Sharp at Salon Prive and Hampton Court 2014

Entered into the dramatic coachwork class and winner of the peoples award, this one of a kind Chapron bodied Delahaye 235MS Coupe was originally show at the 1953 Auto Salon in Paris.

Adolfo Orsi, Grandson of Adolfo Orsi of Maserati fame was one of the Concours judges. Here he takes a step back before decided on his mark for Doug Blair's 1977 Maserati Khamsin which had been entered in the 100 years of Maserati, Strada class.

Class I was for cars from the design of Zagato. Mr Ong Seng Gee\'s Sanction 2 Ferrari 250 GTZ heads the lineup of entries. Behind is the Flaminia 2.5L 3C of Hans Van Eeuvwijk, the 1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato entered by Willian Loughran, the 1967 Lancia Fulvia Sport of Piers Barclays and John Hamshere\'s Rover 2000 TCZ. This car had not been seen in public for the past 20 years and was originally created for the 1967 Turin Motor show.

Here is another view of the Rover TCZ next to its smaller sibling, a Fulvia Zagato.

The Best in Show award went to Peter Nuemark's 1954 Jaguar D Type OKV1. One of three 1954 Jaguar works cars its sisters being OKV2 and OKV3. OKV1 is considered to be the most original of all the early cars. Here the car is surrounded by the judging team. See how many people you recognize.

This unique Maserati Mexico prototipo was entered in the 100 years of Maserati Strada Class. Built by Pietro Frua and originally displayed at the 1968 Geneva Motor show this car was later sold in Spain in 1970 having been displayed at that years Barcelona Motor Show. During this period General Franco had decreed that any manufacturer wishing to display vehicles at the Spanish show had to bring at least 5 cars to display. This meant that many manufactures were forced to bring prototypes to display. As these cars already had export licenses this made them easier for customers to obtain in Spain than may have been the case in other countries.

Hughes Vanhoolandt first showed us a yellow example of this car in his piece on Concourso Italiano during the Monterey car week. This example is the second of five built. Based on a Gallardo the first two are alas now sold so if you want one of the remaining three you had best be quick.

Another one off, displayed on the HR Owen Ferrari stand this F12 TRS is styled to evoke memories of the original front engined Testa Rossa.

2014 is the year of the Jaguar D Type, this being its Diamond jubilee. OVC501 is the prototype D Type and is actually based on a C Type chassis.

James Haithwaite's 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750. Entered into the Preserved for Posterity class. One of only 52 6C 150 Super Sports built in the 3rd series. This example is believed to be the winner of the 1929 Millie Miglia as driven by Campari and Ramponi.

1913 Turcat Mery Model MJ Boulogne Roadster (French). One of very few to have survived if not the only survivor. Fitted with a 6.1 litre 4 cylinder engine.

Judging Dieter Roschmann's 1955 Fantuzzi bodied Maserati 300S. This example is the first one built.

Andreas Pohl's 1950 Maserati 1500 GT. Coachwork by Pinin Farina.

Taalib Shaah's 1952 Ferrari 212 Inter Coupe. Coachwork by Vignale. Of the 82 road going 212 chassis built 6 were sent to Carrozzeria Vignale. This example was the first one to leave the workshop.

Abarth began by taking over a few of Dusio's Cisitalias...this is one.

1964 Cooper Monaco T61. The only T61 to be fitted with the 5000cc Maserati engine, now gently raced by its current owner Michael O'Shea.

A Hampton Court: Guido Modiano, an Italian Jaguar dealer tasked his friend Ugo Zagato to re body a damaged XK140. This is the result. Modiano was so taken with the car that he displayed it at the 1957 Paris Saloon. The car was discovered in boxes in America by Zagato enthusiast Scott Gauthier. Restored in Italy the car was debuted to much acclaim at Pebble Beach in 2003. Now owned by Linda and Bill Pope.

Jaguar XK120 MDU524, known as the Jabbeke XK. Norman Dewis drove this aerodynamically modified car to a then new world record speed of 172.412 mph over the flying mile on the motorway at Jabbeke in Belgium in 1953. Following the record run the aerodynamic aids were removed and the car was sold. The car was then raced in club events before being sold to America. The car has just undergone an extensive 18 month restoration to return her to her record breaking specification aided by the assistance of 94 year old Norman himself. Now owned by Kurt Englehorn.

My wife's favorite car at the show, and also winner of the Autoglym trophy. This 1938 Talbot LargoT150C SS Figoni et Falaschi Coupe chassis 90112 was one of 10 examples of style 9220 New York built of which only three survive. Ordered new by the director of the Namur casino in Belgium M Toussaint and delivered to him in May 1938, the car was shown at the 1939 Brussels Concours. Following the Nazi occupation of Belgium in 1940 the car was placed in storage. The car reappeared in the 1950s and was sold to the Belgium Royal Family. Owned by a private collector.

1949 Bristol 402 Drophead Coupe NPF 2 was purchased new by British actress Jean Simmons. Together with her soon-to-be husband and fellow actor Stewart Grainger they decided to buy matching cars. His 402 Drophead Coupe carried the registration NPF1. Only 24 convertible 402s were built. Following Jean’s departure from Surrey to Hollywood to star alongside fellow stars such as Frank Sinatra and Kirk Douglas the car was returned to Tony Caterham's dealership from where the cars had been purchased. Tony then fitted a racing version of the 2 liter Fraser Nash engine which the car retains to this day.

Variety is the spice of life. Normal seen at high speed on special stages rather than on the gravel of the Concours stage this 1985 Lancia Delta S4 is the car that Henri Toivonen drove to vicory on the 1986 Monte Carlo Rally. During this rally the spaceframe was badly damaged but the Lancia mechanics were able to weld in a new section in less than half hour . The car is now in the hands of Andrew Beverley.

One of three factory cars entered in the 1957 Reims 12 hour race and driven to 3rd place by Gino Munaron and Bruno Madero Gavazzoli. This is one of 9 TDFs built with 14 louvres. The car was also raced extensively in Italy and also whilst in the hands again of Munaron the car finished 3rd in the Venezuelan Grand Prix in South America. Now owned by Andrew Pisker.

This is one of only two surviving (of 6 built by the factory) lightweight DB4GTs still on the road. Built in 1959 these cars where 170 lb lighter than the standard car and with 302 bhp had a top speed of 150 mph. This car was driven by Stirling Moss to victory at the 1960 BARC meeting at Goodwood in addition to race victories at Brands Hatch and Oulton Park. Owned now by Paul Michaels.

Bought new by Giovanni Picinini and raced by Roger De Lageneste in the 1961 and 62 Tour De France this 1961 Ferrari 250 SWB is one of only 20 SEFAC Hot Rods built. Named Hot Rod because of the 300 BHP Testa Rossa headed V12 motor and the Scaglietti built 1.1mm thick aluminium bodywork. This car also finished 5th in the Targa Florio of 1962.

Brandon Wang’s drop dead gorgeous 1961 Ferrari 250 California Spyder SWB Competizione is bodied in extremely light aluminum rather than the more normal steel. The body is fitted to a Tipo 539 Tubular steel spaceframe chassis and is powered by a Tipo 168 3 litre V12. This car was ordered by Stuttgart based enthusiast Ernst Lautenschlager and he raced the car very successfully in Germany for two seasons. Fully restored in Italy and returned to its original factory gunmetal finish. Brandon still competes regularly in this car. His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent with the car.

It was only whilst viewing this car on Sunday rather than photographing it on Friday that I noted that it was mid engined. That how little I knew of this car. It is believed that only 6 AMC Bizzarini AMX/3s where constructed. The body design was the work of AMCs chief stylist Richard Teague. The chassis was by Giotto Bizzarini who needs no introduction. The testing of the car was carried out by BMW in Germany. A day after launch Ford launched the De Tomaso Pantera, a similar car in layout and a lot cheaper. AMC pulled the plug. They then order Giotto to destroy the cars built. I am glad he ignored them.

A bit different to your Dad’s Dolomite from the 1970s, this 1934 Triumph Dolomite 8C SS Corsica Roadster is one of only two genuine survivors of the six built. Donald Healey was the driving force behind the car. This example was driven by Donald on the 1935 and 36 Monte Carlo Rallies, and by Tony Rolt in various sprints in 1937. Inspired along the lines of Jano's Alfa 8C the engine was largely made of Hiduminium alloy. With a top speed of 120 mph the car was available for £1000 in chassis form and £1225 with coachwork.