Prince Charles’ Aston Martin to star at Concours of Elegance

By Ryan Standen

| 5 Aug 2022

Classic & Sports Car - Aston Martin celebration at Concours of Elegance

Next month’s Concours of Elegance will play host to a display of significant Aston Martins in honour of the iconic British marque.

In all, almost 1000 vehicles will be exhibited over the weekend, as the event returns to Hampton Court Palace for its 10th anniversary on 2-4 September, including 70 contenders for the Best of Show award.

Alongside some of Newport Pagnell’s finest, other confirmed displays include a selection of pre-war classic cars and a 75 years of Ferrari celebration.

Prince Charles’ Aston Martin DB6 Volante is heading to Hampton Court Palace in September

The Prince of Wales’ cherished Aston Martin DB6 Volante will grace the palace grounds as it competes in the weekend’s concours.

The model made its debut at the London Motor Show in 1966 with a six-cylinder engine designed by Tadek Marek.

However, this car famously has been converted to run on an alternative fuel – this combines waste-derived bio-ethanol blended with 15% unleaded petrol produced by Green Fuels, the conversion completed by marque specialist RS Williams.

The Prince’s Seychelles Blue DB6 Volante has enjoyed some symbolic outings over the past 50 years, including whisking away the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge after their wedding in 2011.

The V8-powered Aston Martin DB5 was used as a test bed for the 5.3-litre engine

Joining Prince Charles’ treasured DB6 Volante at Hampton Court Palace will be a unique V8-powered Aston Martin DB5.

This Frankenstein car was developed as a test bed for the marque’s then-new 5.3-litre V8, by blending a DB6 chassis with a heavily reworked body from a DB5.

The car endured three years of extensive testing before its well-earned retirement from 1969.

The engine was eventually used for the 1969 Aston Martin DBS V8

Also in attendance will be a DB4GT Zagato raced at Le Mans in 1962 and ’63.

Chassis number 1093/R sports a series of aerodynamic upgrades from its most recent outing at La Sarthe.

The aluminium-bodied Zagato is finished in striking French Racing Blue and was recently restored by an Aston Martin specialist, so will surely turn heads at Hampton Court Palace.

The Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato heading to Concours of Elegance has two Le Mans outings under its belt

Included in the 70 concours competitors will be a standard-bodied Aston Martin DB4, a Snow Shadow Grey car that’s one of 349 Series 2 models.

Original owner Syd Greene, who was left with one arm after an accident when he was 16, regularly used his straight-six-powered DB4 to compete in races throughout Europe.

The car was restored in 1990 and upgraded to Vantage specification.

The Aston Martin DB4 is one of 349 Series 2 models produced

There will also be a 1930 Aston Martin International at Concours of Elegance, representing an important moment from the company’s history.

Engineers Augustus Bertelli and Bill Renwick decided to use the brand to showcase their new four-cylinder engine.

The car made its debut at the 1929 London Motor Show, the 1½-litre engine and striking looks making it a popular – and expensive – performance car for the marque.

The car that will be on display next month is finished with a James Young Drophead Coupé body.

Nearly 1000 vehicles will be on display during Concours of Elegance on 2-4 September

“We are delighted to announce that such a spectacular range of Aston Martins will star at our show – now just a month away,” said James Brooks-Ward, Concours of Elegance CEO.

“The display will gather the rarest, most significant cars to have worn the famed winged badge, charting the history of this most charming British marque.”

Concours of Elegance is on 2-4 September 2022 and tickets are available now – and as a Classic & Sports Car reader, you can enjoy our exclusive 2-for-1 ticket offer.

Rare Ferrari, Aston Martin and Cord coming to Concours of Elegance

20 highlights from London Concours 2022