Hundreds of historic cars got their motors running at an annual Sandwell show, attracting tens of thousands of enthusiasts.

Hundreds of historic cars got their motors running at an annual Sandwell show, attracting tens of thousands of enthusiasts. More than 30,000 people flocked to Sandwell Valley Showground to see more than 500 cars, motorcycles vans, buses and military yesterday.

The 31st annual Historic Vehicle Show featured a wide range of exhibits, including a selection of classic Jensen cars, which were built in nearby West Bromwich before the company’s demise in 1976.

Ron Smith, aged 71, brought his 1959 541 R model from his home in Linton, Cambridgeshire.

“It is definitely quite eye-catching so it does tend to get quite a lot of attention,” he said.

“A lot of the old Jensen workers come to have a look at the cars on the stand.”

Recovery engineer Rob Clewes, aged 55, and 13-year-old son Greg were showing a two-seat 50cc BMW Isetta, which was made in Brighton in 1959.

“A lot of older people remember them from their courting days,” he said.

“They were one step up from a motorbike, because they stopped you getting wet.”

One of the oldest cars on display was the 1931 Rolls Royce Sports Weyman Saloon model belonging to Peter Henderson, aged 72, from Sutton Coldfield.

He said he bought it for £10,000 in 1984, but that it had been fully renovated and would now fetch around £150,000.