Haddenham Classics' trips out 2026

by Lee Jones

The third outing for Haddenham Classics this year saw our small but enthusiastic convoy head north, for a morning run to one of Britain’s great motoring shrines – Coventry Transport Museum. With six cars and eleven members making the journey, it proved to be another memorable day blending driving, history and good company.

Our meeting point was Bradmoor Farm, where after a short natter over the cars, we fired up the engines and set out with Barry and Neil Hack leading the pack up the M40 in Neil's newly repaired Healey. The line-up this time was an appealing mix of classic and modern machinery, proving once again that enthusiasm for cars does not depend on their age. The run north in convoy was enjoyable and we received some admiring glances along the route. Particularly when we were in the layby fixing Neil's bonnet! 

By late morning, we rolled into Millennium Place in Coventry, and took up residence right outside the museum. Almost immediately the cars began to attract attention. Passers-by stopped to admire the line-up, while others simply took the opportunity to grab photographs with the cars. Our Haddenham Classics A-board stood proudly beside them, letting curious onlookers know exactly who we were and what the club is about.

Breakfast was first on the agenda, so we headed into the museum cafe for a well-earned refuel before the real legwork began.

Our knowledgeable tour guide soon appeared and led us into the remarkable story of Coventry itself. It is easy to think of the city simply as a centre of British car manufacturing, but its roots stretch back much further. The name Coventry is believed to derive from a Saxon settlement around a convent – often interpreted as ‘Cofa’s tree’ or ‘Coventre’ – which gradually grew into a prosperous medieval town. By the nineteenth century it had become one of the engines of the Industrial Revolution.

Before cars arrived, Coventry was famous for bicycles and watchmaking – and we all know Haddenham members love their watches! Those early engineering skills proved the perfect foundation for the motor industry, and by the early twentieth century, the city had become one of the most important automotive centres in the world. Brands such as Daimler, Triumph, Riley, Standard, Hillman, and later, Jaguar all called Coventry home. Walking through the museum, you quickly realise just how many names – some now long forgotten – once built cars within a few miles of where we were standing.

The museum itself reflects that diversity. The collection moves through time from early bicycles and motorcycles to grand tourers, record breaking land speed machines, buses, and everyday family cars that once filled Britain’s roads. Some marques have vanished entirely, remembered only through the vehicles preserved here. 

But Coventry’s story is not only about industry and innovation. It is also about resilience. In November 1940, the city endured one of the most devastating air raids of the Second World War. During what became known as the Coventry Blitz, German bombers dropped thousands of incendiaries and high explosive bombs across the city in a single night. The medieval cathedral of St Michael was almost completely destroyed, its roof collapsing in flames while much of the city centre burned around it.

Rather than clear the site entirely, the ruined cathedral walls were left standing as a memorial. In the decades after the war, Coventry rebuilt itself and constructed a striking new cathedral alongside the old ruin. The two now stand side by side – one a reminder of destruction, the other a symbol of reconciliation and renewal.

After our tour of the museum, lunch followed, along with plenty of enthusiastic conversation about favourite exhibits and long-forgotten car brands. As with any good motoring day out, the cars themselves remained part of the story, with people continuing to wander past outside and take a closer look at the line-up.

With the museum explored, we took a short stroll across Millennium Place to visit Coventry Cathedral. It is impossible not to be struck by the contrast between the roofless stone shell of the old cathedral and the towering modern structure built beside it. The modern building is, perhaps, something of an acquired taste architecturally, but inside it reveals some extraordinary stained glass windows that flood the space with colour.

Beneath the ruin lies the Blitz Museum, which offers a powerful glimpse into that terrible night in 1940 and the city’s determination to rebuild afterwards. It is a moving reminder that Coventry’s history is about far more than engines and factories.

Sadly, as all good days do, this one eventually drew to a close. With the afternoon fading, our group gathered once more and reflected on what had been another excellent Haddenham Classics outing. Engines fired back into life and the convoy began its journey home, though not everyone took the direct route. Several members opted for a more scenic drive back through the countryside – a fitting end to a day that had begun with a proper run out.

Our thanks go to Coventry Transport Museum for hosting us. It is a fascinating place and well worth a visit for anyone passing that way – whether you are a dedicated petrolhead or simply curious about the city that helped shape Britain’s motoring story.

Roll on the next Haddenham Classics adventure!