The Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court certainly didn't disappoint.

For three days, the gardens at Hampton Court Palace become home to over 300 of the finest and rarest cars around, from 1896 pioneers to present day supercars. 60 of the world’s rarest motor cars, ranging from the very earliest pioneering models to the present day are being brought by the major historic car collectors from around the world to compete for the highly coveted ‘Best of Show’ award.

Uniquely, the ‘Best of Show’ winner is determined by the Owners’ themselves. Each owner has one vote to choose the car, other than their own, which they believe to be the finest motor car entered into the Concours. More than 10,000 motoring enthusiasts converged at Hampton Court Palace to enjoy the cars on the show field that included a Le Mans and Mille Miglia-winning Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta, the first production Jaguar D-Type and the ‘Old Number 1’ 1929 Bentley Speed Six, among others.

Best of Show at the Hampton Court Palace Concours 2019 was awarded to the 1919 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost by Barker. This elegant car with polished aluminium bodywork was certainly the most flamboyant Silver Ghost ordered by a man who owned 25 of these Rolls-Royces — Lt.-General His Highness the Maharaja Sir Bhupindra Singh of Patiala. In his care it spent many years in North West India. Its styling had been inspired by the French coachbuilder Henri Labourdette, whose Art Deco bodies built on Rolls-Royce chassis in 1913-14 had caught the imagination of the Maharaja, but in December 1915 he chose the British coachbuilder Barker to build this body on chassis 11 PD.

Awards were also given out for different classes and eras at the 2019 UK Concours of Elegance. Once more judged by the owners of the Main Concours cars, the winners included a fresh factory-restored McLaren F1, a one-of-nine 1936 Stout Scarab, the 1951 Pegaso Z-102 Berlinetta Prototype and a 1965 Ford GT40.

Outside of the main Concours of Elegance cars, nearly 1,000 other models parked at Hampton Court Palace for the weekend, including a collection of Future Classics which were crowned by the car that eventually won this class; an Aston Martin Vulcan. Also taking part in the feature were a rare RUF CTR and a one-of-100 Bentley Mulsanne W.O Edition. Meanwhile, the Harry’s Garage display brought together the best supercars of the ‘90s, including a Pagani Zonda C12 S, a Lamborghini Diablo and a Bugatti EB110SS.

The Aston Martin Owners’ Club gathered a display of every variant of Aston Martin bodied by Zagato. During the Centenary Year of Zagato, 17 different cars lined up, charting the evolution of the creative partnership, headlined by a pair of Aston Martin DB4 GTZ models.

Also on display on the Saturday were 25 or so examples from car clubs, as part of the RAC Club Trophy contest presented by the Royal Automobile Club and supported by Classic and Sports Car. A panel of judges, including HRH Prince Michael of Kent, deemed a 1920 Vauxhall 30-98 E-Type Tourer 4.5 Litre to be the best on display. With three owners from new, this near-100-year-old car was first owned by an Argentinian horse breeder, who purchased it from Harrods in Buenos Aires. This Vauxhall will now go on to compete in the Main Concours at Hampton Court Palace next year. Our own member , Mike Hartley’s Speed 25 Charlesworth drophead-coupe also participated, as I did

with a Rolls -Royce Phantom II Continental Sedanca drophead on behalf of the 20-Ghost Club; both considered over-restored compared to the well-worn and well-campaigned Vauxhall.

Alvis Owner Club were invited to participate with a Club display on the Sunday and with a little badgering Owen Swinerd and I managed to conjure up 9 fine Alvis cars covering the pre- and post-war periods. With an 8:30 start in the Deer Park, we were surprised to receive one of the finest display positions near the lawns and just in front of the real-Tennis courts. I have to say that despite the reluctance of many to attend the event, considering it was only for the highest of Concours Class participation, all AOC members were delighted with the format, range of cars and activities available on the day, and were all requesting to come again next year. We shall have participation again in 2020 for the RAC Trophy, and presence in the Top-60 Classes with the expectancy of Jim Sprague’s Speed 25 Offord two-seater. Let us plan for at least 10-15 Alvis in the car club display for our Centenary year.

TC 108 G to TA 21 to Speed 20 and Speed 25

TD 21 Series 1 and 2 and TE 21, covering Park Ward saloon and drophead-coupe versions

12/70 Mulliners tourer and the William Arnold Speed 20 SD and Charlesworth Speed 25 saloons

Art Deco extraordinaire on 1936 Bentley 4 ¼ chassis by Carlton Carriage Co.

George Butlin was invited , after last year’s RAC Trophy win, to participate in the main Top-60 Concours and was on display for the whole three days. A stirling effort on his part, as limestone chippings generate a huge amount of dust, and most of the exhibits were discreetly being cleaned at regular intervals, to be shown at their best; thankfully he was upwind of most of the dust-creating foot-fall of over 100,000 visitors.

George Butlin’s fine1938 Speed 25 by Hooper/Charlesworth gracing the lawns of Hampton Court

And for something a little different, I doubt that Alvis Owner Club will be given Pride of Place such as the Ferrari’s achieved, front -of-house, but then we do not own the rarest of Barchettas/Berlinettas!

Steve Horne