The eclectic car club for people who love every kind of classicThe TelegraphMark GallivanTue, September 22, 2026 at 6:30 AM UTCAdd us on GoogleClub members, from left to right: Ryan McKenzie, Nick Arlett, Danny Gibbons, Mark Mullins, Kevin Papworth and Jim Harper - Jamie LorrimanMany drivers face exhortations to go electric as the proposed ban on the sale of new combustion-engined car looms, but how about going eclectic instead and immersing yourself in a world of classic cars with a difference?Representing every era from 90 years of motoring history, the south London-based Eclectic Classic Car Club certainly lives up to its name. Members' cars include an array of audacious Americana, Great British bulldogs and a few German heavy metal titans. And much else besides.But how did the owners of such a disparate collection of cars come into each other's orbit? After all, the majority of clubs focus solely on one marque or a particular model, owners and enthusiasts united by a shared passion.AdvertisementAdvertisement"It all started with me and a few mates regularly doing shows," says "Big Dan" Gibbons, the club's founder. "We'd all be split up. I'd be caught up on the commercial side, some mates were with the American side and another in with general classics." Then an encounter with the rulebook led to a brainwave. "If you're registered as a club, you can all stay together. That's why I came up with the Eclectic Classic Car Club."Danny Gibbons, founder of Eclectic Classic Car Club - Jamie LorrimanAlthough the club was only set up a few years ago its appeal among those without an obvious tribe is growing. "We're up to about 60 members. Every time we do a show we seem to get new members," says Gibbons.This community for eclectic classic cars is small but growing, he says. "We wanted to create a friendly community that celebrates all classic cars, not just one make or model." Every car has a story, says Gibbons, regardless of when and where it was produced.Varied tastesThe club's cars embrace this philosophy. It's not often you find a 1939 Buick Special Eight, one of more than 208,000 built that year at Flint, Michigan, parked alongside a pretty Giovanni Michelotti-penned Triumph Stag. That model was favoured by none other than Roger Moore.AdvertisementAdvertisement"There are not many [cars] I don't like," says Mark Mullins, another member who owns an impressively wide selection of cars including a Mercedes-Benz SL "Pagoda". "I met Dan about 15 or 16 months ago. Dan is the boss and sort of looks after everyone. It's all good stuff and it's just a really nice club," enthuses Mullins.Eclectic Classic Car Club is unique in its wide array of marques and models - Jamie Lorriman"I'm a 1980s boy and own a few Fords. I have a Series 1 Ford Escort RS Turbo, which was one of my dream cars when I was younger. I was born in 1968, but it was the 1980s when I was into my cars." Back then he owned a Ford Fiesta XR2, then a faster, fuel-injected XR2i after finding an insurance loophole that allowed a callow teenager to afford the premium on such an eminently crashable – and oft-stolen – vehicle.Fast FordsToday he owns a Fiesta RS Turbo and a four-wheel-drive Sierra Sapphire Cosworth. "The Cosworth is taken to extremes," laughs Mullins. "It's stripped out as a track car and probably needs a pit crew because it's so highly strung."He also owns a few Volkswagens. "I like my splitties [early VW Type 2 campers with a split windscreen] and the American stuff", which includes a 1964 Lincoln Continental. "It's a good car with good bones but we've had to take the whole thing apart and have to repaint it."AdvertisementAdvertisementMullins's collection is large, and while he's talking, he casually drops in the fact that he's also building a Chevy truck. "That has been years and years into the project and probably has another year to finish that."Club member Mark Mullins pictured with his 1966 Volkswagen split screen twin cab - Jamie LorrimanClub members will be displaying a selection of specials at the Classic Car Boot Sale at King's Cross this weekend. Which will Mullins be showing off? "It's the 1966 Volkswagen Twin Cam." He agrees he has been very lucky over the years to be able to amass a nice collection. His own garage is almost complete and he still holds much respect for owners who have only one cherished car.At the Boot Sale you might spot the Charles Thompson-designed Ford Consul Capri from 1956. The Consul Capri was Britain's interpretation of an American muscle car for the British family (and the first appearance of the revered Capri name, later applied to three generations of Cortina-based coupés). Then there is a thundering 1968 Chevrolet Camaro SS, famous owners of which include Sylvester Stallone.British greatsMaybe you like more recent cars? The display will also feature many British-manufactured greats. The Ford Escort RS2000, a high-performance variant of the Mk2 Escort, still delights enthusiasts at classic rally events. Other possibles for inclusion are a Ford Cortina Mk1, an MGB GT and a Triumph Vitesse.AdvertisementAdvertisementAficionados of more recent models, known as "modern classics", include a Mercedes 500SL, Porsche 944, Bentley Turbo RT and, slightly less glamorous, a Nissan Sunny Coupé that was produced across three generations from 1981 to 1991.Club member Kevin Papworth pictured with his 1955 Studebaker - Jamie Lorriman"Big Dan" Gibbson says he is continually impressed by members' cars. "If I could get all the cars together, you'd be amazed by the quality." One recent recruit has a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air that has been put through a full restoration. According to Gibbons, it now looks like a brand-new car: "It is absolutely gorgeous."The club also has plenty of cars retaining age-related patina and that's fine with Gibbons. "Oh, we have everything from Bentleys down to Morris Minors. You name it, we've probably got it in a part of the club."The proof lies in the sheer depth and breadth of cars belonging to members who have joined the club over the past few years. These include a 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville, a chopped Ford F1 truck and a 1965 Studebaker Daytona, while less exotic fare includes a Ford Prefect and various mass-market old Porsches.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Classic Car Boot Sale features a wealth of vintage clothing and knick-knacks, sold out of the back of historic vehicles. You're bound to pick up something to make the trip worthwhile, in addition to savouring some automotive icons. And you might even be inspired to go eclectic.The Classic Car Boot Sale takes place at Granary Square, Kings Cross on Sept 26-27, from 10am to 6pm both days. Tickets can be ordered via the website or are available on the gate.Try full access to The Telegraph free today. 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