Royal Automobile Club Concours 2026

From a private collection, 1937 Lancia Aprilia

Now owned by Vijay Mallya, the 1925 4.0 litre supercharged V12 engined Sunbeam Tiger was the vehicle in which Sir Henry Segrave first broke the Land Speed record, obtaining an average speed of 152.33 mph on the 16th March 1926 on the sands of Southport beach in Lancashire.

Now owned by Bert Degenaar, Major (later Sir) Henry Segrave’s 1922 Sunbeam Strasbourg Grand Prix car. Scheduled to be the works spare car, however at the 1922 French Grand Prix held at Strasbourg it became the Major’s car after his own Sunbeam was damaged by a fire. Though his race led to retirement, the experience gained was invaluable in the Major winning the 1923 French Grand Prix for Sunbeam, the first British car and driver combo to do so.

1937 Mercedes Benz W125 powered by a supercharged 5.7 litre straight eight producing up to 592 bhp in race trim. The dominant Grand Prix car of 1937.

1990 Mercedes Benz C11, with up to 1000 bhp in qualifying trim, the C11 won 8 of the 9 rounds of the 1990 World Sports Prototype Championship securing the team title for Sauber Mercedes, and the drivers title for Jean Louis Schlesser and Mauro Baldi.

John Bentley’s 1928 Mercedes Benz 680S, Designed by Ferdinand Porsche, at full throttle the Roots Supercharged motor produced up to 180 bhp.

Johanna White’s 1956 Mercedes Benz 300SC Cabriolet. Believed to be the only, of the 49 examples built, one owner unrestored example in the world.

From the British Motor Museum, 1913 Standard 20HP Cheltenham Cabriolet.

Another gem from the British Motor Museum, 1911 Austin 15HP Town Carriage. Conceived as a compact chauffeur-driven limousine, and rejected as a Taxi cab as its turning circle was too wide, but marketed at the time as ‘Ideal for Ladies.’ Its enclosed passenger compartment offered privacy and comfort for town use. Herbert Austin himself owned one.

Entered by Barnards Farm, 1907 23 HP De Dion Bouton Landaulette AXL, which due to its folding roof offered passengers sheltered accommodation or open air visibility. Discovered in a derelict condition in a barn in Belgium in 1997 and restored, but retains many period details including the luggage rack and wooden access ladder.

Andrew Howe Davies 1908 Renault VB1 Landaulette, Originally purchased by affluent Americans from Martha’s Vineyard for a European tour. Still remarkably reliable, it has since toured Australia and New Zealand.

Courtesy of Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, 1908 Unic 12/14HP Taxicab. Founded in Puteaux France, Unic quickly earned a reputation for building dependable taxis that started to appear in London in great numbers during the 1900s. The enclosed passenger compartment offered comfort and privacy and the tight 31ft turning circle suited the narrow streets perfectly. This example was discovered in Dorset in the 1950s and fully restored.

From a private collection, 1913 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Landaulette. First owned by Sir Thomas Jackson, this opulent 7 seater Landaulette by Barker remains in remarkable original condition having spent 45 years stored in a windowless purpose-built garage in Oslo.

Courtesy of the Brooklands Museum Trust, 1926 Delage 15-S-8. Produced to comply with the new Grand Prix Formula for 1926, a Delage won the first British Grand Prix even though a design fault meant the exhaust burnt the drivers feet. Delage went on to dominate the 1927 GP season before selling on the cars, with this example being purchased by Captain Malcolm Campbell who raced it at Brooklands and Southport. Campbell then sold it to WB Scott who used it to break records at Brooklands and Montlhery before it passed into the hands of Prince Bira and Reg Parnell.

What a contrast to the Delage, the 2025 ? McLaren Grand Prix car.

1910 Lancia Tipo 55 1A Corsa. Constructed in Turin and exported to the Hol-Tan Company in New York, then raced successfully including winning the Tiedeman Trophy in Georgia at an average speed of 58.48 mph. Later donated to the Lenox, Massachusetts Fire Department in 1919. Subsequently laid up from 1922 to 1998.

Nicholas Bernwell’s 1929 Lancia Lambda.

Nigel Knighton’s 1952 Lancia B53 Cabriolet by Pinin Farina, one of approximately 90 B53 chassis constructed.

Anthony Hussey’s 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider.

Andrew Lee’s 1974 Lancia Stratos HF that was campaigned in Italy and Germany in period including at the Rally 333 Minuti and Rally Monza.

Alan Faggetter’s 1931 Lagonda 2 Litre Supercharged Low Chassis Speed Model.

Kit Battersby’s 1929 Lagonda Low Chassis Speed Model. This is believed to be the oldest road going low chassis example and it retains its original engine body. Later raced at Silverstone and also appeared on the silver screen with Lee Remick in the film A Severed Head.

Richard Branch’s 1933 Lagonda 16/80. During the 1960s this example served as a student’s pub transport, often spending time abandoned when funds run out. Later restored, Richard has owned it for over 10 years.

On the right, Dougie Lawson’s 1936 Lagonda LG45 Drophead Coupe. One of approximately 278 LG45s built at the Staines factory. On the left, Tony Allen’s 1936 Lagonda LG45 Tickford All Weather Saloon which carries Salmons & Sons coachwork and the patented Tickford all weather roof. First owned by shipping scion Basil Sanderson, later Lord Sanderson.

David Stone-Lee’s Frank Feeley-designed 1950 Lagonda DB2.6 Drophead Coupe.

Roger Dudding’s 1963 Lagonda Rapide Sport Saloon, Styled by Carrozzeria Touring and powered by the 4.0 litre straight six engine later used in the DB5; only 55 examples were made. This example was first owned by Rex Makin, solicitor to the Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein.

Bristol 407

Displayed by ‘Vintage Bentley’ and for sale, this 1925 Bentley 3 Litre Supersports, number 9 of 18 made, and one of 4 left retaining its original coachwork.