Things are starting to come together for this year's Restoration Show - I have our line-up of display cars.
First off, club member Mec, also known as YouTube restorer Mec-Tec will be bringing his Excel restoration project to the show. Those who've been following his videos (and if not, why not???) will know that he's rebuilt the seized engine; the plan is to install engine and gearbox at the show, and I've managed to get permission to have a go at starting it, despite the usual ban on running engines during the show (if the H&S wombles can come over and supervise). If time allows, he may also have a go at replacing the door beams, which I know is a topic of great importance to many of us!
Matthew Tack, who introduced himself to us at last years show, will be bringing his lovely brown '74 Elite, which he describes as a rolling recommission, having been off the road for 30 years.
I will, as usual, be bringing my '90 Excel SE. No over-ambitious project (unless something crops up in the next 6 weeks...), but I'm strongly considering performing an LED headlamp upgrade, like PistolPete did a few months ago.
I have a fourth car in mind, but I'll keep that one a secret, for now...
I'll be putting forward the usual request for stand volunteers in a few weeks, once we are a bit closer to the date. If you'd prefer to come as a visitor and be free to spend the whole day enjoying the rest of the show, remember we have ticket discounts here - tickets bought using the club code CCLOTGTM6 not only attract a discount but also help the club.
NEC Restoration Show - 20-22 March 2026
Moderator: Board Moderators
- rbgosling
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 2019
- Joined: Sun Jul 04, 2010 22:55
- Model: Lotus Excel SE
- Colour: Midnight Blue
- Year: 1990
- Location: Rugby
NEC Restoration Show - 20-22 March 2026
"Farmer" Richard
1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)
1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)
- rbgosling
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 2019
- Joined: Sun Jul 04, 2010 22:55
- Model: Lotus Excel SE
- Colour: Midnight Blue
- Year: 1990
- Location: Rugby
Re: NEC Restoration Show - 20-22 March 2026
Here's Mike's latest video - full push to get the engine ready for the show, only three weeks now!
https://youtu.be/8mE_JQ9q1xg?si=T0W0VEvsYkLQUHpp

https://youtu.be/8mE_JQ9q1xg?si=T0W0VEvsYkLQUHpp

"Farmer" Richard
1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)
1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)
- MetBlue
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 1854
- Joined: Sat Mar 24, 2018 21:00
- Model: Elite 74 & Excel 92 (SEish))
- Colour: Metalic Blue
- Year: 1974
- Location: Northampton
Re: NEC Restoration Show - 20-22 March 2026
https://www.necrestorationshow.com/2026 ... nd-tourers
Do I spy one of our members finger prints all over this?
Nice one Richard.
Do I spy one of our members finger prints all over this?
Nice one Richard.
What goes together.... Must come apart.
- MetBlue
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 1854
- Joined: Sat Mar 24, 2018 21:00
- Model: Elite 74 & Excel 92 (SEish))
- Colour: Metalic Blue
- Year: 1974
- Location: Northampton
Re: NEC Restoration Show - 20-22 March 2026
PS - Nice the sites running fast again for me this morning. Tried to add this link a couple of days ago, but for me at least, the response time on the site was just too slow to use. Kept getting time out errors.
What goes together.... Must come apart.
-
Pete Boole
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 4076
- Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2006 21:28
- Model: Elite
- Colour: Monaco White
- Year: 1974
- Location: Nottingham
Re: NEC Restoration Show - 20-22 March 2026
Super slow for me too recently.MetBlue wrote: Sat Feb 28, 2026 08:46 PS - Nice the sites running fast again for me this morning. Tried to add this link a couple of days ago, but for me at least, the response time on the site was just too slow to use. Kept getting time out errors.
Pete
- rbgosling
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 2019
- Joined: Sun Jul 04, 2010 22:55
- Model: Lotus Excel SE
- Colour: Midnight Blue
- Year: 1990
- Location: Rugby
Re: NEC Restoration Show - 20-22 March 2026
For anyone coming to the show, there's a special offer of 20% off train fares. I'll find this particularly handy as I travel to and from by train while my car is at the show - given the exhorbitant price of parking at the NEC, the train is cheaper even before this discount. Book by March 12th.
https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/class ... onshow2026
https://www.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/class ... onshow2026
"Farmer" Richard
1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)
1990 Lotus Excel SE (Lilith)
2022 MG MG5 EV (not due to be a classic for quite a few years...)
2011 Nissan Leaf (Ragly - EV pioneer, must be due to be a classic one day)
- The83Boy
- Junior Poster
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Mon Aug 12, 2019 12:50
- Model: Type 83 Elite + Evora NA
- Colour: Onyx Green
- Location: Gloucester
Re: NEC Restoration Show - 20-22 March 2026
Thanks for the heads-up on the Trains Richard. I'll be along to the show on a couple of days (not sure which yet), so I'll make sure to pop by for a chat.
Looking forward to it.
Looking forward to it.
-
Pete Boole
- Senior Poster
- Posts: 4076
- Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2006 21:28
- Model: Elite
- Colour: Monaco White
- Year: 1974
- Location: Nottingham
Re: NEC Restoration Show - 20-22 March 2026
Thanks Richard - I'll give it a go! Hoping to be there on the Friday and Saturday. Planning to spend some time on the stand of course!
Pete
Pete