London Classic Car Show, 2021

Letting loose in the Delage.

From the “Evolution of Design’ display and under the banner ‘ 1980s & 90s Brutalism’ this 1990 Alfa Romeo SZ, number 134 of the 1036 built.

1930s style and elegance in the form of the 1939 Embiricos Bentley. Designed and built for Andre Maris Embiricos, a Greek shipping magnet. The aerodynamic bodywork was created by Georges Paulin who, at the time, was working with Carrossier Pourtout whilst continuing to work as a dental technician in his own business. In 1949 the Bentley, then owner HSF Hay and motoring journalist Tommy Wisdom took sixth place in that year’s Le Mans 24 hour race.

This Bristol 410 shows off its party trick, battery in one wing, spare wheel in the other.

One key anniversary celebrated at the event was the centenary of the Bugatti Brescia, or as it was known at the time, the 16 valve Type, taking the top four places in the 1921 Gran Premio Delle Veturette, driven by Ernest Friderich, Pierre de Vizcaya, Michele Baccoli and Pierre Marco. Whilst no individual car history was available, the impressive lineup of examples was a sight to see, and I am sure many people went away from the show having learnt that Bugatti is much more than just the Veyrons and Chirons of today.

From the ‘Evolution of Design, 1930s Style and Elegance’ 1932 Bugatti Type 55. Supplied to Doninique Lamberjack from the Lyon area in July 1932 before arriving in the UK just prior to World War Two. Owned for the past 43 years by the Marks family having previous been owned by Louis Giron, Guy Griffiths, HH Tom Thomas and Geoffrey St John.

Three decades of Citroen Traction Avants.

This 1939 Citroen Light 15 Roadster is one of just 165 examples constructed at the Slough plant between 1934 and 1939. First registered 15th September 1939, and then rescued from a scrap yard in Spalding Lincolnshire in 1969. The current owner purchased the car as an incomplete rusty wreck. Restoration was started in March 2008 and was completed in July 2012. Since then it has covered over 13,000 miles on trips at home and into Europe.

Designed by Peter Kirwan-Taylor (who also penned the 1957 Lotus Elite) this 1961 Citroen Bijou in Farina Grey with red St James Interior is one of only 211 examples built at Citroen’s Slough Factory. Now fully restored over three years at a cost of almost £90k. It could be yours for just £34995.

An Aero engine monster that I have not seen before, a 1911 De Dion Curtiss Rocket.

In ‘the Evolution of Design, Aero Engine Monsters’ the 1926/30 Delage Hispano Suiza known as Sid, as in hissing Sid, due to 600 hp, 2200 lbs torque 27 Litre V12 engine from a 1927 Dewaitine parasol winged fighter plane having a propensity of overheating in its early days.

Hispano Suiza engine shoehorned into the Delage chassis.

1930s style and elegance in the form of a 1938 Delahaye 135MS (Modifee Speciale). Restored between 1989 and 1991 and fitted with a Figoni et Falaschi style body built by Crailville Motors.

Fafnir, based in Aachen Germany, manufactured cars between 1908 and 1926. After WW1 the company fielded a works race team which included on its list of drivers a certain Rudolph Caracciola. This recreation of a 1920s Fafnir factor team car was constructed by Oliver Way on an original Fafnir chassis that was located in New Zealand. Powered is supplied by a 1917 10 Litre Hall-Scott Aero engine as originally used in an American Standard J-1 biplane.

From the ‘Evolution of Design, 1950s and 60s Americana’ this 1934 Ford Three Window Coupe. Hot Rodded in the UK during the 1970s and the rebuilt in style of a 1940s/ 50s Bonneville style hot rod.

A little gem that was offered for sale at the event’s Classic Car Auction, this 1938 Fiat Topolino Smith Special. A UK RHD car that was supplied new to Sydney Smith Garages of Purley in Surrey. Rebodied by them and then sold as a Smith Special for £138, 10 s.

Only a few were converted, one of which was owned by Lord Snowdon. The car has only covered 2000 miles since restoration. Not sold on the day so probably still available.

The bonkers 1905 Fiat/ Isotta Fraschini. This was one of the original 14 Litre 75 hp four cylinder Grand Prix Fiat’s but has now been fitted with a 16.5 Litre 230 hp six cylinder Isotta Fraschini airship engine from WW1. 127 MPH whilst hanging out the back!!

Probably two of the most famous E Type Jaguars, ECD400 and UPM400. Both were supplied to Tommy Sopwith’s Equipe Endeavour in 1961. ECD400 was the 5th E Type constructed and was first driven by Graham Hill at Oulton Park.

UPM400 was raced in period by Tommy Sopwith and also used by Mike Parks to commute between circuits. It was so nice to see them parade together.

1963 E Type Jaguar 49FXN is one of 12 Lightweight’s built in period, and one of only two fitted with a low drag body. Most famously driven in period, including the 1964 Le Mans 24 hours, by Peter’s Lumsden and Sargent. At the end of the 63 season Sami Klat, who had been studying mechanical engineering at Imperial College London set about reducing drag. By the time FXN reappeared at Goodwood in March 1964 it looked very different. A new roof was fitted which was broader, higher and also flatter at the rear. The team tested the changes on the M1 motorway before being timed at 174 mph on the Mulsanne straight during the Le Mans test weekend. Unfortunately, FXN retired from the race following gearbox failure.

Another Herbie replica? But no, this is Herbie H2, the Porsche engined model used for the racing scenes in the movie ‘The Love Bug.’ Built by EMPI Racing of California for Disney Studios, H2 is a 1963 rag top from the windscreen backwards, and the front end is from a 1960 model. A sympathetic restoration has been carried out and you can still see the cut and shut joins.

Another “Brutal” 1990s design, a Lancia Integrale.

Another so called Brutal design from the 1990s, a Maserati Ghibli Cup.

Displayed on the Maserati club stand a rather fine trio; Indy, Merak and Shamal.

Decisions, decisions, decisions, do you want your V8 mounted in the front, or in the middle? Ghibli and Bora courtesy of the Maserati Club.

Now here is a car you really do not see very often. This 1970 Monteverdi 375L was the very first built of the 65 examples constructed. Alan Carrington’s company spent 9 years carrying out a full restoration. The Monteverdi Museum confirm that the first owner kept the car until 1980, the second owner from 1980 till 2012 but took the car off the road in 1984, and Alan has owned it since. The 440 CI Chrysler V8 has been tweeted to produce 475 bhp and the car may be for sale, Tempted?

A Renault Dauphine makes an appearance.

If you think that looks a bit like a Cord, you would be correct. Built by Andy Saunders over a 14 year period with in excess of 7000 hours of work invested in its transformation, ‘Tetanus’ is based on a 1937 Cord 812 Westchester, an original right hand drive machine that was sold new to the Earl of Derby. Years later the Cord came into the hands of Polish fighter pilot and World Stock Car champion Jerzy Wojtowicz who converted it into a rear wheel drive stock car complete with a Flat Head V8 engine in the nose, but never raced it. The Cord remained abandoned in a field in Yorkshire for 50 years until Andy discovered it. The name Tetanus comes from Andy’s friend, who upon seeing the rusty hulk, said “I am not touching that until I get a Tetanus.”

Known as Sabrina after the 1950s British Starlet (see the bulges on the one piece magnesium twin cam timing cover!) 927 HP is one of the four Twin Cam Triumph TRSs that raced in the 1960 and 1961 Le Mans 24 hour race, winning the manufacturers team prize in 1961.

Looking oh so Italian on the TR Register stand, A 1959 Triumph Italia.

What do you get if you mix a 1913 Vauxhall with no front brakes with a 1918 Hispano Suiza Aero engine? By the look on the passengers face a whole lot of fun! The nearly 12 litre V8 engine produces about 300 bhp and 600 lbs torque at 1200 rpm. 1800 rpm on the rev counter in top gear equates to about 120 mph. No wonder modern motorists look concerned when they see it coming up behind them.