Stourbridge motor enthusiasts celebrate 50th anniversary

Around 30 gleaming vintage and classic models belonging to some of the near 100 members of the Stourbridge Pre War Car Club lined the cobbled street outside the town's Bonded Warehouse on Saturday.

There was also a film show detailing the various activities of the group that has met once a week since its formation.

The vehicles on show ranged from a Model T Ford with an estimated price tag of £20,000 to a 1974 yellow TR6.

There were also four wheel reminders of stars from the world of crime fiction with a Citroen Traction Avant similar to that used by Maigret and a Triumph Roadster like the one driven by Jim Bergerac.

Chris Read, the club's 67-year-old vice chairman - who owns the Citroen and lives in Pedmore - said: "Our main attraction is that we embrace all types of cars. We are not a one make club and consequently have a wide variety of models.

"This brings people with experience and know how about a cross section of different makes and offers a real font of knowledge."

He explained: "Since this is our 50th year we decided to make it with an event that showed off what we do and remind the people of Stourbridge what we are about."

David Finch, aged 74, who owns the TR6, agreed and declared: "I have been a member of several car clubs over the years but this is the best because the mix of different cars means you do not end up arguing about who has got the best hub cap."

There is a rolling road tax exemption for historic cars that are defined as being 40 year or over. They also do not have to pass an MoT and have remarkably cheap insurance cover.

Mac Grimmett, one of the two founder members still with the club and now its President, explained: "The authorities trust us, know we look after our cars and realise we will not be driving them round the ring road in the rush hour."

He took four years rebuilding his 1933 Austin Light 12/4 from top to bottom and even remembers how many pieces of chrome it has - 220.

Club chairman Howard Whatmough from Bromsgrove looked at the 1934 Daimler he rebuilt and said: "What I like about this type of car is that it puts a smile on the faces of people. There is also always something for me to do on it."

The club has members from as far afield as Bournemouth, the Forest of Dean and Manchester but those attending the weekly meetings held in at the Kinver Community Centre are more local. Some members do not even have a car of their own while one has 50.

Mr Grimmett concluded with a smile: "It just keeps going on and on, so we must be doing something right."

meets every Thursday at Kinver and organises regular 'runs' for its near 100 members who also

Their first meeting all those years ago was at the Bird In Hand pub in Oldswinford.