The long-standing MG and Triumph Spares Day event has been the season opener in the calendar for MG and Triumph enthusiasts for more than two decades and on 12th February 2023 made a welcome return after three years.
The vibrant spares stalls, autojumble, tool specialists, club displays and packed halls were all evidence, if ever it were needed, that MG and Triumph cars are still at the beating heart of the historic vehicle community.
Before the pandemic, the show had steadily grown to attract nearly 10,000 people and over 500 display cars through the doors of the National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh, Warks. But then, Covid struck, which meant the show was cancelled for two years in a row.
But, as the halls of National Exhibition Centre started to fill up on the morning of Sunday 12th of February 2023, it was clear that the troubles of the past two years were well behind us, and the MG and Triumph bargain hunters entered in their droves – all looking for that elusive part.
The event really starts on Saturday afternoon, when the halls are full of people feverishly working on building their club display stands or setting out their stalls and doing some pre-show deals with each other. This was also the case for the Peter James team who, led by Phil Beck, arrived to set up our branded gazebo and get the kettle on!
On Sunday, at dawn, the first of the display cars rolled into the halls and jostled into position on their respective stands and the front gates opened for business.
Triumphs and MGs are parked together and as you approach the entrance, several outdoor stalls were placed opposite the doors to whet the appetite for what was to follow. There were also some ring-fenced display cars – some of which were for sale.
Once inside, parts, tools and consumables from the Autojumble made up of over 200 stalls greeted the home restorer. The spares market for the MG and Triumph marques remains healthy, despite the ever-increasing pressures from online selling platforms like eBay and Facebook marketplace. New, re-manufactured and second-hand parts were in abundance ranging from shiny go faster bits to piles of panels and dusty treasures.
Then there were over 20 different club stands, including Peter James Club partners, the Triumph Sports Six Club who not only had several Triumphs on display in their centenary year – but also several parts and accessories for sales as well. The TSSC were also excitedly circulating leaflets promoting the big centenary festival to be held for the marque at Silverstone over the weekend of 10-11 June 2023. MG and Triumph 100 will be the TSSC’s big event this year, with details at www.mgtriumph100.co.uk.
Meanwhile, Phil and the Peter James team were centre stage in the Autojumble area with the Peter James marquee welcoming several new enthusiasts who had yet to discover the excellent benefits of insuring with us. If they were a Triumph owner, we were also able to steer them towards the TSSC as a great club to join to enjoy even more benefits!
As well as new customers however, events like the MG and Triumph Spares Day are always great opportunities to share a coffee with existing and long-standing customers. We have lots of them and it’s always great to meet you all, chat and hear about your plans for your classic cars during the season ahead.
As the day ended and the last of the punters left carrying their haul of classic car parts in their arms or on portable trollies – everyone who had exhibited was positive about the classic car season ahead and complimentary of the success of another superb International MG and Triumph Spares Day. It felt like back to business as usual and the loss of the social aspect of this show due to the pandemic, now a distant memory.
See you all next year!
