at the price list this would cost you $9,500 plus shipping. They could also supply a Defender 90 in both pick up and
Station Wagon form and in addition to the 110 Station wagon, a pick or double cab pick up was also available. Whilst initial inspection looked ok, the doors did look flimsy as one visitor to the show demonstrated by vigorously flexing them, much to the bemusement of the staff on the stand.
One stand that I was keen to visit was the Tomcat Motorsport stand. Originally developed by Bowler, the rights to the Tomcat were sold and Tomcat Motorsport was formed and has been developing the brand ever since. On display was a modified Defender 110 with a large American V8 under the hood, sorry bonnet. Called the 110 Tomcat 376 Defender, it was a 2014 Defender 110 Utility wagon modified with a 6.2 litre Corvette LT1 engine mated to a GM 8 speed auto with rebuilt LT230 transfer box. A space frame from a 100” Tomcat was interesting to see, but it the was 80” Tomcat trailer and the launch of the Tomcat Academy that caught by eye. Its a single make trail series, hosted by ALRC clubs, using a new Tomcat and comes with full factory support.
Above – Tomcat motorsport launched the Tomcat academy at this years show.
Left – There were even Land Rovers for the younger generation courtesy of Mini Rovers
Out of the 310 Clubs on display, 6 of these were dedicated to Land Rovers, Range Rovers and Discoveries. The first Club I happened across was the Ex-Military Land Rover Association who had a very nice Defender Wolf 90 with full winterised kit on display along side a Hard Top Ninety. The Series two club had several nice vehicles, on display including a lovely Dormobile, but it was this 109” Recovery vehicle that drew my eye.
Above Left – This winterised Wolf 90 was a personal show favourite and was on the Ex-Military Land Rover Association Stand. Above Right – This 109″ Series 2a was featured on the Series 2 club stand.
On the Series 1 stand, there were a variety of vehicles on display included a Military Police 80”, A Grip Cab and a particularly interesting 80” with PTO powered bench saw and a grass cutting attachment fitted, showing the versatility of the Land Rover as not only a daily vehicle, but also a capable farming tool.
Below – This Series 1 showed various accessories that could be used to help the farmer.
Some of you may be surprised that one of the vehicles on display, along with a rather nice GWAC, on the Project Jay Preservation Group was in fact a Honda. This particular Honda, however, was a Crossroad, which was little more than a rebadged Discovery for the Japanese market.
Left – G-WACs are called so after the registration number and are becoming increasingly sort after amongst enthusiasts. These were used for the press during the launch of the Discovery back in 1989.
Above – Featured on the Range Rover Register stand, this Pre-Production L405 features the 3 litre TDV6 and was first registered in July 2012
Above Left – The CVC Register is dedicated to ex-factory vehicles, and this genuine G4 Freeland 1 was the pick of the stand for me. Above Right – Pride of place on the Police Car UK stand was this amazing Range Rover classic in full Police livery.
Come the Sunday it was time to visit the Iconic Auction stand which was located in Hall 2. There are always plenty of Land Rover products for sale and this year was no different. Its always a good benchmark to see how the market sits with Land Rovers, and with a couple of interesting items going under the hammer I was keen to seen. Who knew that there was potentially a world record made for a Land Rover product! Below is a full list of all the Land Rover products on sale and their selling price!
Lot 211 – 1956 Land Rover Series 1 86” Soft top with hardtop – Sold for an undisclosed sum
Below – Lot 212 was a 1958 Land Rover Series 2 88” with a nice capstan winch fitted to the front. It was in great condition and sold for £16,875
Lot 213 – 1971 Range Rover 3 Door – Suffix A – £33,187
Lot 249 – 1954 Land Rover Series 1 86” Soft top – £17,437
Lot 274 – 1951 / 52 Land Rover Series 1 80” – £21,375
Lot 275 – 2007 Range Rover Vogue SE – Ex-Queen Elizabeth – £66,375
Below – Lot 276 – Was a 2003 Range Rover Vogue once owned by supermodel Kate Moss, which sold for a quite unremarkable £4,500
Lot 284 – 1999 Range Rover P38 4.6 HSE – £32,625
Above – At first glance Lot 311 looked like a Series 2A Land Rover, but in reality is was a 1988 Land Rover Ninety re-imagined with a 4.6 Litre V8. Whilst it looked nice I am not sure how you would get it MOT’s with the headlights in the wrong location for the age of vehicle. Others must have thought the same as it remained unsold.
Below – Lot 312 was rather interesting as it was a 2008 Land Rover Defender 110 Taipan. Similar to a WIMK, it was based on a Puma Defender and was developed for the Paraguayan Army. Whilst a remarkable vehicle it remained unsold.
Lot 313 – 2006 Land Rover Defender 90 TD5 XS – Not Sold
Lot 325 – 1961 Land Rover Series 2 – £42,750
Lot 327 – 1998 Land Rover Defender Wolf 90 – £29,250
Below – Lot 339 was one of two South African Defenders, both fitted with the 2.8 litre BWM engine. This is the engine bay of the 1997 Soft Top example which remained unsold
Lot 340 – 1999 Land Rover Defender 90 M52 2.8i Station Wagon – Sold for an undisclosed sum
Lot 344 – 2002 Land Rover Defender 110 TD5 Off Road Camper – £56,250
Lot 710 – 2010 Range Rover HSE TDV8 – Ex Royal Protection – Not Sold
Lot 718 – 2008 Range Rover Sport 2.7 TDV6 – £5,625
Lot 732 – 2003 Land Rover Discovery ES V8 – Pre Sale £17,437
Lot 734 – 2000 Land Rover Discovery GS V8 – £16,875
Lot 738 – 1980 Land Rover Series 3 – 88” Barn Find – £3,937
Above – I was particularly fond of Lot 739, a 1986 Land Rover Ninety County Station Wagon V8 which sold for a reasonable £14,625
Lot 751 – 2007 Range Rover TDV8 Overfinch – £6,525
Lot 742 – 2000 Range Rover DHSE – Not Sold
Lot 755 – 1999 Range Rover 4.0SE – Not Sold
Lot 764 – 1968 Land Rover Series 2a 88” – £7,312
Lot 785 – 2011 Range Rover Vogue TDV8 – £16,875
Lot 878 – 1988 Range Rover EFI Auto – £3,150
Below – Range Rover Carmichael conversions have been produced since the very beginning of the Range Rover story. This example left the factory as a 6×4, but was later converted to full all wheel drive. , Lot 788 – 1989 Range Rover Carmichael 6×6 – £6,187
Lot 879 – 1996 Land Rover Defender 90 County – £14,175
Lot 839 – 2006 Range Rover Sport V8 Fantom – £7,537
Lot 840 – 1999 Range Rover Autobiography (Pre-Production) – £6,187
Lot 873 – 1996 Land Rover Discovery Camel Trophy – £25,875
Below – This rare Camel Trophy Freelander was used in the final Land Rover based Camel Trophy in 1998. Selling as Lot 874, this 1998 Freelander sold for an astonishing £52,875 which is believed to be the highest price paid for a second hand Freelander.
Lot 878 – 1951 Land Rover Series 1 80” – £7,875
Lot 884 – 1977 Land Rover Series 3 – 88” Station Wagon – £7,875
After the excitement of the auction it was time to head home. After two days we had walked over 12 miles, and spent around 14 hours looking at everything. Getting back into the Defender, I was already looking forward to the 2026 event.