The event attracted large numbers of classic and performance cars and other vehicles to the seaside town. Around 480 visiting vehicles turned up from a 1929 Armstrong Siddeley to the latest Mercedes and buses from the 1950s to the 1980s including double decker buses used on services to Lands End, a Fairford Airshow bus and a Scottish coach from the midlands. The day was especially warm and with large number of visitors even the beach looked really busy at times. The free heritage bus service operated an intensive timetable with four different open top buses proving ever popular.
Mike Taylor, for the organisers when asked how the day went, said “It was a very hot day for our visitors and our volunteers, we had a very busy event and we had lots of visitors travelling on our heritage buses. The day started very early with classic cars turning up two hours before the show started – and the main area allocated for cars soon filled, we had some interesting visiting vehicles not seen at Barry before. There were so may cars to see. One entry stood out for me was the small red Morris Minor Royal Mail van – a humble vehicle once seen by millions every day, now a distant memory. On the bus side we had some visitors coming some fair distance – including the West Country, the Midlands and Essex. We had a lot of first time visitors, and donations on the day will go to restoring our collection of Welsh buses. I want to thank all those that came and volunteered on the day, the Vale of Glamorgan Council and all the exhibitors making the day possible”.
On the restored bus front for the first time in preservation two former Cardiff Leyland Lynx a 1990 Mark 1 and a 1991 Mark 2; single deckers operated free trips, whilst just repainted was the ever popular 1964 Guy Arab V former Cardiff half cab open top bus, with thanks to help from Cardiff Bus.
The open top buses proved popular and four operated free trips during the day including a 1958 Bristol K, the 1964 Guy and two very different looking Bristol VRs, a 1976 Swansea Beach Bus that ran on the Gower. And our 1979 Cardiff bus fresh in its commemorative Corporation Tramway livery.
Visiting buses and coaches included modern vehicles from Cardiff Bus, Stagecoach, Edwards, Creigiau Travel and Henleys of Abertillery, whilst on the heritage side buses came from Newport, Swansea Bus Museum, Essex, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Bristol, Minehead and Wells, whilst the 1982 Scottish coach had come from the Midlands.
Some superb classic cars from the 1930s, to the 1950s were in the show. Car clubs dominated the entrants, and whilst the Glamorgan Car Club and Jaguar Enthusiasts continued to present their collection of truly Classic Cars supporting the many individuals bring a classic, there were others which appeal more to the younger visitor with specialist interests such as the South Wales Classic & Performance Club; Range Rover Cymru; South Wales XR Owners; the Welsh Mini Group and Vale Ford.
