Club cars cram into record Silverstone Classic

| 28 Jul 2015

Thousands of cars from more than 120 clubs swarmed into the Silverstone Classic last weekend. A vast group of TVRs celebrated the Car Club’s half-century, while dozens of Mazdas marked 25 years of the MX-5 OC. 

Elsewhere around the infield, the BMW CC toasted – appropriately – 50 years since wine-maker Burkhard Bovensiepen set up Alpina, and 40 years of the E21 3 Series. A stunning white M1 drew lots of attention, as did a colourful trio of 3.0 CSLs.

Silverstone Classic

A varied Ford Mustang display – spanning mid-’60s cars to the latest version – included these immaculate mid-’60s notchbacks (the one on the left was part of a group from Belgium), a GT350 Hertz rental car, plus various other Shelby models and Mach 1s.

Silverstone Classic

Not to be outdone, a similarly diverse mixture of Chevrolet Corvettes featured this dazzling Sting Ray Coupe.

Silverstone Classic

As usual, though, the rarer machinery could be found around the smaller stands, such as a fine set of Allards, including this rather smart K3, and a nice pair of Berkeleys. 

Silverstone Classic

A small but perfectly formed AC group featured the exquisite AC Ace 2.6 – the sixth of 35 built – that Norman Burr bought when it was 10 years old on 6 August 1971. The car was off the road from ’75-’77, stored until ’94 and rebuilt between then and 2006 when it was ‘reborn’.

Silverstone Classic

Supercars were out in force, with scores of (mostly modern) Aston Martins and Ferraris, although both displays also featured ’60s and ’70s GTs including the ’67 330GTC of John Gould (C&SC, June) in a line-up that included a striking green-metallic Dino 246GT.

Lamborghini Club UK members brought a mixture of models spanning the early ’70s to current models, the rarest of which was the first production Silhouette, a left-hand-drive car consigned with unique interior trim for the ’76 Paris Salon. It wasn’t registered until 1980, remained with the same owner until 2003 and was imported to the UK two years after that. As the notes on the car pointed out: ‘The magnesium Campagnolo Bravo alloys are replicas. The originals – correctly finished in pearl gold – are kept safely out of harm’s way!

Silverstone Classic

A wonderfully varied selection of cars tackled the Retro Run, which convoyed into the Northants venue on the Saturday, with several cars from continental Europe including a mud-spattered Mini Marcos, a gold Mercedes-Benz Pagoda and a lovely bronze metallic Triumph TR8. Two immaculate ’80s Citroëns also drew lots of attention: an AX GT on factory alloys and a superb CX automatic.

Click here for a full roundup of all the on-track action

Silverstone Classic

Some of our other favourites from around the circuit:

Silverstone Classic

A nice selection of early- and late-model X1/9s

Silverstone Classic

Assorted Lotus groups included the new Club Elite

Silverstone Classic

Nearby was this outstanding Éclat 521

Silverstone Classic

Lancia Motor Club set included gorgeous Series 1 Fulvia and Integrale

Silverstone Classic

Honda NSXs turned out in force for the 25th anniversary

Silverstone Classic

A fine set of Mk2 Jags, fresh from the Retro Run. You might spot a familiar BMW in the background – the Capri alongside won the ’85 Willhire 24 Hours and belongs to C&SC contributor Neil Godwin-Stubbert