19 star cars at London Concours 2024

Classics in the capital

London Concours returned to the Honourable Artillery Company in central London from 4-6 June 2024.

There were coachbuilt rarities, one-off oddballs, historic racers and much more.

Presented in no particular order, here are 19 classic cars that caught our attention.

1. 1961 Sunbeam Harrington Le Mans

Coachbuilder Harrington & Sons celebrated Le Mans success with this Alpine Series II-based sports car.

Unlike later Le Mans models, this early example features an egg-crate grille and round headlamps – it was also in our August 2023 magazine.

2. 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400

This supercar belonged to Thomas Cook, founder of the eponymous travel company, who fell in love with the Lamborghini Miura after seeing the 1967 London Motor Show car, finished in Royal Blue.

He loved it so much that he decided to buy one.

Little did he know, the car he got, painted Rosso Miura, was the same one that was used at the Earls Court show – Lamborghini simply repainted and retrimmed the car to match his specification.

3. 1957 Chevrolet Corvette C1 ‘Fuelie’

London Concours’ colourful display of Chevrolet Corvettes, presented in partnership with Classic & Sports Car and the Classic Corvette Club UK, welcomed eight generations of the American sports car to the Honourable Artillery Company.

This 1957 ‘Fuelie’ was the earliest car in the 10-strong line-up, which also featured in our November 2023 issue.

It has a 283bhp fuel-injected engine and a four-speed gearbox.

4. 1972 The Beast

Don’t worry if you’re a little confused. This wacky creation is a curious one-off created by a man called John Dodd.

In 1977, Guinness World Records declared that The Beast was the world’s most powerful car.

The Rolls-Royce grille? That’s a nod to the 27-litre Merlin engine under the bonnet.

5. 1967 Ford Escort

This Alan Mann-prepared Ford Escort was campaigned by Roger Clark, Jackie Oliver and Graham Hill.

Fresh from an 11-year restoration, this classic Ford retains its original bodyshell, suspension, wheels and more.

6. 2006 Porsche Carrera GT

A ditched Formula One engine project and an axed Le Mans racer led to the genesis of the Porsche Carrera GT road car.

The V10-engined supercar packs 604bhp, a six-speed manual gearbox and a 200mph top speed.

7. 1964 Aston Martin DB5

Finished in Roman Purple, this patinated Aston Martin DB5 is a well-used classic car that has racked up 18,000 miles since 2020, when it was restored.

The paint was left as it was, stone chips and all, so that the owner wouldn’t be afraid to use it everyday.

And you might recognise this car from the May 2023 issue of Classic & Sports Car.

8. 1993 Alfa Romeo RZ

Cousin to the boxy SZ coupé, the Alfa Romeo RZ is a one-of-278, Zagato-designed drop-top.

Despite its controversial looks, most can agree that the theatrical 3-litre Busso V6 engine is a highlight.

9. 1979 Ferrari 512BB

A refresh of the 188mph Ferrari 365GT4 BB, the 512BB upped the ante with a 5-litre version of the flat-12 engine.

This restored example was used as a demonstrator by Maranello Concessionaires and is finished in Azzurro Metallizzato.

10. 2007 Scamander

Peter Wheeler, the former boss of TVR, created this go-anywhere vehicle in 2007.

And it really can go anywhere: on Tarmac, across moorlands – it can even traverse water.

The three-seat amphibious vehicle has recently been revived after it was laid up for 12 years.

11. 1970 Dodge Charger 440 R/T SE 500 Magnum

Let’s break down this muscle car’s long-winded name.

‘440’ describes the engine capacity, ‘R/T’ or ‘Road/Track’ indicates this is a high-performance variant, ‘SE’ is the luxurious trim level, and ‘Magnum’ is the name of the V8 under the bonnet. 

This end-of-the-line Charger also has electric headlamp covers.

12. 1970 Ferrari 365GTC

Apparently George Harrison was to blame for Eric Clapton’s obsession with Ferraris, after The Beatles star showed up at his house in a dark-blue 365GTC.

Inspired, Eric learnt to drive and bought this Prancing Horse in 1970.

He sold it in 1983, but he’s since owned a Ferrari Enzo, a 250GT Lusso and a 612 Scaglietti.

13. 1958 Abarth 750 Zagato DB

Abarth’s 750cc pocket rocket was a lightweight sports car that could embarrass much larger and more powerful machinery.

Clearly, this appealed to Hollywood producer John D Sheets, who bought this car in 1958.

The current owner had it restored after purchasing it in 2018.

14. 1973 Lotus Elan Sprint

Lotus tweaked the already superb Elan to create the 126bhp Sprint.

A stronger differential, larger valves and, from 1973, a five-speed gearbox, created a sports car that was fun on the road but could also hold its own at circuits and hillclimbs.

Modifications to this car, owned by journalist Harry Metcalfe, include a close-ratio gearbox and uprated front disc brakes.
 

15. 1958 Mercedes-Benz 220S Ponton Cabriolet

Silky smooth 2195cc ‘six’, unitary construction and open-top luxury.

The convertible Mercedes-Benz 220S was used to boost the 220 saloon’s arguably drab image in the late 1950s.

This 100,000-mile car was restored to its glitzy best in 2020.

16. 1969 Maserati Ghibli Spyder

The Maserati Ghibli is surely one of Giorgetto Giugiaro’s greatest hits, and that’s no mean feat when he also penned the BMW M1, De Tomaso Mangusta and Iso Grifo.

This three-owner Spyder is one of just 125 drop-tops built.

17. 1961 Jaguar E-type Series 1 3.8

What’s a Jaguar E-type doing in a line-up of McLarens?

Well, this 3.8-litre model was owned by Bruce McLaren.

It was part of the first batch of 18 ‘priority’ cars and was pictured in the paddock at the 1961 Tourist Trophy race at Goodwood.

18. 1960 Bristol 406 Zagato

The one-of-six Bristol 406 Zagato is a coachbuilt, lightweight version of the marque’s last six-cylinder model.

This car was displayed at the Earls Court Motor Show in 1960.

19. 2001 Ferrari 550GTZ Barchetta

The only right-hand-drive Ferrari 550GTZ Barchetta was one of the stars at London Concours 2024.

This Zagato-built, V12-powered Prancing Horse was inspired by the Ferrari 250GT Berlinetta.