Surrounded by ever increasing London City skyscrapers, the five-acre green oasis of the Artillery Gardens staged the London Concours for the seventh year. Using the 18th Century Armoury House as a backdrop, just under 80 cars spread over eight classes featured throughout the three-day event, June 6-8. On day 2, RS Day, 50 Porsche RS gathered to swell the numbers commemorating half a century of this iconic marque, with the final day being devoted to contemporary Supercars attracting 55 of today’s most sought after machines.
Most of the classes attracted post-war entries with there being, surprisingly, only one true exception, a 1935 Rolls-Royce Wraith Sedanca Coupe’ by Gurney Nutting originally owned by George Formby who at the time was Britain’s highest-paid entertainer. The Wraith had been completely restored 10 years ago. With the other three pre-war examples on show not quite as they were first constructed, but nonetheless interesting examples, if you are a purist you may want to skip the next paragraph.
Possibly re-envisaged is the best way to describe these entries. Presented in the “Make Green Great Again” class and the result of a seven-year restoration/modernization by Thornley Kelham a 1935 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Sedanca de Ville now had power-assisted steering, upgraded electrics, an alternator, twin batteries, extra fans and electronic ignition. Front and rear air-conditioning had been installed, as well as a modern entertainment system along with a refrigerator and cocktail cabinet. Presently owned by Peninsula Hotels the car is used for their classic car experiences.
In the early 1960s, Spaniard Joseph Vert Planas was also modifying old Rollers, his re-bodied 1929 Phantom II was entered in the “Bespoke” class. Joseph’s ‘Boat Tail’ conversion had been restored and uprated yet again with the cabin enjoying more bespoke additions including a fully electric picnic-basket compartment located in the teak boot area. Finally, in the “Wild Cards” category came a 1921 Leyat Helica.
Of the 30 cars made by Leyat, only two original examples still exist – both of them still in France. This Hélica was copied from the original car now in Paris’s Musée des Arts et Métiers and features an ABC Scorpion engine from 1921, we were not told when this copy was constructed. You may wish to express your views on these ‘improvements and recreations’ in the recently created letters to the editor section.
Best in Show and the Evolution of Aero award went to a modern classic in the shape of a 1991 Schuppan 962 PR C1, only six examples were built before the company folded, the car is essentially a road spec Porsche 956 with a top speed of 230 mph, this particular car was the project’s prototype. The Chairman’s Award and the Golden Age of Coupe’s class was scooped by a 1966 Jensen CV8 MKIII a car that combines UK styling and U.S. muscle being powered by a Chrysler V8. After languishing in a barn for 12 years, this matching-numbers example is fresh from a nut and bolt rebuild.
The “Wildcards” category went to a 1972 Lancia Fulvia Zagato the actual car that the now-owner had fallen in love with 50 years previous. Originally owned by model Twiggy’s manager, then by Bernie Ecclestone before being severely damaged in a fire. The winner of the 6o Years of Lamborghini trophy was a 1968 Miura with a chequered past but is now restored and resplendent in Verde Scandal green (pictured top).
“Built to Race for the Road” celebrated production marques designed to be uprated and raced or rallied. The class was taken by a now immaculate 2008 Subaru Impreza WRC S12c that had competed in the Monte, Swedish, Italian and Jordan WRC rounds. As to be expected, the Bespoke class provided the most interesting selection of cars headed by the winner a unique 1961 Austin-Healey 3000. After being crashed in 1964, while racing at Silverstone, the Healey wreck was rebuilt and re-bodied in a beautiful Douglas Wilson-Spratt designed coupe form, after some years of rallying, the car was laid up for over 40 years followed by a 12-year restoration making the London Concours its first public viewing in over 50 years.
Highly commended in the “Bespoke” class and attracting a lot of interest, a 1971 Matra-Bertone Beach Buggy brought Mediterranean style to the City lawns. The Grand Tourisme class was Gallic through and through with a selection of Alpines, Citroën’s and Renaults as smooth a French wine but the Champagne corks popped for a blue-of course 1962 Facel Vega Facel II. Make Green Great Again was certainly a category not reserved exclusively for British cars sporting British Racing Green, verde versions of both Porsche and Alfa Romeo took part but to no avail, it could be said they were green with envy as a 2009 Aston Martin DBS with the unique specification of Pentland Green exterior over a Parliament interior prevailed.
Outside the judged concours event a special feature celebrated ‘The Cars That Built Land Rover’, an interesting feature of such a workhorse vehicle in a concours setting that included a 1948 L07 pre-production prototype, missing since the 1960s and found in 2016, and the 1954 Series 1 that covered 25,000 miles on the Oxford & Cambridge Trans-Africa Expedition.
Throughout the three days, various on-stage interviews covered headings ranging from “Celebrating Porsche” through the “Evolution of the E-type and Land Rover” to “Alternative Fuels” with arguably the most interesting ‘from the horse’s mouth’ conversation entitled “Superbears.” How do bears have any place at a concours? This particular bear was ‘le Patron’ head of the 1970’s swashbuckling mavericks who shook up F1, Lord Alexandra Hesketh. A great raconteur Alexander gave a very frank but light-hearted interview including revealing some of his costs to be involved in F1, that eventually forced closure of the team, adding that all the figures he quoted excluded girls, helicopters and vintage wine! He further revealed that the team, en route to their first Grand Prix at Monaco in 1973, stopped off at Lydden Hill circuit in Kent to try out gear ratios, “As this was the most Monaco-like circuit we could think of.” Despite their unconventional approach Hesketh Racing made its mark in F1 and was contacted by Ferrari, offering engines. Deciding not to accept the offer his Lordship continued, “I’m sure once we started to beat the factory cars our next supply would have been fitted with prancing ponies and not prancing horses!” Some unconventional revelations on F1 by its most unconventional team owner.
Over 10,000 visitors attended during the three days of the event a record number now firmly established in the UK summer event calendar the London Concours is already scheduled to return June 4-6th, 2024.
