MANY enthusiasts and exhibitors from the Crediton area will be returning, after an absence of three years, to one of the largest gatherings of classic vehicles in the South West on Saturday and Sunday, July 9 and 10.

The Historic Vehicle Gathering returns to Powderham Castle, Kenton, hosted by the Crash Box and Classic Car Club of Devon, it is expected to attract more than 2,000 vehicles and cover more than 100 years of motoring.

Many of the vehicles will be found on displays from 71 vehicle clubs.

Amongst the car club displays will be a line-up of Austin Seven’s provided by the Devon Austin Seven Club which is celebrating the centenary of what was Britain’s first truly affordable mass-produced car of British design and manufacture. At launch it cost around £165 and featured a 747cc engine which was enough to propel this diminutive car to a top speed of 50mph.

There will also be a special parade in the arena to commemorate 100 years of Jaguar from their humble beginnings making sidecars to producing desirable cars known for their “grace, pace and space”.

The Modern Classics section covering affordable, popular cars from the 1980s and 1990s, has entries such as the Audi 80 Coupe, Vauxhall Nova and Volvo 480 that were once a popular sight on our roads, but are now something of rarity.

The Historic Vehicle Gathering also attracts a healthy number of steam enthusiasts and to-date there are 25 full-size steamers and 30 miniatures booked in.  Completing the line-up of vehicles are commercial vehicles, motorcycles and military vehicles.

Richard Nunn, the rally chairman of the Historic Vehicle Gathering, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming our many visitors, exhibitors and traders to Powderham after an absence of three years. It is great to be back, with all the entries adding to the diverse array of vehicles on display which will appeal to young and not-so-young enthusiasts alike.”

This annual event also raises funds for various local charities, with this year’s chosen local charities being Pete’s Dragons in Exmouth, FORCE Cancer Charity and St Petrock’s in Exeter.

For further information on this year’s Historic Vehicle Gathering visit: www.historic-vehicle-gathering.info .