Lakeland Motor Museum’s annual Boxing Day ‘Classic Drive and Ride In’ event proved as popular as ever, drawing in huge crowds from across the UK…
The Lakeland Motor Museum tells us:
(Words and photographs from The Lakeland Motor Museum).
Owners meet annually for the event in a bid to win the museum’s prestigious “Best of Boxing Day” Trophy.
The 2025 winning vehicle is a very stylish 1961 ‘Austin’ (Nash) Metropolitan. The vehicle was recently acquired by Mr Ian Irwin of Grange-over-Sands.
The Nash Metropolitan was an American designed brand which was manufactured in the UK between 1953 and 1962. The cars were initially designed as an alternative to the larger vehicles that were flooding the market at that time. The theory was that they were designed for commuting or shopping and as a ‘second’ car in two car families.
On winning the award Mr Irwin said: “The Metropolitan is a relatively new purchase for me. I first came across the brand at a car show last year so when I saw this one for sale in the summer, I jumped at the chance to buy it. There was a little work to be done and since acquiring it I have had the original bench seat re-fitted in the front and swapped out the old dynamo for a more reliable “dynamator” (an alternator that looks like a dynamo) to keep the electrics in good shape, while maintaining an authentic look under the bonnet. I have also had the windscreen washers and the heater re-instated. Thankfully the engine was in good order, but we did fit a new clutch master cylinder and brake master cylinder, as well as some work to the prop shaft and replaced some aging rubber pipes.
While I’ve shown cars before, I’d actually planned on a quiet day at home on Boxing Day to recover from the Christmas festivities. However, it was such beautiful weather that I couldn’t resist taking the car out for a spin. So, on a whim, I ventured up the road to the Drive It Day at the museum. It was a very unexpected but pleasant surprise to be chosen as car of the day – definitely worth my journey!”
Commenting on the 2025 event Lakeland Motor Museum Curator Chris Lowe said: “This year proved to be very busy indeed with some amazing entries to choose from. It’s always hard to pick a winner for the trophy but we were very impressed with Mr Irwin’s 1961 Austin Metropolitan. It had been maintained to a high standard and its sleek lines and sheer beauty meant it stood out in the crowd.”
The trophy was awarded at the museum’s Classic Drive and Ride in Day on Boxing Day which saw some of the biggest crowds from across the UK converge at the Cumbrian based museum to showcase and admire an array of vehicles covering over 100 years of motoring.
The Lakeland Motor Museum
The Lakeland Motor Museum is open daily and has more than 140 classic cars and motorbikes along with thousands more exhibits of automobilia. It also has special displays honouring the historic speed record exploits of Sir Malcolm and Donald Campbell. Highlights include full sized replicas of the 1935 Bluebird car and the 1967 jet hydroplane Bluebird K7.
Entry is £12.50 (adults) and £7.50 (children).