Sunday in Benidorm was very busy today with it being Spanish Mother´s Day, the start of the First Holy Communions and the town being host to the European Car Club Classic Car Rally.

The cars were on display at the Town Hall Square this morning and certainly attracted vast crowds. The owners stood close by, watching their pride and joy like a hawk... and I can´t say that I blame them either. All the cars were gleaming and pristinely restored, which is a real labour of love as I found out when I spoke to one of the owners.

Rafael Bareno was there with his Classic Rolls Royce, which took him over a year to restore. It was completely stripped back to its shell and then gradually re-built. It had five coats of paint applied - the last two were baked on.
Then he pointed out a slight dent and scratch to the rear door - yesterday his grandson had been playing out on his bike and leaned it against the garage wall and it fell... onto the car! It is somewhat of a hobby for Rafael, who has four other classic cars which he has restored.

Ford Popular - who remembers the rather basic interior?

There were lots of people shrieking in recognition and reminiscing when they saw certain models, obviously bringing back many fond memories. Most of these cars had a special numberplate beginning with an H prefix - standing for "historic" and meaning that they are exempt from paying any road tax. There is a similar system in the UK - once it use to apply to cars over 25 years old which ran on a rolling scale, but as of the 2013 April budget, that has changed and now and all cars manufactured before 1st January 1974 are entitled to a free tax disc.

The beautifully sunny day was an added bonus as many of the cars were convertibles and so could be displayed to maximum effect, with the tops down!
However one car gave a totally new meaning to the word "sun roof" and caused much laughter among the visitors.

As well as exhibiting them for everyone to enjoy, 30 of the cars on display will be taking part in the European Car Clubs first 7 day rally -  which will be starting from Benidorm and ending up in Mallorca! The cars will set off tomorrow and head to Denia to catch the crossing, then drive around the island, taking one of five different routes.  I am sure that it will be a real traffic stopper along the route.

Just after noon all the cars left in convoy to drive along the beachfront - escorted by police outriders on motorbikes. They tooted their horns and attracted the attention of everyone who was lazily sunbathing on the beach - and what a sight it was, a procession of classic cars in the middle of Benidorm.