The sun shone and the streets of Ryde were packed with people and hundreds of gorgeous cars for the 20th Isle of Wight International Charity Classic Car Extravaganza last weekend.

Organiser Vic Gallucci was overjoyed with the turnout and the level of support shown by local people and organisations alike, as well as the event’s long-term sponsors and supporters, including Wightlink, the Isle of Wight Council, Ryde Town Council and the County Press.

Scroll through our gallery of pictures above for the other winners...

Cllr Michael Lilley, Mayor of Ryde, was on hand to help with the judging and present a number of awards, including best in show, best group, best American car and his own Mayor’s Choice award.

Isle of Wight County Press: Best in Show - Gilbert GT - Mayor Michael Lilley with owner. Picture by Pamela Parker.

Best in Show went to this 1967 Gilbern GT. Pictured is Mayor Michael Lilley with owner, David Burgoyne. Picture by Pamela Parker.

Best in show was awarded to David Burgoyne of Southampton for his Welsh-manufactured Gilbern GT coupe, which was the last of its type to be built in June 1967.

David purchased the Gilbern GT in 2005 and it required complete rebuilt, as it had been laid up since 1982.

He did much of the work himself and the project was completed in 2019.

David has been to the extravaganza once before, about six years ago, with a Lotus Elan+2 while the Gilbern was in the process of restoration.

He said: “Both visits to this show have been excellent — the presentation is good with plenty of space and more visitors than I have seen before at a show. Clearly the weather plays a huge part in the success of a show, but long may this event continue. We will place a note on our calendar for next year.

“As for winning best in the show, we were unaware awards were presented, so this is a huge honour as there were many beautiful cars there, which were equally worthy of an award.

“The Gilbern Owners Club will be really pleased that this little-known classic has appealed to so many people.”

The award for best group went to the Armstrong Siddeley Owners Car Club, who were out in force at this year’s show (main image, top).

Brian Smith, who organises the car club’s exhibit, said there have been Armstrong Siddeleys in attendance since the start of the extravaganza 20 years ago and its popularity has grown within the club.

He continued: “It has certainly become a must-do event in the busy calendar as members looked forward to re-acquainting themselves with the Island in these difficult times.

“This popularity is in no small measure to the dedication and hard work of the show organiser and of the support he receives from many organisations, including the IW Council and the Island Roads.

“The huge variety of cars which Vic assembles each year is amazing and the Armstrong Siddeley owners always look forward to the vast collection on show.

“Vic’s unstinting efforts over the years have turned the event into the IW’s premier charity classic car show which is certainly the view of our club and no doubt many of the other car clubs attending.”

Armstrong Siddeley has an Isle of Wight connection in that the large guns at the Needles Old Battery are Armstrong’s.

Armstrong Siddeley was a British engineering group which was formed in 1919 and is best known for the production of luxury vehicles and aircraft engines.

A lot of the cars are named after aircraft, including Hurricane, Typhoon, Lancaster and Whitley. Other models include the Siddeley Special, 346 and the last model produced Star Sapphire 1960.

The best American car award went to Richard Kerger's 1948 sky-blue Chevrolet Fleetline, while the car which caught Michael Lilley’s eye and was awarded the prize for mayor’s choice was a striking three-wheeler Reliant Girder Fork Van.

Lots of money was collected for charity — the Isle of Wight Round Table reported they collected £2,655.26 for local charities and Mountbatten was also collecting donations at the extravaganza on Sunday.

  • The dates for next year's extravaganza are September 10 and 11. It will be on Ryde Esplanade both days and car bookings will be taken from mid-January.

FOR MORE PICTURES, SEE: Pictures from International Classic Car Show on Isle of Wight