Our favourites from a dazzling Goodwood Breakfast Club

Classics to the horizon

If yesterday’s (4 August) Classic Car Sunday wasn’t the biggest Goodwood Breakfast Club yet, it can’t have been far off.

Stretching along the pit straight and right round the first corner, there were classic cars as far as the eye could see – and that’s before you explored the packed paddocks, too.

With such a smorgasbord of delights, picking our favourites was no easy task, but we’ve tried anyway! 

Here, then are a selection of eye-catching classics from the event, many of which have stories to tell. 

1929 Vauxhall Hurlingham

It’s not hard to see why this car that’s hurtling towards its centenary in fine style was attracting so much attention.

According to its owner, it once nearly became a hot rod – we’re pleased to say it didn’t! 

Instead, it was saved from this fate in 1966 and taken from a ‘near scrap’ condition thanks to a painstaking restoration.

This Vauxhall has lived most of its days in South Africa and returned to the UK in 2013.

1968 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Coupé

We couldn’t resist this perfect profile. But this is no ordinary 280SE 3.5 Coupé, if such a thing exists.

It’s a pre-production car and, according to its owner, it was ordered by the Experimental Department and is ‘possibly the only right-hand-drive pre-production example in the world’.

1973 Alpine A110 V85

This was one of three Alpines we spotted – and none of them were in the blue hue so associated with the model.

In the case of this car, its jaune-vanille paint is the shade it wore when it left the factory; it was imported from the Continent by its current owners in 1996.

Unmodified and largely original, it looked a charming example.

1950 Aston Martin DB1

There was no way we could leave this one out. 

A mere 12 examples of the DB1 – at the time known as the 2-Litre Sports – were initially built before the DB2’s launch in 1950.

When the DB2 arrived, though, it was a hardtop – and with customers wanting to feel the wind in their hair, chassis numbers 13, 14 and 15 of the DB1 were produced to special order

This is number 13, and it’s believed to be one of only nine left of the 15 created.

1972 T-Bucket

This car was never short of attention and, unsurprisingly, the first words to cross most people’s lips on seeing it were, “what is it?”

Not that saying it’s a T-Bucket would help most… It’s a hot rod based on a Model T Ford but massively modified, in some cases using components made to look like those on a Model T.

And this customisation is nothing new – it’s been happening since the ’30s.

1961 Facel Vega HK500

Visitors could perhaps have been forgiven for missing this classic, tucked away at the back of the paddock – but we’re glad we didn’t.

When new, it went to the west coast of America and its first owner was one Douglas Behrend. He was the husband of Aida Grey, who was a big name in skincare – her clients included such Hollywood glitterati as Marlene Dietrich, Jane Fonda and Cary Grant, as well as European royalty.

1971 Ford Capri

This Mk1 1600GT was rescued from a Carmarthen barn in January 2012 by its current owner.

After much work, he returned it to the road in 2015 and it’s since become a frequent sight at car shows, where it’s been lucky enough to pick up some awards, too.

And if you’re going to the NEC Classic Motor Show this November, you’ll see it on the Capri Club International stand.

1934 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Cabriolet

Incredibly, for the first 72 years of its life, this regal Rolls-Royce was owned by the Oakes family of Skipness Castle on the west coast of Scotland.

Less surprising, perhaps, is that it served as a family wedding car on occasion.

1967 AC 289 Sports

This handsome sports car has the distinction of being one of just 27 AC 289 Sports, of which 25 were completed by the manufacturer.

It is also one of a mere 17 RHD examples built and has been enjoyed by several owners over the years, with its current custodian having owned it since December 2015.

1965 Wolseley 1100

We’re sure this Wolseley brought back memories for many Goodwood Breakfast Club visitors.

Its first owner was a 69-year-old lady who kept the car for 16 years and 25,000 miles – and she enjoyed more miles with it than anyone since.

Today, in the hands of just its fifth owner, the odometer has only 33,000 miles on the clock and, other than its two new sills, it’s believed to be totally original.

1960 Lotus Elite S2

Dwarfed by the cars around it, this lovely Lotus was raced in the UK, Ireland and across Europe by Sid Taylor and Edward Greenall between 1961 and 1963, including at the ’61 Goodwood Tourist Trophy.

Life wasn’t always this good, though. Its present owner bought it in bits in 1975, and although its first restoration was complete by ’79, the project is ongoing: it had an engine rebuild last year and its suspension is being worked on at present.

It’s also now its original colour, having been green for many decades.

1951 Jowett Jupiter

When did you last see a Jowett Jupiter? Having said that, many will have recently seen this beauty, because earlier this year it covered 2000 miles in seven days – sometimes doing 375 miles a day.

Happily, this aluminium-bodied car with its 1.5-litre engine completed the trip without incident.

1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Four Door Sedan

In Indian Ivory over Larkspur Blue, this V8-engined Chevvy wasn’t hard to find at Goodwood yesterday.

It’s one of 499 cars built at GM’s Kansas factory on 7 November 1956 and spent its first 25 years in Texas; it came to the UK in 1992.

1935 Lanchester 12/6 Sports Saloon

Wearing elegant Mulliner coachwork, you’d struggle to find a car more different from that bright Chevy!

This elegant pre-war classic still drew the crowds, though, and with good reason – it was owned for two decades by the granddaughter of Frank Lanchester, one of the marque’s founders.

1975 Porsche 914

It’s not hard to see how this caught our eye.

Finished in Berber Yellow – a shade used on the model for just one year – it’s been enjoyed on road trips across the UK and Europe. Like the look of it? It’s for sale.

1969 Jaguar 240

Last, but certainly not least, here’s ‘Tigger’, as this Jaguar is affectionately known.

The car has been with its current custodians since 1999, after they bought it from the first owners, with whom they were friends.

Presented in original condition and having covered just 45,000 miles, it’s a lovely example.