Jaguar scoops Hurlingham concours
By Graeme Hurst
A Jaguar XK140 beat off a Villa d’Este winner to take Best of Show at this year’s Concours D'Elegance London at the city’s Hurlingham Club.
The upmarket 27-29 July event was the inaugural replacement for the Hurlingham’s previous Louis Vuitton and Salon Privé fixtures - although the displays lacked the volume of cars and classes to which visitors were accustomed.
The manicured lawns did, however, host some quality variety, from a couple of Alfa 6Cs to an Iso Grifo, Jensen 541R and the 1955 Indianapolis 500 Mile pace car – with two McLaren F1s and a Ford GT40 on display in the clubhouse.
Star attraction was the amazing – if somewhat dominating – line-up of Jaguars with noted marque collector Dr James Hull supplying 15 of the 18 cats on display, including the show topping XK Roadster.
The 140 – a serial national concours circuit winner – beat off Gary Snell’s magnificent Touring-bodied Alfa 6C 2500, despite the Milanese beauty having scooped Salon Privé last month and Villa D’Este in 2006. Snell did, however, take home the award for best in the Pre 1956 class.
Steve Grimsley of Phoenix Restorations – which restored the140 for Dr Hull – was on hand to accept the Best of Show award. “It’s the icing on the cake for all the hard work,” remarked a delighted Grimsley.
Dr Hull’s cars included a 1974 Jaguar V12 Roadster – one of the 50 Commemorative editions in the in black with cinnamon trim. It was, ironically, up against one of Snell’s other entries: a Jaguar 4.2-litre Roadster (below).
One of three E-types Snell owns - all in correct, factory-supplied black – it racked up over 200,000 miles in Snell’s hands back in his native America before he had the car restored.
Hull also provided a couple of Bentley R-type Continentals – one fantastically patinated and another fully restored – while other 1950s highlights included another concours regular: Leonard Bolton’s superb, two-tone Jensen 541R (below).
“It was the 1959 Earls Court show car, finished in Dusk Rose over Primrose,” explained Bolton. “I bought it 30 years ago from its first owner, who bought the car off the show stand because his wife ‘liked the colour’.”
Also wowing the crowds were a couple of former CS&C cars: Hugh James’ Bizzarrini Strada GT and Marek Letowt’s Rolls-Royce Camargue, with the latter a highlight of the Pininfarina class – instigated by event organiser Michael Scott’s ambition to repay Sergio Pininfarina for the superb restoration on his Lancia Astura nearly 30 years ago.
The styling house-inspired class was won by a Ferrari Daytona, while the GT 40 topped the Le Mans class.
Next year's Concours d'Elegance London will be entirely dedicated to celebrating the work of Pininfarina.
More photographs follow below. Double click on the lead image to see a slide show of all the images.
Indianapolis 500 pace car was fresh from the Goodwood Festival of Speed Celebrations.
James Hulls' cars included a lovely Daimler SP250.
And a genuine Coombs Mk2.
...along with his Commemorative series V12 E-type.
...and Bentley R-type Continentals.
Lawn displays included a former C&SC feature car: Hugh James' Bizzarrini Strada GT.
The second of the show's two Alfa 6Cs
James Hulls' Jaguar SS Coupe was a previous Hurlingham winner.
Fantastic 1950s American display headed by '59 Caddy and Buick Electra.
Miura and Frazer-Nash BMW added to the event's diversity.
Indoor highlights included the famous Harrods-liveried McLaren F1.
Ferrari Daytona won Pininfarina class.
Aston Martin showed off its recent efforts at badge-engineering.
Hurlingham's tradition for elegance continued.
Event's posh theme extended to helicopter displays...
...and a replica (it's made of wood!) Supermarine Spitfire.
