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| Easter Motorfair | |
|---|---|
| Name | Easter Motorfair |
| Genre | Automotive show |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Location | Staffordshire |
| Country | England |
| First | 1960s |
| Attendance | 100,000+ |
Easter Motorfair The Easter Motorfair is an annual British automotive show held each spring in Staffordshire, England. It brings together collectors, manufacturers, restorers, club members and enthusiasts from across the United Kingdom and Europe for exhibitions, auctions, parades and concours displays. The event has featured classic cars, motorcycles, commercial vehicles and motorsport demonstrations, and has been associated with major heritage organisations, motorsport teams and auction houses.
The event traces its roots to regional motor shows and classic car rallies that followed post-war revival efforts such as the British Motor Corporation era gatherings and the growth of clubs like the Vintage Sports-Car Club and the Royal Automobile Club. Early editions coincided with milestones for marques such as Jaguar Cars, Aston Martin, Bentley Motors, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and MG Cars, attracting exhibitors affiliated with organisations like the National Motor Museum and the Automobile Association. Over decades the Motorfair reflected trends set by manufacturers including Ford Motor Company, Vauxhall Motors, Mini (British marque), Triumph Motor Company and Morris Motors. Prominent personalities and institutions connected to motoring heritage—such as restorers associated with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, marque registries like the Triumph Owners' Club, and auctioneers in the tradition of Bonhams—have participated. The fair evolved alongside cultural events such as the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the London Motor Show, while drawing parallels with gatherings like the Beaulieu Motor Museum meetings and the National Classic Motor Show.
Hosted at an exhibition complex in Staffordshire, the venue parallels other British sites such as NEC Birmingham, Silverstone Circuit, Donington Park, Brands Hatch and the Windsor Racecourse in accommodating indoor halls, outdoor paddocks and demonstration circuits. The layout typically includes marque-specific halls echoing themed displays seen at the British International Motor Show, club pavilions comparable to the Brooklands Museum clubstands, and trade aisles used by suppliers such as Lucas Industries-era parts specialists and contemporary aftermarket firms. Facilities mirror exhibition standards of venues like ExCeL London for press centres, auction arenas reminiscent of RM Sotheby's salesrooms, and hospitality suites akin to those at Goodwood House. Accessibility and transport links reference nearby nodes including Stafford railway station, M6 motorway and regional airports such as Birmingham Airport.
Programming has included concours d'élégance presentations similar to those at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, live demonstrations inspired by Dakar Rally displays, and parade laps that recall circuits like Silverstone Circuit and Donington Park. Exhibits cover marques from Ferrari and Porsche to Lotus Cars and McLaren Automotive, alongside British specialists such as Caterham Cars, Morgan Motor Company, TVR, Hillman and Alvis. Motorcycle displays have featured machines linked to Triumph Motorcycles and Royal Enfield, while commercial-vehicle sections echo gatherings of operators such as Leyland Motors and Dennis Specialist Vehicles. Additional programming has included parts bazaars patterned after Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show swap meets, restoration workshops run by professionals with histories at institutions like Heritage Motor Centre, and auction previews comparable to Silverstone Auctions events.
The Motorfair has showcased historically significant automobiles with provenance tying them to collections like the Haynes International Motor Museum, the Sir William Lyons legacy for Jaguar, and headline cars from houses such as Ferrari Classiche and Bentley Heritage. Notable guests have included former Formula One drivers affiliated with McLaren, Williams Grand Prix Engineering, Lotus and BRM teams, classic co-drivers linked to RAC Rally history, and celebrities with automotive collections such as patrons of the Royal Automobile Club and trustees of the National Motor Museum. Restoration experts connected to the Heritage Skills Initiative and marque historians from organisations like the Classic Motor Show have presented seminars. Special exhibitions have displayed cars once campaigned in events including the Le Mans 24 Hours, the Mille Miglia, the Targa Florio and the Isle of Man TT for motorcycles.
Attendance figures have paralleled those of regional spectacles like Goodwood Revival and the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with visitor numbers reported in the tens of thousands and peak years exceeding 100,000 attendees. The fair generates local economic activity comparable to motorsport weekends at Silverstone Circuit and festival economies studied in reports by entities such as the British Tourist Authority and local Staffordshire County Council analyses. Revenue streams derive from ticketing, trade stands, hospitality packages, auction commissions and sponsorship from companies in sectors represented by firms like Castrol, Shell plc, Denso and Bosch. The event also supports heritage supply chains linked to specialist businesses similar to SNG Barratt and classic parts networks tied to the Vintage Motor Cycle Club.
Coverage has been provided by national outlets with automotive desks such as BBC News, The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, Autosport, and specialist magazines including Classic & Sports Car, Classic Motor Hub and Practical Classics. Broadcast segments have appeared on platforms like Sky Sports motoring features and regional programmes produced by ITV Central. The fair has contributed to cultural narratives about British automotive heritage alongside institutions like the Science Museum’s transport collections and the National Motor Museum. It has served as a meeting point for enthusiasts preserving vehicles associated with historical moments such as the Suez Crisis-era transport industry, the Swinging Sixties automotive boom, and the post-war recovery period. The Motorfair’s role in sustaining clubs, registries and restoration trades places it within wider heritage networks that include the Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester and the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust.
Category:Automotive shows in the United Kingdom