“IF there’s one thing I learned from my Thursday at the London Concours, it’s that the world’s greatest cars somehow look even better in the pouring rain. The capital was in full “classic British summertime” mode as we gathered in the heart of the Big Smoke at the Honourable Artillery Company for the ultimate petrolhead”, — write: www.thesun.co.uk
The capital was in full “classic British summertime” mode as we gathered in the heart of the Big Smoke at the Honourable Artillery Company for the ultimate petrolhead garden party – with rain pelting down as we walked through the gates.
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The rare Bugatti EB110 SuperSport, originally built for the Brunei royal family, stole the show at the London ConcoursCredit: Michael Golson
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A rally legend with just 1,100 miles on the clock took home the Fast Fords class gongCredit: Michael Golson
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The X-Pack Ford Capri, restored and upgraded to perfection, now worth an impressive £57,000Credit: Michael Golson
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The Audi RS2 Avant, a super estate with Porsche DNA, featured in the Youngtimers displayCredit: Michael Golson
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The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, developed during Mercedes’ partnership with McLaren, with just 3,200 miles on the clockCredit: Michael Golson
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The ultimate petrolhead garden party, with rare sports cars and modern classics on displayCredit: Michael GolsonBut honestly, the weather didn’t matter.
The sight of dozens of the world’s most iconic sports cars – the kind you usually only see in books or posters – all lined up on the green lawns, surrounded by white tents, made it all worthwhile.
The London Concours, now in its ninth year, is a proper showcase of the world’s most exotic supercars, plus a healthy dose of modern classics thrown in for good measure.
It’s the stuff of dreams for any petrolhead.
Perhaps the star of the show was the rarely-seen Bugatti EB110 SuperSport – one of the first cars to greet us as we walked in.
One of just 33 SuperSport models ever made, this beast was originally built for the Brunei royal family back in 1993.
Capable of over 200mph, it beat out legends like the Porsche 930 Turbo S, Porsche 911 GT1, McLaren F1 and Porsche 959 to win top honours in the Dream Cars class.
When it was new, the EB110 SuperSport would’ve set you back around $380,000 (roughly £280,000).
Nowadays? Try $1.2 million (about £936,000).
FAST FORDSWhile sheltering from the morning downpour under one of the tents, I couldn’t help but notice the collection of legendary Fords nearby.
A rare Ford RS200 was the pick of the bunch, which took the win in the Fast Fords class.
This rally-spec beauty is one of just 15 ever built and spent the first 30 years of its life in storage, with just 1,100 miles on the clock.
These days, though, it’s out and about during the summer months.
It was joined by an X-Pack Ford Capri, upgraded by Ford’s Special Vehicle Engineering programme with a wide body kit and lowered suspension.
After a full restoration (with plenty of upgrades), this Capri is now worth around £57,000 – with half of that value coming from the enhancements alone.
Other Ford icons were close by, including a beefy Ford Escort Cosworth RS – which can now fetch well over £100,000 at auctions – and the near-mythical Ford GT40.
SEE IT ALLOver the three-day event, there were bonus displays celebrating Aston Martin (Tuesday), Mercedes-Benz (Wednesday) and Supercars (Thursday).
By the time you’ve walked around for a bit, your senses start to adjust to the sheer quality of cars on display.
My attention was drawn to the Youngtimers display, which featured modern classics from the late 1980s and early 1990s that have become cult favourites among enthusiasts.
The standout here was the Audi RS2 Avant – a super estate with sports car power and Porsche DNA – but the winner of the class was a 1989 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet with a rare ‘Flachbau’ (flat-nose) styling and pop-up headlights that scream 1980s cool.
HYPERCAR HEAVENThe Hypercars class was absolutely jaw-dropping, with a 2019 Lamborghini Centenario – the only one in the UK – stealing the spotlight.
Built to celebrate Ferruccio Lamborghini’s 100th birthday, only 40 of these were ever made.
Further on, as part of the Mercedes-Benz celebrations, we were treated to a stunning display of SL models marking 70 years since the introduction of the 300SL.
Highlights included a racing-spec 300SL Gullwing, an elegant 300SL Roadster and a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren with just 3,200 miles on the clock.
It wasn’t all about flashy supercars, either.
The Wild Cards class celebrated the oddballs and misfits of the car world, with this year’s winner being a 1961 Maserati 3500 GT, which spent 50 years in California before making its way to the UK in 2012.
Fun fact: it’s owned by Coldplay’s Guy Berryman.
SUMMERTIME?In many ways, the London Concours is the perfect way to kick off the UK’s motoring summer.
If you’re feeling a bit of FOMO, don’t worry – there’s more to come.
I recently covered some of the best upcoming events across the country, from CarFest to the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
And if you fancy an event similar to the London Concours, the Concours of Elegance will be held at Hampton Court from September 5 to 7.