RUNNERS UP

Voted for by Octane readers – in their thousands! – and with a greatly expanded entry list, the Car of the Year was more hotly contested in 2019 than ever before. There was no question of the Bugatti’s popularity, but any one of these runners up would have been a worthy winner.

Skinner Special

Skinner as in Skinner’s Union. Originally based on a 1920s Morris Minor with a 4168cc Hudson straight-eight transplant, this car retains an air of historical authenticity.

1949 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport by Figoni & Falaschi

Presumed lost for more than 50 years, this one-off ‘zipper’ car has been a hit at a range of events since re-emerging.

1952 Jaguar C-type

Chassis XKC005 took top honours at the London Concours. As well as history with Moss and in the Mille Miglia, it was the first to win a race with all-disc brakes.

1977 Lamborghini Countach LP400 Periscopica

As featured on the cover of Octane 190, Simon Kidston’s car was fresh from a brilliant nut-and-bolt restoration.

1928 Aston Martin Sports

What makes this car a worthy contender is its originality and the fact that many consider it to be the oldest unrestored Aston Martin in the world.

1932 Invicta S-type Low Chassis, exRaymond Mays

‘White Invicta’ Chassis S119 was delivered directly to Bourne, where it was prepped for Mays to race.

2019 BMW Garmisch recreation

BMW unveiled a special tribute to the genius of designer Marcello Gandini at Villa d’Este, rebuilding his lost 1970 Garmisch concept.

1969 Porsche 917

Chassis No1, just out of a 3000-hour restoration, never even raced, but this testbed for the 4494cc mid-mounted 12 remains one of the most significant cars in the world.

1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Berlinetta

David and Ginny Sydorick’s Alfa won Best of Show at Pebble Beach in 2018 and also the Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award.