20 reasons to not miss London Concours

Capital entertainment

The London Concours is about to return to the heart of the British capital, taking over the Honourable Artillery Company on 8-10 June 2021.

It might be one of the year’s most compact classic car shows, nestled in its green oasis within the bustling city, but it is one of the most impressive, too.

Don’t believe us? We’ve hand-picked 20 cars, in no particular order, that we’re excited to see – and they’re just the icing on the cake.

Inspired? If you hurry, you can still get tickets, not forgetting C&SC’s exclusive 2-for-1 offer.

1. 1961 AC Ace

Let’s start with one of our own, shall we? Yes, you might recognise this charming AC Ace because it belongs to C&SC’s very own Simon Taylor.

A very long-term member of his enviable stable, it is a much-driven and much-loved car, so much so that after selling it, he then tracked it down and bought it back.

1961 AC Ace (cont.)

At the London Concours, this little Ace will be flying the flag for AC in the Lost Marques class.

Other brands featured include Austin-Healey, Triumph and Unipower, and a few others you’ll discover as you continue through this slideshow!

2. 1926 Packard 426 Boat-tail

And here’s another of the Lost Marques classics right away, this dashingly styled Packard.

Believe it or not, this is a homebuilt special. Well, you will believe it when we tell you that this skiff-bodied two-seat stunner is the work of a man who builds wooden boats for a living.

1926 Packard 426 Boat-tail (cont.)

The design was based on a fire-damaged Packard 426 that its owner decided to resurrect in distinctive style, designing it by eye by crafting a mock-up onto the finished chassis to achieve the perfect shape.

Featuring mahogany, oak, teak and sycamore, finished with layer upon layer of traditional yacht varnish, there truly is nothing else like it – and you can see it for yourself at the London Concours 2021.

3. 1968 Iso Grifo GL365

This handsome Iso isn’t in the Lost Marques class – although it could be – instead it sits alongside some also very attractive fare from its homeland in the Italian Berlinettas class.

Styled by none other than Giorgetto Giugiaro at Bertone and with a throbbing US powerplant, this sleek grand tourer certainly ticks a lot of boxes.

1968 Iso Grifo GL365 (cont.)

This ’68 example was exported to the US early in its life, before heading to Canada, then back across the Atlantic to Europe in the mid-’90s.

Comprehensively restored between 2004 and 2008, this is one of those rarely seen models, so be sure to track it down.

4. 1968 Lamborghini 400GT 2+2

We said the Italian Berlinettas class was chock-full of beauties, so here’s another – and another model that certainly doesn’t pop up at every classic car show.

The successor to the 350GT, the marque’s debut, Touring bodied and V12 powered, fewer than 250 400GTs were built, and this is one of just nine right-hand drive examples.

1968 Lamborghini 400GT 2+2 (cont.)

Perhaps unsurprisingly, then, we are told that this ’68 car now resides in a dehumidified and air-conditioned private collection.

It’s receiving the care it so deserves, but we hope the V12 is allowed to roar just sometimes and the car given the opportunity to stretch its legs – what a prospect.

5. 1961 Jaguar E-type

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that 2021 is the Jaguar E-type’s 60th anniversary and no self-respecting classic car show is failing to celebrate that milestone this year.

The London Concours has pulled together an enviable selection to create a model-specific class, spanning the E-type’s production and competition lives, and of the two we’ve picked, we’ll start with this very special, very early example.

1961 Jaguar E-type (cont.)

Here we have chassis number 860001, with the numberplate ‘1 VHP’, which has the distinction of being the first right-hand drive coupé built and the only surviving number one chassis car.

As if that wasn’t enough, it is one of four ‘outside bonnet lock’ E-type coupés and was dispatched to Henlys in London when new to serve as a demonstrator.

More recently, in 2015 it was used to recreate the model’s famous 1961 150mph run, managing just 3mph shy of that target on a German autobahn.

6. 1961 Jaguar E-type Lightweight – the Lindner-Nocker Low-Drag

On to a very different E-type with this, the sole factory Low-Drag Lightweight.

In all, 12 Lightweights were built, but only this car received this Malcolm Sayer-penned, super-aerodynamic bodywork crafted for Le Mans.

1961 Jaguar E-type Lightweight – the Lindner-Nocker Low-Drag (cont.)

Once upon a time this car was thought lost, after being involved in a horrific accident at Montlhéry that killed its driver, Peter Lindner, and three marshals, and left the car a mangled heap that many thought could not be restored.

However the talented team at Classic Motor Cars in Shropshire undertook a 7000-hour restoration, completed in 2011, and it is well worth a closer look at the London Concours.

7. 1959 Chevrolet El Camino

While this is a rundown of cars not to miss at this month’s London Concours, this is probably one you won’t be able to miss.

Sat alongside similarly eye-catchingly styled classics in the Kustom class, this sedan pick-up body was a factory model but, as is clear to see, this example has received the full custom treatment.

1959 Chevrolet El Camino (cont.)

This ’59 Chevvy’s owner bought it nine years ago as a never-finished project and has since transformed it with his son.

From its striking scallop paintjob and air suspension to its side-mounted exhaust pipes, Appleton spotlights, and shaved bonnet and doorhandles, not forgetting the 350cu in V8 that now has 412bhp, this labour of love has come a long, long way.

8. 1965 Porsche 911 targa

Porsche is one of two marques honoured with a class of its own at the London Concours 2021 and of the strong, Swabian line-up, there’s a good reason this car has made our list.

This is the very first of its kind, the first 911 targa produced, which means it has a few unique features: note the removable rear window, for starters.

1965 Porsche 911 targa (cont.)

Also look out for the wheel-centre crest on the rollbar and the wooden dashboard.

It was sold as a restoration project in 2001 and is scheduled to be restored again very soon, so this might be your last chance to see it for a while.

9. 1981 Porsche 924 Carrera GT

Also starring in the ‘Great Marques: Porsche’ class is this one-of-400 homologation special, the ultimate iteration of the model, based on the 924 turbo, and this was the first right-hand-drive chassis in the UK.

The Porsche 924 Carrera GT was finished in red, as here, black or silver, and of those 400 just 75 RHD examples were made for the British market. Rather unsurprisingly, all were pre-sold.

1981 Porsche 924 Carrera GT (cont.)

This now 40-year-old car has done just 41,000 miles and heads to the London Concours in original and unrestored condition.

And that scoop on the bonnet? To help up the four-pot to 207bhp, an intercooler was mounted on top of the engine, fed by that scoop.

10. 1982 Lotus Elite Riviera

The other brand with a class of its own at London Concours 2021 is Lotus – and if you think you recognise this unique Elite Riviera, that could be because it featured in the January 2010 issue of Classic & Sports Car!

That isn’t the only reason why it makes this list. This is also one of just seven Rivieras built by the Lotus factory and the only black one.

1982 Lotus Elite Riviera (cont.)

Inside, it has been retrimmed in a deep champagne after the original upholstery suffered with a previous owner.

Its present keeper, who has owned it since 2005, ensures that this once often-overlooked classic is now carefully preserved.

11. 1957 Lotus Eleven LM150

Another of the 10 Lotus cars gracing the manicured lawn of the Honourable Artillery Company on 8-10 June is this successful sports-racer.

This example was a works Team Lotus entry, campaigned in 1957 at Reims and Rouen by the American Herbert Mackay-Fraser. Sadly, he became the first Lotus works driver to die in competition.

1957 Lotus Eleven LM150 (cont.)

Carroll Shelby Sports Cars later took ownership and it was raced in the US before returning to the UK in the ’70s.

It was restored in 2006 and in 2017 took victory in the Goodwood Revival’s Madgwick Cup, just one of its many outings in historic races.

12. 1996 BMW 850CSi

Just 160 BMW 850CSis were right-hand drive and this is the 149th, and the last of the 21 finished in Oxford Green.

Discreet yet with a tuned V12 under the bonnet, there’s serious might here to back up those sharp looks.

1996 BMW 850CSi (cont.)

Unique wheels, a tuned chassis and uprated brakes were among the other tweaks made to this BMW Motorsport-developed gem.

And this month this car will line-up in the Young Timers class at the London Concours.

13. 1985 Audi Sport quattro

The second homologation special to make our list probably needs no introduction.

The car heading to the London Concours is one of the circa 20 – of around 200 – Sport quattros built by Audi at Ingolstadt that came to the UK.

1985 Audi Sport quattro (cont.)

They’re easy to spot thanks to the smaller headlamps, shorter body and wider track than the standard model.

And among the 10 cars in this Young Timer class – all of which are from German manufacturers – this Audi will definitely stand out, because most of the others are finished in far more demure hues.

14. 1991 Ferrari F40

Another very recognisable automotive shape is that of the Ferrari F40 and this car will be showcased in the ‘200mph Club’ class at this month’s London Concours.

This is not its first concours, either, it comes with pedigree, having previously scored a very rare 100 per cent from the judges at 2019’s Ferrari Owners’ Club concours.

1991 Ferrari F40 (cont.)

Well, this example has covered a mere 2700 miles in its three decades.

Plus, it comes with a set of fitted tan luggage and an F40 watch. Will it scoop a class win on the grass of the Honourable Artillery Company?

15. 1990 Lister Le Mans

The F40 will have to beat this rarity to class honours.

Based on the Jaguar XJ-S, with the standard 5.3-litre V12 taken to 6.0 litres and a raft of other modifications, the Lister Le Mans has 482bhp – and thankfully the suspension and brake upgrades to match.

1990 Lister Le Mans (cont.)

As you can see, the work didn’t stop there, a bodykit and fresh alloys on the outside and a leather Recaro interior completing the picture – which back in 1988 would have set you back a not insignificant £88,000.

Coming to the London Concours is one of 19 coupés made. Completely original, it has done 3800 miles from new.

16. 1948 Bristol 400

Let’s return, briefly, to the Lost Marques class, because we can’t resist this Bristol 400.

Around 440 were built, with approximately 130 still on the road today, so we think this is one car you have to check out if you’re at the London Concours.

1948 Bristol 400 (cont.)

This example comes from the middle of production and is the only Bristol 400 with wind-down door windows.

It has had 14 owners and has stretched its legs on events including the 2018 Mille Miglia, the Ennstal Classic in Austria and the Leggenda di Bassano in Italy.

17. 1991 Jaguar XJR-15

Each car in the ‘Iconic British Designs’ class pays tribute to a different automotive designer – so in the case of this Jaguar XJR-15, it is Peter Stevens.

Charles Spencer King (Range Rover), Gordon Murray (Light Car Company Rocket) and Malcolm Sayer (Jaguar E-type Series 1 fhc) are among the others being celebrated.

1991 Jaguar XJR-15 (cont.)

The XJR-15 was born out of a collaboration between Jaguar and Tom Walkinshaw Racing, and mechanically it was based on the Le Mans-winning XJR-9, but Stevens’ bodywork aimed to outdo the McLaren F1 in the style stakes.

The model was the world’s first road car made entirely from carbonfibre and 53 were built.

18. 1975 Porsche 911 turbo

New for the 2021 edition of the London Concours is a day dedicated to supercars, on Thursday 10 June, during which the event’s 100 core stars will be joined by 60 great supercars, curated by the Drivers Union.

While the bulk of these are modern cars – we’re talking the Aston Martin V12 Vantage S Spitfire Edition, McLaren 765LT, Ferrari F8 Tributo and the like – there are some classics…

1975 Porsche 911 turbo (cont.)

Such as this! The iconic Porsche 911 930 turbo will join the ranks at the London Concours for one day only as part of this special display.

With its striking burnt orange finish and those oh-so-famous wheels, it is another car you won’t just not want to miss, it will be very hard to!

19. 1999 Alpina B12 6.0

There’s just one more car from the ‘Young Timers’ class we wanted to share, the E38 7 Series-based Alpina B12 6.0.

And not just because it is finished in this fantastic BMW Twilight Purple metallic, although that is a pretty good reason…

1999 Alpina B12 6.0 (cont.)

This example has the later 6.0-litre, 424bhp engine with Mahle aluminium pistons and modified camshafts – when new, this was the biggest and most powerful naturally aspirated engine made by the manufacturer.

In all, 94 Alpina B12 6.0s were built and this UK-spec example is a rarity.

20. 1960 Austin Mini

Last, but by no means least, it’s the Mini. Well, we couldn’t not include one of the classic vehicles best associated with the British capital, could we?

Honouring Sir Alec Issigonis, of course, in the ‘Iconic British Designs’ class will be what is believed to be the lowest-mile, unrestored early Mini which has just 2900 miles on the clock.

Six years being lightly used by an old lady followed by 39 years in a family collection has helped it maintain its original condition and, finally, at the London Concours on 8-10 June 2021, it will have its time to shine.