Quintet of iconic Aston Martins confirmed for Concours of Elegance

By Lizzie Pope

| 15 Jul 2019

Classic & Sports Car – Quintet of iconic Aston Martins confirmed for Concours of Elegance

Five famous Aston Martins are set to wow visitors at this summer’s Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace on 6-8 September.

The DB2/4 MkII pictured above is one of them – and, despite appearances, it’s a rally star!

It was bought new in June 1956 by Count Charles de Salis who, the following month, teamed up with Captain Gregor MacGregor to campaign this car on the International Alpine Rally, achieving a second in class finish and scooping the ‘Coupe des Alpes’.

And don’t forget that as a C&SC reader you can buy discounted tickets to the Concours of Elegance and, if you bring your pre-1979 classic car, you can enjoy access to our exclusive car park – find out more.

(l-r) Le Mans racer; X-Pack prototype

The oldest of these five rare Aston Martins coming to the capital in September is ‘LM9’, the Aston Martin Le Mans Lightweight built for the 1932 Le Mans 24 Hours, together with sister car ‘LM10’.

While it didn’t achieve the hoped-for success that year, it returned in 1933 and with drivers Pat Driscoll and Clifton Penn Hughes came fifth overall, first in class.

And 53 years its junior, it will be joined by a V8 Vantage with a difference, despite first leaving the factory as a standard model.

This Kensington Silver car returned to Aston Martin Works where it gained new high compression Cosworth pistons, a larger intake manifold, new Weber carburettors, redesigned cylinder heads and more, this development kick-starting the X-Pack story.

DB5 pair will be a draw at the Concours of Elegance.

Completing this line-up will be a pair of DB5s, a saloon and a drop-top – and the former on show at Hampton Court Palace this September was the first car fully restored by the factory, therefore it’s the first car to bear the Aston Martin Works Coachbuilders badge.

These five will also be joined by what is claimed to be a world-first display featuring one of every Aston Martin Zagato variant built, in honour of Zagato’s centenary.

“For fans of the Aston Martin brand, Concours of Elegance 2019 is an absolutely unmissable event,” said Andrew Evans, Concours of Elegance Director.

“Add to that an official presence from Aston Martin itself, alongside car club displays from the Aston Martin Owners Club, and visitors will have nearly a hundred Aston Martins to admire”.

The event’s club displays will be in association with Classic & Sports Car and, together with Prince Michael of Kent, we will be judging the prestigious Club Trophy.

So if you’d like to be there, use our ticket discount code and our exclusive reader-only car park, just click here.

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