Once again the Fountain Gardens at Hampton Court Palace played host to 60 of the world’s rarest cars for the 2018 Concours of Elegance. Flanking these gems was a host of other motoring exotica fielded by the Aston Martin, Jaguar and Bentley owners clubs.
Invited entries came from the very earliest days of motoring including a 1903 Panhard et Levassor and a Isotta Fraschini of 1909 vintage to modern super classics such as the 2018 Ferrari GTC4 Lusso “Tailor Made” gracing the lawn. Racers were not ignored with a 1998 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR LM in company with a 1924 Alfa Romeo RL Tara Florio and the last Ferrari 500 TRC to be produced.
Aston owners produced a world first with nine different variations of the Aston Martin DB4 assembled together, including the Giugiaro-designed Bertone Jet and a GT Zagato.
Simon Kidston’s 1925 Bugatti Type 35 misbehaved on the display ramp during Friday’s parade and refused to start. As most onlookers were jealous of journalist Steve Wakefield getting the riding mechanics seat he was blamed for not achieving sufficient fuel pressure. Sure enough after a little more elbow grease by said journo the type 35 was up and away.
The Pullman Trophy for Best in Show is voted by the owners of the cars themselves and this year went to Pebble Beach victor the 1927 Mercedes-Benz S-Type Barker “Boat Tail.” Resplendent with its huge chrome exhausts the car is reputed to have been one of the most powerful road-going automobiles in the world, in period.
Royal patronage and palaces is in the DNA of the Concourse of Elegance and patron His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent was on hand to display an Aston Martin BD5 Volante Convertible as well as casting a expert eye on all the entries.
One again the splendid setting of a Royal Palace provided the perfect backdrop for the priceless collection of rare cars assembled for the Concours.
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