Rare bits of motoring heritage in Wales
Rally and concours cars pull in the fans at inaugural manor event
The inaugural Motoring at the Manor (MATM) set the hills and valleys of South Wales alive with the sound of historic competition cars in action.
It contrasted with the tranquillity of extensive static displays of classic cars, older Formula 1 cars, supercars, plus a fiveclass Concours d’Elegance.
One of the classes included a unique gathering of Welsh-built cars, including Davrians, a rarely seen Hensen M30 and River Simple Rasa, plus inevitably, Gilberns, including the one-off mid-engined T11 prototype (the class winner), brought all the way from Kent.
There was also a special class of Citroëns (won by an unrestored 1976 CX Pallas) to celebrate the company’s centenary, pre-war cars (a charming 1928 Rolls-Royce Phantom took top honours), Le Mans racers (won by the only RHD 1964 RenéBonnet Djet built), plus a 1972 Gilbern Invader Estate, taking the Shooting Brake prize. Overall ‘Best of Show’ went to a stunning 1926 Bugatti Type 37 prototype.
Rally cars in action on the challenging Celtic Manor tracks ranged from early Ford Escorts, Minis, Austin Maxis and Landcrabs, Lancia Stratoses and Renault 5 Turbos. A static display of Grand Prix cars included Alan Jones’ Williams FW06B and Damon Hill’s William FW18, as well as local Welsh F1 hero, Tom Pryce’s Shadow DN5.
A varied collection of classic cars was joined by a mouth-watering array of supercars old and new to provide something for all tastes and ages.
For a first attempt in a region slightly deprived of regular classic car events, Motoring at the Manor was a success. Hopefully it’ll become a regular event.