Elegance at Hampton Court

This year’s Concours promises a mouthwatering mix

AS WE WENT to press, the organisers of the Concours of Elegance, to be held at Hampton Court Palace on 1-3 September, released the final entry list. Among the 64 rare and important machines are examples of stunning beauty, amazing originality or illustrious competition history, while common to all is extraordinary craftsmanship, whether in original design and construction or in later restoration.

The story begins with the 1896 Arnold Benz that was the first car to get a speeding ticket, and meets the present day with a LaFerrari and a McLaren P1 GTR, the latter displayed next to a 1995 McLaren F1 GTR. Remarkable feats of preservation are represented by the Maserati A6G barn-find from the Baillon Collection, a former Octane cover car; and the 1928 Victor Broom-bodied Bentley 4½ Litre found in pieces in a house and on a garage roof, then carefully reassembled into a running car.

Other seldom-seen cars include a 1930 Duesenberg Model J ‘Disappearing Top’ convertible, also unrestored, a 1933 Lancia Astura Aerodinamico Castagna, a 1934 Tatra 77 and a 1948 Bentley MkVI owned by Facel founder Jean Daninos, who commissioned Pininfarina to build its ‘Cresta’ body.

This year’s Concours is the sixth such event and the second to be held in the Hampton Court Palace Gardens. Other venues have included the Palace of Holyroodhouse and, for both the inaugural event and last year’s, Windsor Castle. As well as the Concours itself, the weekend will include car club displays, a Jaguar Trophy on the Saturday for which 90 cars compete, a Bentley Trophy on the Sunday to a similar format, and Sunday’s Tour of Wessex. Friday is for owners and entrants, with public access by ticket during the weekend. More information and the full entry list can be seen at www.concoursofelegance.co.uk.