PLUS OUR PICK OF THE VETERANS AT REGENT STREET SHOW,

…Regent Street style! A Jaguar gathering, Fast Ford collective and Route 66-themed displays pull in plenty of classic fans to this one-day car show – but the veteran cars are the real stars

Each year the Regent Street Motor Show seems to better itself as the perfect curtain-raiser to the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. A free event to all those who pass through central London, enthusiasts and families pored over these marvellous of century-old machines, with some owners even graciously allowing visitors to sit in the vehicles and honk the odd horn.

But what makes this year’s event better than the last? You’ll always expect the quality of the Veteran cars to be that extra level higher in hope of winning an award and the 2018 event delivered just that. All the cars competing in the London to Brighton event were sitting on a traffic-free Regent Street looking as good as they did at the turn of the twentieth century, gleaming with engines ready to go. But the extra added spice to this year’s event was the variety of mainstream classics that supported this year’s event, almost making a classic car show of their own, and giving visitors a diverse automotive experience. Flanked either end of the Veteran car line-up was the ‘Illinois Route 66’ stand, displaying the likes of Dodge Chargers and the Jaguar Drivers’ Club, which was celebrating 70 years of the XK120. Adding some of the finest restorations of Ford Escort MkIs, the Regent Street Motor Show offered that little something extra.

The event was a real mix of entertainment, nostalgia and eduction, too, with much of the younger generation laying eyes on these cars for the first time.

Regent Street Motor Show judge (and former Wheeler Dealer), Edd China said: ‘It’s great for the younger generation to see where it all began and this was the start of the automotive era. The further we get away from the veteran car age, the more important it is to celebrate it. There are so many great examples here today that the judging competition is almost impossible. ‘ What’s great about this show is that the public get to talk to the owners and with the better weather this year we have even more people visiting.

More than half a million visitors were drawn in by the 100 veteran cars that graced London’s shopping district.

Kevin Johns bought this 1987 Jaguar XJ40 Sovereign three years ago for £350 after seeing it listed as scrap. The body was apparently so bad that his fingers could have gone through the bonnet. Kevin has restored the car, adding some of his own modifications, such as custom suspension.

Bill Wrather bought this ex-racing 1902 Panhard et Levassor because he wanted a high performance veteran car. He’s since taken the car on many French rallies.

Roger and Tracey Lightfoot often drive their 1902 De Dion-Bouton to Waitrose. Roger inherited it from his father, who also passed on how to use dirt to prevent clutch slippage!

Colin Clarke and mechanic Tony Smallbone say that this 1898 Peugeot Type 15 is one of only two cars at the show that need to be started by lighting a match and a naked flame! This unique machine also has cruise control and will slow itself down if going too fast down a hill.