The 2013 St. James’s Concours of Elegance was staged 5-7 September on the Royal lawns of St James’s in Central London. The entry list of sixty important cars were displayed in the gardens of the 300 year-old Royal Palace Marlborough House, adjacent to St. James’s Palace, the official residence of the Sovereign. Over 6000 visitors attended the Concours with thousands more lining The Mall to watch the ‘Grand Depart’ on the closing day.
With over 20 cars from the UK, 16 from Europe, 13 from the United States and the rest from as far afield as Argentina, Mexico and Russia, many of the cars at this year’s event had never before been seen in public
Among the featured entries on display at St. James’s included the 1928 Bugatti Type 35B, winner of the first Monaco Grand Prix in 1929; 1969 Porsche 917K 023, winner of the 1970 24-Hours of Le Mans; Le Mans-winning 1995 McLaren F1 GTR; 1954 Ferrari 375 MM by Carrozzeria Scaglietti that was commissioned by film director Robert Rosselllini; 1936 Mercedes-Benz 500K Erdmann and Rossi Streamline Roadster; 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO/64; 1958 Maserati Tipo 420 M 58 Eldorado; 1923 Delage Type DH V12; 1933 Napier-Railton 24 litre Special and 1937 Delahaye 135M Figoni et Falaschi Torpedo Cabriolet.
Clive Beecham, owner of the 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spider, commented, “I had a thoroughly enjoyable time and loved being able to talk cars for three days … the opportunity to drive down The Mall is something that will long live in my memory. The spectacle Thorough Events puts on is such a privilege for those of us fortunate enough to be invited.”
His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent served as Patron of the Concours of Elegance. As President of The Royal Automobile Club and Patron of Benjafields Racing Club, Prince Michael is a ‘hands on’ motoring enthusiast that officially opened the Concours and attended the event and met with the owners and their guests.
As its name suggests, a traditional Concours would normally include a judging panel picking apart each entry and selecting a ‘winning’ car. Not so at the St. James’s Concours of Elegance whose organisers maintain that if a car had been invited to London, it was already a winner. That said, the owners of the sixty Concours cars were asked to vote for the car they would ‘Most Like To Drive Home In’ and thereby a ‘Best In Show’ is selected. Best of Show at the 2013 St. James’s Concours of Elegance was awarded to the 1930 Bentley Speed-Six Gurney Nutting Sportsman Coupe owned by Bruce McCaw.
Commissioned by South African diamond heir Woolf Barnato (1895-1948), one of the finest drivers among the ‘Bentley Boys’ and three time Le Mans winner, the Speed Six is the model considered by many to be the peak of Bentley perfection: a driver’s car with superb handling, speed and reliability, and looks that perfectly expressed the gentleman sportsman.
McCaw added, “Receiving the Best of Show Award was beyond my wildest expectations. The Bentley “Blue Train” Speed Six Gurney Nutting Coupé is indeed a special vehicle. While I can take no credit for its design, or even its restoration, I am proud to be its current custodian and to be able to bring it back for a rare appearance in its homeland. I am happy the car was so appreciated and well received.”
The key objective of the annual Concours of Elegance is to be a fundraising initiative and this year’s event supported charities working in the field of cancer care, research and support. Funds raised by the 2013 Concours of Elegance are again in excess of £250,000 and are being split between Marie Curie Cancer Care, Pilotlight, Rosetrees Trust and Action on Bladder Cancer.
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In addition to Tim Scott’s gallery, photographer Julien Mahiels offer the following perspective on the 2013 St. James’s Concours of Elegance. We split up Julien’s pictures into two galleries. The first gallery starting below features our favorite images, all displayed in the full-width view of Sports Car Digest. The second gallery (and full entrants list) can be found on the last page of the article and gives a comprehensive view of all the photographs. To see more from Julien, visit julienmahiels.net.
St. James’s Concours of Elegance 2013 – Featured Photo Gallery
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St. James’s Concours of Elegance 2013 – Main Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)
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St. James’s Concours of Elegance 2013 – List of Entrants
Best of Show – 1930 Bentley Speed-Six Gurney Nutting Sportsman Coupe, Bruce McCaw
1907 Darracq 18hp Double-Phaeton
1907 Itala 120hp
1914 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Vanden Plas Torpedo Grande Luxe
1922 Hispano-Suiza H6 Chapron Coupé-Chauffeur Landaulet
1923 Delage Type DH V12
1923 Newton Brooklands 200 Miles Race Car
1925 Hispano-Suiza Boulogne
1925 Bentley 3 litre Team Car
1928 Bugatti Type 35B
1928 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Jarvis Torpedo Experimental
1929 Mercedes-Benz 710 SS Cabriolet C
1929 OM 665 SSMM
1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Brewster Derby Phaeton
1930 Bugatti Type 43A
1930 Bentley Speed-Six Vanden Plas Open Tourer ‘Old Number 3’
1930 Bentley Speed-Six Gurney Nutting Sportsman Coupé
1930 Cadillac V16 2 Passenger Roadster
1930 Stutz SV16 Weymann Monte Carlo
1931 Bentley 4 1/2 litre Van den Plas Supercharged Sports Tourer
1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Aprile Spider Corsa
1931 Bentley 8 litre Park Ward Drophead Coupé
1932 Bugatti Type 50T Coach Profilée
1932 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Freestone & Webb Drophead Coupé
1933 Napier-Railton 24 litre Special
1934 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Brianza
1934 Duesenberg Model J Willoughby Sedan Limousine
1934 Aston Martin 1 1/2 Litre ‘Ulster’
1936 Mercedes-Benz 500K Erdmann & Rossi Streamline Roadster
1936 Bentley 4 1/4 litre H.J. Mulliner Streamlined Drophead Coupé
1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Barker Sedanca de Ville
1937 Horch 853 Voll & Ruhrbeck Sport Cabriolet
1937 Delahaye 135M Figoni et Falaschi Torpedo Cabriolet
1938 Lancia Astura 4e Série Boneschi Cabriolet
1939 Bugatti Type 57C Voll & Ruhrbeck Roadster
1940 Aston Martin Type C Speed Model
1953 Ferrari 166MM Vignale Barchetta
1953 Fiat 8V Zagato Berlinetta
1953 Fiat 8V Vignale Mille Miglia
1953 Siata 208 CS Balbo Berlinetta
1953 Ferrari 166MM Oblin Barchetta
1954 Frazer Nash Sebring
1954 Ferrari 375MM Scaglietti Berlinetta
1954 Bentley Continental Park Ward Drophead Coupé
1955 Jaguar D-Type
1955 Maserati A6G/54 2000 Zagato Spyder
1955 Maserati 300S
1955 Pegaso Z-102B 2.8 Touring Berlinetta
1956 Alfa Romeo 1900 SS Zagato Berlinetta
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster
1958 Maserati Tipo 420 M 58 ‘Eldorado’
1959 Aston Martin DBR1/4
1961 Ferrari 250 GT Scaglietti SWB California Spyder
1962 Ferrari 268 SP
1963 Ferrari 250 GTO Scaglietti 64 C
1964 Jaguar Semi-Lightweight E-Type
1964 Ferrari 250 Pininfarina Le Mans Berlinetta
1966 Jaguar XJ13
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Pininfarina NART Spyder
1969 Porsche 917 Kurzheck Coupé 023 Sports Prototype
1994 Bugatti EB110 Super Sports
1995 McLaren F1 GTR Ueno Clinic
[Source: St. James’s Concours; photos: Julien Mahiels]
top pictures, cars, motives and photo quality. Congratulation
Only three Alfa Romeos and seven Ferraris! Somebody got their priorities badly wrong (IMHO)
STUNNING PHOTOS AGAIN AS USUAL BY THE MASTER! THANKS! ALMOST LIKE BEING THERE.