AN Austin 7 van, which has been lovingly restored back to its former glory, will be the star of the show at a classic car club event.

Sid Gamble, of Sidemoor, Bromsgrove, has put in countless man hours into the restoration of his very rare 1932 Austin 7 van and now it will be centre stage when members of the Droitwich Classic Car Club hold their first show of the year on Easter Sunday.

The restoration project featured in the Advertiser/Messenger when vital spares proved difficult to obtain, but the car is now ready to be seen by members of the public.

The tiny Austin 7 was a best-selling little car. It was made at the giant Longbridge plant between 1923 and 1939. It set new standards of low-cost motoring and in many ways was like the Mini, which was to follow years later.

When the vehicle initially went on sale it cost £165.

Sid's Austin 7 van will be joined at the show by two Inspector Morse type Jags and a Daimler, all from the 1960s.

The Droitwich Classic Car Club show will be held at the Freemasons Arms, Droitwich Spa, on Sunday, April 16, from 2pm.

The show will be the members' first of the year and the club will continue to meet every second Sunday of the month until September.

The owners of the classic cars will be on hand to answer questions about their vehicles and to talk about motoring from the past.

Keith Woodfield, of the Droitwich Classic Car Club, said: "We owe a debt to these classic car enthusiasts who painstakingly restore these vehicles to keep motoring history alive."

If you are an owner of a classic car and want more information please call 01905 773502.