VAUXHALL HERITAGE CENTRE OPEN DAY ALL SET FOR JUNE 9

VAUXHALL HERITAGE CENTRE OPEN DAY ALL SET FOR JUNE 9

A brace of high-profile transport events will come together on one day this summer, as Vauxhall’s Heritage Centre Open Day joins with the Luton Festival of Transport to create a motor-vehicle spectacular with an audience of well over 5,000 people.

On Sunday, June 9, both events will open their doors to the public between 10am and 4pm, with an exclusive transfer service linking the two via a free, five-minute classic coach ride.

This is the only day of the year that Vauxhall’s 75-vehicle Heritage Collection is open to the public. It’s the largest of its kind in the world, and features:

• ‘5HP’, the world’s second-oldest Vauxhall
• The earliest ‘Prince Henry’ model – known as the world’s first sports car
• One of only two surviving WW1 D-Type Staff Cars
• The most original 30-98 model – Britain’s first 100mph production car
• A 1930 2-Ton, one of the first Bedford trucks to be built
• Three stunning concept cars, spanning the Sixties to the Noughties
• Rare, fully restored examples of the Firenza HP ‘Droopsnoot’ & Viva GT
• Three Vx super-saloons, from the 176mph Lotus Carlton to the 600hp VXR8 GTS-R
• Continuous model lines of Viva, Victor, Cavalier, Vectra, Corsa and Astra, including powerful VXR and GSi variants.

And since Vauxhall is celebrating two significant anniversaries this year - 50 years since the launch of the Bedford CF van, and 40 years since the first appearance of the British-built Astra, a model that’s now in its seventh generation - both vehicles will have pride of place at the Open Day, which will be held at Vauxhall Heritage Centre, Park Street, Luton, LU1 3HG.

Admission is free, and as well as the Collection vehicles, a variety of Vauxhall clubs will be displaying their members’ cars and vans. There will also be catering facilities, a chance for kids to try their hand at being a racing star in a video-equipped BTCC Vectra, a full line-up of Vauxhall’s modern vehicle range, and memorabilia and merchandise to see and buy.

But the day needn’t end there for enthusiasts and families, because a five-minute coach ride (with free fare) will take them to Luton Festival of Transport in Luton’s Stockwood Park.

Now in its 28th year, LFoT is expecting around 1,000 classic vehicles to be on display, vying for a total of 12 awards to be judged during the day.

For classic-car owning visitors, finding that elusive part will be so much easier, too, with over 40 autojumble stores on site to choose from.

The Luton Festival of Transport caters for all tastes, though. Among the shiny metal can be found an array of craft and collector stores, a food court with licenced bar, children’s entertainment, and even a dog show. Live music will also feature throughout the day.

Admission for the Luton Festival of Transport is £5.00 for adults and £1.00 for children, with a family ticket (two adults, two children) available for £10.00.

Further information about Luton Festival of Transport can be found either on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/events/1949726711728118/) or online (http://www.cvpg.net/luton-festival-of-transport/)