The world’s best classic car park

Owners out in force as the Revival returns

This weekend (17-19 September) saw the Goodwood Revival return for 2021, a three-day celebration of the famous motor racing circuit’s heyday between 1948 and 1966.

Every year, one of the highlights is the pre-’66 car park, which is as vast as it is varied, with everything from Singer Gazelles to Aston Martins and absolutely everything in between.

Check out our highlights in this gallery.

1. Jaguar MkX

Jaguars always play a big part at the Goodwood Revival, and with this year celebrating 60 years of the E-type there’s a lot of those about.

However, the graceful elegance of the MkX is hard to ignore. Built for the American market but not a great success, these are rare machines these days.

2. Citroën DS Décopatable

The Citroën DS isn’t merely a car, it’s a design statement and an engineering marvel.

While it may be revered as an exquisite classic now, it can be hard to fathom that the DS was just a normal car. Well, perhaps not this – just 1365 Décapotable Cabriolet d'Usine models were built between 1958 and 1973.

3. Lotus Elan Sprint

This slightly shabby but clearly well-enjoyed Lotus Elan Sprint proves that not all classics need to be spotless to be cherished.

With 126bhp to play with and less than 700kg to move around, it’s easy to see why the owner has preferred to drive it than polish it.

4. Aston Martin DB2

With a strong straight-six engine and svelte Frank Feely-penned lines, the DB2 cut a dash on the streets and on the race tracks of the world.

By the time production wrapped up in 1953, 411 road cars had been made in coupé and drophead form. 

5. Maserati Quattroporte

The first Maserati Quattroporte wore stunning Pietro Frua lines, inspired by the one-off 5000GT designed for Karim Aga Khan.

First series models were powered by a 4.1-litre V8 with 260bhp; 230 examples were built between 1963 and 1966. Later examples upped the engine’s displacement to 4.7 litres for 286bhp.

6. Austin-Healey Sprite

Always a popular sight at the Goodwood Revival, the ‘Frogeye’ Sprite is more than just a four-wheeled smiley face.

It weighs very little and though it only has less than 50bhp, you can have fun making use of every single one of them, leaving you with a face just as cheerful as the one on the car you’re piloting.

7. Sunbeam Tiger

Fresh from his success with the AC Cobra, Carroll Shelby fancied another crack at the small V8 sports car formula.

The Sunbeam Alpine would provide the basis, and though Shelby didn’t get to build the car (Rootes got Jensen to do it), he was paid a royalty on every car sold. 

8. Bentley S2 and S3

This Bentley S2 and S3 pairing are just two of six the two friends who brought them to Goodwood own. Wow.

The S2 (left) made its debut in 1959, and was the first use of the L-series V8 engine that would power Bentleys for the next 61 years, on and off. The S3, introduced in 1962, improved interior space for front and rear passengers.

9. Austin-Healey 3000 Series 2

The Austin-Healey 3000 is one of the definitive British sports cars, with strong performance, divine looks and engaging handling.

The second series version provided much more comfort for its occupants – and stronger performance, too, thanks to switching to twin SU HS6 carburettors.

10. Austin Mini 850

This pretty Austin Mini dates from 1963 and used the smallest engine in the model range, the 848cc version of the A-series inline four-pot.

A pre-’64 car, this Mini misses out on the Hydrolastic suspension pioneered by Dr Alex Moulton. We bet it’s still great fun, though.

11. Mercury Park Lane

The Mercury Park Lane topped the marque’s product line – and in some style, as this 5.5-metre-long machine was true luxury living.

Powered by either a 6.7- or 7.0-litre V8, you could have your Park Lane in four-door hardtop, sedan or two-door coupe and convertible forms. 

12. Triumph Vitesse

Built between 1962 and 1971, the Triumph Vitesse is one of Giovanni Michelotti’s most beloved designs, which brought a taste of the fins and flair American style to a more manageable size for UK roads.

A straight-six engine in either 1596cc or 1998cc form would power the 51,212 built – and we are delighted this one was brought to the 2021 Goodwood Revival.

13. Pontiac Bonneville 428

The Pontiac Bonneville took a dramatic restyle for its 1965 model update, switching to a more muscular look. It certainly had the bite to match the bark – the 428 model seen here packs around 340bhp from its 7.0 litres.

The eagle-eyed will note that the change to the 7.0-litre engine occurred in 1967, but given its angry looks it’s best not to mess with it, eh?

14. Mercedes-Benz 300SL ‘Gullwing’

One of the most expensive cars in the car park has to be this Mercedes-Benz 300SL ‘Gullwing’.

Its 3.0-litre straight-six produces around 240bhp, giving the car truly an eye-popping turn of speed for its day: its 163mph top whack made it the fastest production car in the world at the time. 

15. Fiat Dino Spyder

We have motorsport to thank for the Fiat Dino. Enzo Ferrari needed to homologate a V6 engine for Formula Two competition, but Ferrari didn’t have the capacity to build the number of cars needed to fulfil the rules.

Enzo approached Fiat, who ended up splitting the design of the Spyder and Coupé between Pininfarina and Bertone.

16. Alfa Romeo GT Junior

The Alfa Romeo GT Junior would become one of the firm’s most lauded racing machines in touring car racing, but the road cars are some of the most engaging classics to drive, blending dynamic handling and zesty performance from its high revving four-cylinder.

Add in glorious Giorgetto Giugiaro styling and it’s easy to see why these cars are so loved.

17. Porsche 356 Speedster

The Porsche 356 Speedster’s purity of line has made it a design motif that’s transcended decades and model ranges – the 911 has carried on the tradition.

It was phenomenally popular in Southern California – and it translates to Southern England, too, doesn’t it?

18. Peerless GT

One of the more obscure cars we found in the Revival car park was this Peerless GT.

Using Triumph TR3 mechanicals, this glassfibre-bodied sports coupé offered good performance for its time, and even competed at Le Mans in 1958. Just 325 are believed to have been built. 

19. Ferrari 330GTC

This stunning Ferrari 330GTC just about qualifies for pre-’66 parking – it was introduced at the 1966 Paris Motor Show.

Around 600 of these Pininfarina-penned 2+2s were built over two years. All were powered by a 300bhp, 4.0-litre Colombo V12. 

20. Jaguar E-types

With 2021 being the 60th anniversary of the Jaguar E-type and the Goodwood Revival, like many other classic car events, celebrating this much-loved model, we weren’t surprised to stumble across this patriotically colourful cluster in the car park.

It’s like it was planned…

21. Honda S800 Coupé

We love the little Honda S800 Coupé, which was built in roadster and coupé form, from 1966-’70.

Powered by a double-overhead cam 791cc ‘four’ that gives a mighty 70bhp, we bet in a car this small and light, it feels pretty rapid. And it is super cute.