First to finish this year's London to Brighton Veteran Car Run was the 1899 Panhard et Levassor of Ian Moore from New Milton, Hampshire (above).
Having set off from Hyde Park in torrential rain – along with 448 other pre-1905 veteran cars, starting at 7am – Moore arrived at the gantry on Madeira Drive at 10.21am some six hours ahead of the final official finisher, the 1901 De Dion Bouton of Australian entrant Derek Payne (below).
Payne experienced a host of mechanical problems en route, but remained upbeat. He said: "This is the first time I have ever driven a veteran car, the vehicle belongs to my boss.
"You really have to get use to the brakes and steering, it takes a great deal of concentration managing the car and battling the weather.
"We’ll be sending her back to Aus, will fix her up, and return again next year, but for now I can’t wait for warm drink a nice hot bath."
Payne's epic still bettered some 77 cars that failed to make the finish, but the most remarkable entrants were the five that only qualified to take part having bought an eligible car at Bonhams' record-breaking pre-event auction two days earlier.
