29th October 2023
Droves of car enthusiasts showed up to the end-of-season car meet in Sunderland on Sunday in spite of appalling weather conditions. Being the last car meet of its kind for the year, car owners were determined to show up in support.
The event marked a conclusive end to a year of frequent events organised by the Sunderland and District Classic Vehicle Society (SDCVS), with events happening weekly throughout the year.
Dozens of cars from a variety of makes and models were present early at the Ryhope Engines Museum this past weekend, some of which, were of exceptional rarity.
Amongst the cars present, was this exceptionally rare and beautiful vintage Aston Martin DB MK III sporting an original racing green paint job, with a classy and timeless brown leather interior. Some further research into the history of the car revealed that the car was successfully restored to its former glory in 2009, having spent 43 years locked away in a garage, awaiting a refresh.
Another example of an exceedingly rare car that was present on the day was a bright red 1986 AC 3000ME, a car that baffled everyone who walked past it. Its body lines likened itself to a Lancia Stratos, paint job straight off a Ferrari, and the unmistakable 1980s era pop-up headlights that are adored by all car lovers alike. No one quite knew what they were looking at. Some research revealed that less than 130 of these were ever made and even fewer continue to trundle on the road today.
The car, though stunning to look at, was largely unsuccessful. Several hiccups during its development and testing phase meant that the car had to be redeveloped and improved. By the time it was eventually put on sale, the AC 3000ME was already deemed by the public as ‘outdated’ and ‘overpriced’.
Other cool and beautiful cars that were there were present included:
- A 2000-2002 Subaru Impreza WRX STi aptly nicknamed ‘Bugeye’ after the shape of its headlamps.
- A 1998 Honda Civic EK9 in a metallic sage green.
- A BMW E36 Convertible, don’t see many of these around.
These are arguably some very influential cars. The Subaru for example was donning the famous team and sponsorship stickers and the blue metallic paint job, paying homage to its Impreza WRC (World Rally Championship) iteration. This iteration of the car, although only mildly successful in its endeavours, collecting three wins and fourteen podiums, was Subaru’s attempt at an all-refreshed, new, and improved version of their early success in the Impreza WRC 555. This was a time in history when Subaru and Mitsubishi were brutal rivals in the realm of WRC, with Mitsubishi rapidly developing their own car, the Mitsubishi EVO in order to beat Subaru’s Impreza.
Despite the abhorrent rainy conditions on the day, many people still showed up to enjoy the wonderful community of cars and fellow car enthusiasts. We got the chance to speak to some of them.
In a separate article, a recording of an interview with the owner of a 2000 Apple Austin Maestro shares how he came to win the car through winning a Facebook raffle with just £20.
Overall, the event was a wholesome way to spend the Halloween weekend. The friendly interactions with local car enthusiasts, the cars, and the lovely showing of support from the community created an atmosphere that was homely, inviting and welcoming. Not to mention the spirit of community despite the bad weather, being there just felt nothing like being in the town centre; it just felt so refreshing. Attending events like this with friends and family is highly recommended!
If you would like to find out more about future events organised by the SDCVS, more details are available here.