The first five finalists for the Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership Autumn Final have been revealed.

Cars ranging from a 1939 MG TB to a 2000 Nissan Skyline are set to appear amongst the 20 cars battling for honours at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery, held at Birmingham’s NEC on November 9-11.

Nearly 100 classic car owners have so far applied for a spot, which is than ever before and has left organisers facing tough decisions. After much deliberation, the initial five to be selected include Richard Pinkett and his 1939 MG TB, Michael Jones’ 1960 Jaguar MkII, Andy Nash’s 1966 Morris Mini Traveller, Mark Stewart’s 1988 Ford Escort XR3i Cabriolet, and Mandeep Sandhar’s 2000 Nissan Skyline.

Richard MG TB has a glorious racing pedigree, having competed in club events since the 1960s, when it was converted from the Tickford four-seater body to the standard two-seater. It’s still used for motorsport now and graces many well-known circuits, though Richard admits he prefers hillclimbs.
Fellow finalist Michael was inspired by fond memories when it came to finding and restoring his Jaguar MkII. His uncle was a test driver for the famous manufacturer and used to take him to see the cars as a boy.

Two of the finalists, Andy and Mark, are previous Meguiar’s Club Showcase finalists, but have been chosen on merit. Andy Nash went on to win the Showcase with his Mini Traveller, and it’s not hard to see why. Rebuilt top to bottom, is surely the best example in the UK. The same has been said about Mark’s Escort XR3i Cabriolet, which has not only been praised by his peers in the motoring world but most recently also won the coveted Waxstock trophy.

Mandeep Sandhar’s 29,000-mile Nissan Skyline flies the flag for modern classics. A V-Spec II model, it’s rare in being totally stock, and is believed to be one of just two of these models in its specification and colour in the UK.

Andrew Evanson, Senior Operations Manager of Lancaster Insurance, sponsors of the Pride of Ownership, said: “With each final, we see the bar raised in terms of the quantity and quality of the entries. The diversity of the display along with the fantastic stories and stunning cars makes it a real highlight of the show.”