The style of this classic Jensen will attract a lot of attention at the show.
THERE will be more attractions than ever at this year’s IW International Charity Classic Car Extravaganza next month.
The event — which will be held at Newport Quay on Saturday, September 15, and at Ryde Esplanade on Sunday, September 16 — will feature hundreds of unusual cars, including some that have never been to the Island before.
One of the more unusual cars is Graham Head’s stunning Jensen GT1975, which is based in Southampton.
This is a rare car in the UK, because only 250 right-hand drives were made and according to the DVLA, there are now only 16 on the road.
Graham bought it from Scotland approximately three years ago and the seller brought it down the country on a trailer.
Considerable time and money has since been spent on the mechanics of the car, which is powered by a Lotus 1,973cc engine.
But the car has also had new body parts, a re-spray and re-upholstery and is now used for numerous rallies and outings.
Graham said: "I have been led to believe from other enthusiasts that this one of the best in the country. We are really looking forward to bringing her to the Island."
There is also a Morris Minor which has been cut in half and turned into an extraordinary museum dedicated to the late 1950s and the 1960s, plus custom cars, hill-billy cars and some supercars.
The cars have to be in tip-top condition because they must be capable of driving to the show.
There will also be awards for best car, best group etc presented on both days, sponsored by Morris Lubricants.
This year, organiser Vic Gallucci is also having a green motoring corner with the latest green technology, including electric bikes and hopefully some electric cars.
But it’s not just cars at this year’s show, which is raising money for St Catherine’s School, Ventnor, on Saturday, and the Earl Mountbatten Hospice on Sunday.
Visitors will be able to see the cockpit section of a Hawker Hunter aircraft, which crashed at Lee-On-The-Solent on November 1, 1972.
The Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s, which entered service as a fighter aircraft and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts.
This particular Hawker Hunter was made in 1955 and was rescued by Buckinghamshire-based ex-RAF man David Webb in 2007.
He and a team of friends renovated it and it made its public debut in 2010 and has been visiting events ever since.
David and his wife, Ruth, also met the pilot who was flying it when it crashed and he gave them the ejector-seat handle.
A booklet has now also been written about the plane.
Vic found that the only problem with having the Hawker Hunter at the show was that he needed somewhere large and secure to park it up for the night — fortunately Minghella Ice Cream came to the rescue and the company is allowing Vic to park it at the Wootton depot.
The extravaganza is supported by numerous local businesses and organisations, including Wightlink, the IW County Press, the IW Council, Ryde Town Council and Paul Jones Insurance Services. It is marshalled by volunteers from the Round Table.