Vauxhall Cavalier MK2
With thanks to Martyn Smith.
With just under three weeks to go entries are still being accepted for the inaugural How Many Left? at the Grampian Transport Museum in Alford.
‘How Many Left?’ is open to any mass-produced car from the 1960s onwards, which has less than 500 licensed examples left, according to DVLA records.
The event, which takes place on Sunday 24th May from 12noon – 4pm, is designed to celebrate some of the not quite classics of the motoring world.
Take, for example, the Vauxhall Cavalier MK2. First introduced in August 1981, the car was considered a huge success, challenging the Ford Cortina as the front runner amongst company car fleet buyers.
By 1982 Cavalier sales topped 100,000 effectively establishing a two horse race between Vauxhall and Ford. Ultimately over 800,000 examples of the second generation Cavalier were sold, making it the third most common car on Britain’s roads. Staggeringly there are now as few as 1,300 of the 800,000 on the records of the DVLA!
Appearing at How Many Left will be a great example of the Cavalier, restored by current owner Robert McLean, of Banchory in 2010. His special edition Antibes – only ever available in red, blue or white – is now reduced to just 7 examples in the UK and will be appearing at How Many Left.
How Many Left will feature prizes awarded to the rarest survivors, assessed by the museums unique Rarity Index; a calculation that takes account of numbers known to exist and the original production run.
The event will feature static display areas as well as the ever popular public passenger rides, where visitors can jump into participating vehicles for a trip down memory lane. There will also be a chronological vehicle pageant and parallel autotests with expert commentary to enjoy.
Commenting on the event Martyn Smith, Marketing & Events Organiser said:
“It’s fascinating to look at some of the vehicle entries we’ve already received, the original production numbers and then the latest DVLA figures. Cars which were produced in their thousands and were once a common sight on the roads are simply disappearing!
“‘How Many Left’ is bound to rekindle lots of memories – some good, some perhaps not so good, but the ethos of the event is to celebrate these cars with light hearted track activity and of course our Rarity Index where we’ll identify the rarest car of the show”
Entries for How Many Left are being accepted until Monday 18th May. As well as entry to the event, vehicle owners will receive free museum admission and free BBQ. Full information and entry forms can be found online at www.gtm.org.uk