The weirdest cars at the NEC Classic Show 2024

[@jonburgess4179]

I'm glad you checked my leaking brain for facts - why I thought those bloody Isettas were built in Southamption, I've no idea. And yes, I asked my tame Ford friend and that beige RS2000 is just an RS2000 in beige, rather than a RS2000 Custom (which was next to it).

[@GrandThriftAuto]

I owe you big time for putting me on to the railway siding story! See how I shamelessly passed it off as my own knowledge? I did read up on it quite a bit though, the nugget about the flight of steps to the nearest road was especially mad. Glad we solved the Escort mystery 😊

[@meeshker]

@@jonburgess4179 a friend of my used to service them. They were looked after by BT. There was nothing in the back it was all looks on the outside

[@cj9739-y7u]

Lovely, thanks, I raced round the show on Sunday and really appreciate you filling in on some of the bits I missed. Love your rancho fabrication too - really inspiring!

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thanks! I was lucky to have two whole days and probably still missed lots. Finding these stories is a bit of an Easter egg hunt with quite subtle clues like the FF badge on the Triumph 2500, but those are the things I love.

[@66moonraker]

Great tour and lots of interesting information. Thank you. I worked for a Motorcycle and three wheeler dealer in 1962/63. Three wheeled cars could be driven on a motorbike licence as long as they had reverse gear blanked off (or didn't have reverse, such as the Bond Minicar). The three German "Bubble cars", BMW, Heinkel and Messerschmitt were amongst options that formed the transition from the family motorbike and sidecar to a real car. One of my jobs was to collect new vehicles and drive them to our sales and service centre, in Salisbury, Wiltshire, on trade plates. Only once did I collect an Isetta from Brighton. I arrived after the supplier had closed for the day. The night workers at the plastics factory next door allowed me to sleep on the floor of their office and I collected the Isetta the next morning. Notwithstanding your information about where the factory was located, they must have had the ability for collection by some customers. Perhaps it was from a third party premises. Details fade from memory.

[@d23bw]

That Isetta section was a lot more interesting than some motormourh driving a Konigsucks on a derestricted autobhan. Cool channel, nice 1 dude.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

😁

[@peterolsen3797]

As a British car fan landlocked in Nevada USA your video was a great way to spend twenty-five minutes. Thank you

[@tides2002]

The 1/2 scale Hot Rod info board text: 1932 Ford model A sedan Owner: Dave Spicer Buit during the 2020 lockdowns for my daughter Ella Spicer. Taking the inspiration from a hotwheels car. One oft 1/2 scale 32 Ford sedan fiberglass body painted in Ford blue wave Custom steel box section 32 style chassis 72v 7000x battery, FarDriver controller & QS120 motor 3D printed V8 engine housing the battery Hydraullo front disc brakes, jackshaft gearing & solid rear axle Top speed 35+mph

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thank you so much for this! I thought it might be something like that - what a glorious creation, it was superbly done.

[@YanoTacchinardi]

The Triumph wagon/estate is a dream machine 😍

[@GrandThriftAuto]

It really is!

[@tridaks]

It's not the only FF Triumph estate though, maybe the only PI?

[@GrandThriftAuto]

@That might be my mistake, sorry. Checking the information sheet on the stand, there were/are two other FF ‘big’ Triumphs and two Stags. I think it must be the only PI.

[@leejohnston5153]

The RTV belongs to my friend. Glad you chose it as the best. 😊

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Tell them I love it! So glad it’s been saved.

[@richydowner7183]

Great vid. The beige RS2000 appeared on Bangers and Cash. Thanks for posting👍🏻

[@GentilsGarage]

You make my favourite NEC show videos. Nothing wrong with the others who make very good videos, but yours are top notch. Interesting thing about the Isettas being built the way they did in Brighton. Also, when the Berlin was split in half, people used to smuggle people in the Isetta engine compartment.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thanks Gentil, that's very kind! And very interesting about smuggling people out of East Berlin, I didn't know that: it must have been quite a squeeze. Tough times.

[@gareththompson538]

Great to see the RTV and my friends on the Minikits stand. I was there last year on the stand in my equally odd ball Turner Ranger which is a tractor with mini mechanicals.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

That sounds fantastic! I’m told Minikits always has great stuff, I’ll be paying more attention in future 😊

[@brianb-p6586]

The fuel injection system on the FF Triumph looks like dual-throat throttle bodies with injectors designed to interchange with dual-throat carburettors, as later became available aftermarket.

[@spitfiretrading]

Greetings Martin, nice to see you at the show. Thank you for the mention, fantastic video as ever...

[@AutoAtlantica]

That beige RS2000 is really lovely. Yes, that’s the base car with the standard wheels and headrests. The Custom had the alloys, tennis racquet head rests and I think bronze tinted glass, remote control door mirror, extra graphics, Recaro seats etc.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thanks Darren, that's what I thought. A rare spec, especially now :)

[@nigelgoodwin6954]

Thanks. Most interesting 2024 NEC report I’ve seen.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thank you!

[@wildyuk1]

Nice bit of kit and history in that RTV . Caused a bit of a stir on our stand .brilliant video .

[@GrandThriftAuto]

I’m just sorry I didn’t spend longer on the rest of your stand! Next time for sure.

[@wildyuk1]

Some times the cars history out ways the value of them . This car and the other rtv like this have even a bit more history . The army had some and made it to the Falklands after the conflict. In 81 .

[@tomwinch9107]

Some lovely vehicles you have captured for us, many thanks!

[@Tagora2664]

Nice one Martin. I couldn't make it this year and I'm gutted as it's the one I try to do every year. Loving that SD1 Janspeed! 👍

[@zeusapollo8688]

Great design commentary. You have a good eye

[@Carmalarky]

Excellent! Thanks for sharing this divergent companion to the myriad SEMA 2024 videos currently in circulation.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

You're very welcome. You'll now get the myriad NEC show videos showing up in your feed instead though - sorry about that.

[@fhwolthuis]

Beautiful video, Martin! Love the quirky stuff 👌😀

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thanks Frank!

[@mikenco]

The detector vans were bollocks. There is simply no way they could detect what you were watching! That aside, this vid is excellent, love the focus on the 'weird'. I have (and still) own weird vehicles! :D

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Agree they definitely couldn't tell what you were watching, but I'm willing to believe they could pick up the RF emission pattern of a CRT television (at least a bit, sometimes). You still had (have) to pay for a TV Licence even if you only watched ITV :)

[@fhwolthuis]

Something for the RNIB 😎

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thank you very much! I’ll add it to the RNIB donation pot 👍👍👍

[@gefthetalkingmongoose]

That Frisky Sprint looks an awful lot like the prototype of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta SS 'Sprint Speciale', but shrunk in the wash

[@GrandThriftAuto]

It does!

[@JR-o7d]

First KZbin video I have watched where the creator has not asked me to like or subscribe, so I have done so!!!! - very enjoyable. The tiny Frisky (was it?) convertible I doubt was sold in the UK as it would have needed pop up headlights to meet the regulations, you were spot on saying that it looks stunning if you lay down and look at it! All the photos and videos I have seen have been taken from that angle.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Welcome along! You’ll be pleased that I never ask people to like or subscribe (except very occasionally in an ironic way.) I think people know the drill by now if they want to 😊 You may well be right about the Frisky Sprint’s headlights; I don’t know what the regs were back then.

[@brianb-p6586]

4:58 Yes, an original Mini had ten-inch (nominal diameter) wheels, too.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thought so. The wheels on the Frisky Sprint looked even tinier, but apparently 10” is correct.

[@garypoulton7311]

Thanks, I love your videos, hoping you would post from here. Keep at the Rancho, love it.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thanks a lot! Finally had some time back on the Rancho just this afternoon, so there should be an update on that before too long.

[@richardfletcher2971]

Thanks for the video, interesting. The crazy cash spent on the mk1 escort! I'd love to know about it's history, as it's registration code is local to me. Keep making the videos please.

[@HistoryNeedsYou]

Splendidly quirky kit but my favourite was the tiny Gerry Anderson car. I could only use it as a roller skate but imagine it with Twiggy driving!

[@GrandThriftAuto]

I think I missed that!

[@HistoryNeedsYou]

@@GrandThriftAutosorry, I meant the Frisky Sprint. It looks like something from a SuperMarionation production, both in design and size!

[@GrandThriftAuto]

@ Ah! You’re right, it really does look like that.

[@donrico5122]

wow that 40s Rover Coupe, Style just died slowly from the 40s onward it seems

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Lovely, isn't it?

[@davidwilliams706]

Isn't it curious that the rarest cars are the ones that the original purchaser was a bit of a tight wad and shunned the options catalogue, like they did on that poverty spec RS 2000. Loved the 4wd Triumph.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Very true. One day I’ll make a video about the early base model Sierra we bought, the last UK survivor with the unpainted grey grille.

[@Zeem4]

@@GrandThriftAuto I remember seeing one of those at FoTU last year - before then I didn't even know they existed, as I'd never seen one or heard mention of them. I think that car may have also been the one with the extremely sun-baked interior. I've got a bit of a thing for base models which didn't sell well. I once had an early 2-door Avenger which was an ultra-base fleet special with everything deleted off it, and I wish I still had it.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

@ Yes, the one at FOTU is the one we bought! Now solely owned by my friend Daniel.

[@alistairclyne9362]

As a Nova owner myself it was great to see Ed’s immaculately turned out Nova at 19:10 … not only is his car totally concours, but it’s the oldest surviving Nova in the World! 💙

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Didn't realise that! I love the look of Novas and his was indeed superb. I'm excited to hear from a Nova owner!

[@bunning63]

Their was a Janspeed turbo SD1 in Wellington New Zealand. No idea if it still exists.

[@brianalder2234]

Original Rs's were all the bells and whistles and then they decided to bring out a poor persons version . Main difference being the wide steels . 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@01menyou]

I guessed the winner would be a Rancho. Gutted.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Pah, I see one of those every week! (Well, about three quarters of one.)

[@Stevewm869]

Was interesting to see that the TV detector commercial van was still running I used to drive them every so often for the then postoffice they were automatics which had a habit of breaking down on a regular basis which made for a very uncomfortable wait for a mechanic to come out with a tow truck as most times the people who did the detecting would have court days where they were attending prosecutions we were told to just drive to certain areas just to park up here and there scaremongering people , unfortunately there were times when bricks, bottles, profanities and a lot of human sputum was aimed at the vehicles needless to say you didn’t hang around too long. I had the feeling most of the detecting was done in an office before we went out as I can’t remember the guys ever using the alleged detecting equipment, at least not in the times I was driving them every so vehicle it was fun sometimes though .

[@markonmotoring]

A shame I missed you this year Martin. I.was there on the Sunday again this year. Once again you've done a great job if trying to not simply make the same video as everyone else which is easier said than done at big events like this. That Koenig also made the cut in my coverage, as did the Nova on the same stand. That's a fascinating story about the cars being delivered to railway stations, I've never heard that before. Could that triumph estate car with it's four wheel drive be the most usable classic ever? That TV detector van was very interesting.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Sorry I missed you Mark, I was at home editing (and reading up on Isettas in Brighton) on Sunday 😊 There were some lovely Renaults there but I knew you’d cover them in depth!

[@markonmotoring]

@GrandThriftAuto I did a little though perhaps not as deadly as you may think as I was very much at risk of repeating myself.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

@@markonmotoring 😂 I never thought it would be deadly! I know what you mean about repeating yourself though - there were great stands featuring Lancias and Lotuses and a Citroën SM, all of which I love, but I’ve talked about those a lot at the previous couple of shows.

[@markonmotoring]

@@GrandThriftAuto Autocorrect strikes again. 🤣🤣🤣 Last year I focused only on the French manufacturers and the stands do have similar models again, not to mention I've seen many of the cars at other events. I do like a lot of the the old Rovers too but I know of so many other channels that are very MG/Rover/BL centric. I also thought it interesting how we both ended with the same suggestion for anyone wanting to see every vehicle on display.

[@nickb5391]

@24.56, that RS2000 was on Bangers & Cash & was bought by a guy who's a RS2000 guy & has had loads of them 30 plus type of figure

[@brianb-p6586]

Many DUKW's have been used for novelty tours.... and they are dangerous (see "Duck tours" in Wikipedia). The later LARC-V is a much better choice... although it is awkwardly large, and has only the tires for suspension.

[@neilbedford5082]

That DUKW is cool - wish I could have got there

[@websitesthatneedanem]

Excellent! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@alastairwatson3201]

Any day that a GTA video drops is a good one but today’s was especially so! The Mitsubishi Colt / Galant is very definitely not a weird car in Japan, Australia (where they were badged as Chryslers), New Zealand, Africa, or the USA (sold as Dodges and Plymouths, I believe) but to see one in the UK was great. I’d always imagined you missed out on a lot of Japanese vehicles, having a good supply of European cars on your doorstep. Japanese versions of the hardtop came as 2.0 litre, five-speeds; Australia got 1.6 litre, four-speeds; and NZ versions had 1850cc engines, although I’m not sure what ‘boxes they were equipped with. I neither know nor care what spec those sold in the USA were. The one you showed was probably Australia-spec. Assuming it wasn’t an import, that is. Opportunities to nerd-out on Galant stuff are few and far between, so thanks for sharing. I’ve had my JDM-spec hardtop for 42 years and it still turns heads.

[@mparkeresq]

Love the RTV

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Ace, isn’t it?

[@donniblanco5239]

I had a “Beige” Orion in the 80’s, & the Beige RS2000 looks a Great “Sleeper Car” 😁 - The “Tech” in the TV Detector” Van used around Worcester (Uk) Back in the Day, Didn’t Function, But all they had to do was Park it outside the Main Post Office and that was enough insentive for Folks to go and Buy one 😮

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Ha! Yes, TV detector vans are one of those things that make you feel guilty even if you’ve done nothing wrong.

[@robertsedgwick1629]

roll top headrests are worth a smoll fortune cos everyone threw them away for fishnets

[@GrandThriftAuto]

I can well believe that!

[@Nino500]

Ahh, another person who refers to showy wide wheels as 'Carlos Fandango' wheels. No one ever seems to get it when I say that. I was pretty young when those Hamlet ads were shown but that one certainly stuck in my weird mind!

[@Nino500]

OOps! just realised it was Panama!

[@Nino500]

Some of the best ads are remembered for decades even if the product was forgotten!😂

[@GrandThriftAuto]

We’re probably dating ourselves with this 😬 As an aside, apparently boatbuilder Steve Watts built three (three!) modified Anglias for that advert in two weeks. More info here: www.anglia-models.co.uk/movies-pc.htm

[@carlreading9916]

Rover 200 coupe, commonly known as a Tomcat, pre dates the Rover 800 coupe.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Wikipedia (so it must be true, right? 😉) says the 800 Coupe was launched at the 1991 [NEC] Motor Show and the Tomcat at the Paris Show a year later.

[@carlreading9916]

@@GrandThriftAuto I stand corrected. Obviosly my memory isn't what it used to be.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

@ 😁 I know mine isn’t - I had to look it up and it could easily have gone the other way!

[@747cm6]

What date was this shot ?

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Friday 8th and Saturday 9th November 2024.

[@davestraight8219]

the beige escort was on bangers and cash the chap had had it a loooong time and nicked bits of the then engine to repair his petrol transit - it didnt look like your video hehe the chap that bought it had another escort in the same colour i think

[@davestraight8219]

beast

[@GrandThriftAuto]

I'm guessing you were at the Janspeed SD1 at this point? :D

[@SajidHussain-lj5mr]

Wery nise mortar Wehikles

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Thanks 👍

[@davidallum2728]

I prefer the Eventer ( and the convertible) XJS over the Coupe. I never could like those thick flying buttresses.

[@GrandThriftAuto]

I rather like the buttresses myself, but the Eventer still wins.

[@milehighclassics]

2 hours I stayed and got the train back as DANGEROUSLY PACKED and sad to say not enjoyable, oh hot rod for kids called TOT RODS yes they drive

[@GrandThriftAuto]

Sorry to hear that. Personally I didn’t find it excessively packed (I really dislike dense crowds) and some of this video was shot at the peak time around the middle of Saturday (the Isettas for example). But it sounds like you must have been in the busiest area, which is unlucky.

[@lesklower7281]

A couple of cars l would like to comment on that Triumph 2.5 PI station wagon with all wheel drive apart from the all wheel drive what a very good looking station wagon how nice is it not taking away from the station wagon the sedan was a very nice looking car and that blue Nova sold in Australia as the Pervis Eureka and l really close to one at a Volkswagen classic car show also those Jaguar station wagons all very nice and what about a Jaguar ute somebody at least built one in Australia after the UTE was invented in Australia and in Australia there are a lot of utes around infact the biggest selling vehicle is a ute and l actually own a 1997 Toyota Hilux ute and in Australia the Colts are and we're known as Mitsubishi and the Colt was the smaller Mitsubishi and they sold utes and vans the ute is no longer sold in Australia but you still buy the van not that common because there are 9 brands of ute sold in Australia most are double cab 4X4 recreational vehicles but there are single cab rwd aluminium tray work vehicles but mostly Toyota Hiluxes jike my Hilux and most vans are Toyota Hiaces we get the crappy Chinese brands which are famous for rusting but in the UK the British built LDVs are still around after 30 or 40 years were the Chinese built LDVs won't last 20 years also the Chinese wannabe MGs will not be around in 50 to 60 years because there are British built MGs still around and have seen a couple sell for between aud $13500 and $16500 sounds a lot but convert that into British pounds and the and these were private sales but were most classic British cars sell at online auctions and the best one l have seen so far was an immaculate Rover P4B sell for aud $40000 most go for under aud $10000 saw a Rover 75 sell for aud $1000

[@GrandThriftAuto]

There was actually a modern Holden ute on a massive transporter in the show somewhere! I didn’t film it though. Do you watch Dave’s Classic Workshop Tours on KZbin, by the way? I recommend it.