13 awesome machines at the 2019 Goodwood Members' Meeting

Our favourites from the festival of historic motorsport

That Goodwood has an astonishing capacity for churning out jaw-dropping automotive extravaganzas year after year is hardly headline news.

The set-dressing, the superstar drivers and – oh how British – the weather are often pre- and post-event talking points – and that’s before you even get to the cars!

Last weekend’s 77th Members’ Meeting was no exception, and while it would have been easy to simply gaze in silent astonishment at the array of amazing racers speeding past us, we made an effort to note down our favourites so we could share the joy with you.   

Here, then, are 13 superstar cars from across the decades that each deliver a sucker-punch of awesomeness.

Chevrolet Camaro Z28

If we’re talking awesome, then the Gerry Marshall Trophy and Sprint races were always going to deliver, with much-loved classics clad in evocative liveries.

But surely the green and black, Fabergé/Brut-branded ’74 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 is hard to beat.

Here it is powering into the fading night during Saturday’s 45-minute contest.

Alfa Romeo 3000 'Disco Volante'

The Italians are known for cars that make you go ‘ooooh’ and Christopher Mann’s 1953 Alfa Romeo 3000 ‘Disco Volante’ is no exception.

Originally meant to be a rival for the likes of the Mercedes-Benz 300SLR, this unique car took two decades of research and toil to bring back to life, and although it’s raced, at the back of its owner’s mind is always the fact that there are no spares…

Jaguar D-type

This car needs no introduction, but that doesn’t take anything away from the sheer wow factor of seeing a D-type – an Ecurie Ecosse D-type, no less – being driven in anger.

Martin Stretton was the lucky chap behind the wheel in the Peter Collins Trophy, a race which featured no fewer than five D-types. Oh, and three C-types. Awesome, indeed.

Fiat S76

Another car whose fame does nothing to diminish its impact is Duncan Pittaway’s 1911 ‘Beast of Turin’.

Choosing just one entrant in the SF Edge Trophy race for pre-1923 cars was tough: each and every classic taking part in it was astonishing, with drivers wrestling massive steering wheels and spectators able to see the engines working.

But belching flames and at some points seeming more like a steam train than a racing car, the Fiat S76 gets our nod.

Ford Thunderbird ‘Battlebird’

Making its Members’ Meeting debut this year, this 1957 one-of-two Battlebird was born from Ford’s desire to turn the Thunderbird into a car to take trophies from Corvette.

Its sister car, number 98, had a modified, Paxton supercharged, 312cu in Y-block engine but power for this car, 99, comes from a Lincoln 430cu in V8 that sits further back in the chassis to aid weight distribution.

While 98 shone in period tests, 99 suffered a less glorious fate – but Mustang man Bill Shepherd hopes to change that.

Ford Country Sedan

Maybe we’re being a bit cheeky here in picking a car that wasn’t racing at the Members’ Meeting, but when we saw this Country Sedan parked nonchalantly in the car park, we had to take a closer look.

Like the look of it? It’s for sale…

Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing

It’s one of those cars touted as being the world’s first supercar, depending on your definition of that term, but there is no doubt that Mercedes’ Gullwing has the x-factor in abundance – famous doors open or closed.

That one was raced to victory at Goodwood by 13-time F1 race-winner David Coulthard only adds to the appeal.

Porsche 917

Let’s return to the subject of our opening slide, the Porsche 917 – here in delicious Gulf livery.

The model celebrated its half century at the 77th Members’ Meeting with a sensational high-speed demonstration that wasn’t merely ‘special’, it was utterly awe-inspiring.

Fafnir Hall-Scott Special

Blending beauty – look at that ornate detailing up front – with power, Guy Lachlan took his 101-year old racer to 12th place in Sunday’s SF Edge Trophy.

But even when parked in the paddock it truly is something fabulous to behold.

BMW CSL and M1 Procar

Because we’re feeling generous, here are two doses of awesomeness for the price of one!

BMW’s incredible M1 Procars battered eardrums and sent vibrations through those trackside as they performed their high-speed demo.

Is this the only BMW that can put the amazing CSL in the shade?

Alvis Goodwin Special

This 1948 stunner is a recent returnee to racing, but we’re delighted it’s back because, well, just look at it.

Piloted by Alex Simpson of Earley Engineering Limited, this one-off hillclimber scored class wins and an international record at Shelsley Walsh in period, but spent around 30 years in storage prior to its recent revival.

2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS

We couldn’t omit the NASCAR demo, the racing series the word ‘awesome’ was probably coined to described (it wasn’t but, you get the gist).

Assaulting all the spectators’ senses with burnouts, doughnuts and the sheer noise of the engines, it was a high-speed demonstration like no other, and Warren Briggs’ Chevy Monte Carlo SS particularly caught our eye.