St James’s Motoring Spectacular

Not what I expected to see parked on a street in London in November, but it is not quite what it seems, Courtesy of Mercedes Benz W196 show car.

Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp

There once was a time that I could hop down to the waterfront in Brighton and photograph the end of the London to Brighton Veteran Run. But for the past few years the event has become just part of a motoring extravaganza. It is now a key part of the five-day London car week, which kicks off on the Wednesday with the opening of the Royal Automobile Club’s Art of Motoring Exhibition at the Iconic Images Gallery just off of Pall Mall. The week also includes motoring lectures, two major car auctions, the St James’s Motoring Spectacular, the run itself, and the Veteran Car Club’s annual dinner at the Grand Hotel Brighton!

For me the star of the show has to be the 16200cc 4 cylinder 130HP Fiat Racing 2 seater, Felice Nazzaro’s winning mount at the 1907 French Grand Prix.

So, I boarded an early train to London’s Victoria Station, followed by a very pleasant walk past Buckingham Palace, along the Mall, past Clarence House before turning left just after St James’s Palace, and then right onto Pall Mall.

And what sights greeted me? The St James’s Motoring Spectacular is split into four areas, the Innovation and Design zone, home to various super/hypercars, the Heritage exhibits, which contained highlights from the back catalogue of Fiat, Renault and the VW Golf range, the Educational feature, focusing on the latest transportation breakthroughs and highlighting educational opportunities and institutions within the motor industry, and finally, the veteran car concours.

The highlight for me has to be the circa 1904 Fiat 130HP Racing two seater from the Museo dell’Automobile di Torino, displayed in the UK for the first time in celebration of Fiat’s 125th birthday. I was also able to get into the hallowed halls of the Royal Automobile Club, normally only open to members.

Circa 1903 Mercedes Simplex Roi des Belges, 4 cylinder, 60 HP, entered and driven by Rob Walton. Prior to Mr Walton’s purchase this vehicle had belonged to the Harmsworth family for 121 years having been ordered new by British publishing tycoon Alfred Harmsworth, Viscount Northcliffe.

Being as there was a Concours there has to be winners. The overall winner was the recently restored 1901 Panhard et Levassor of Bill Wood. The overseas award went to Herman Layher, whose 1894 Benz was the oldest entrant. The historic award went to Rob Walton and his 1903 Mercedes Simplex 60HP Roi des Belges.

1904 Mercedes Simplex 4 cylinder 32HP, entered by Mercedes Benz Heritage, driven by Marcus Breitschwerdt.

W196 again

W196 is even more striking seen live.

Sitting on the Fiat is Davide Lorenzone, the curator/conservator at the Museo Nationale dell’Automobile Torino, It was Davide who oversaw the restoration of the Fiat following cultural heritage guidelines.

1903 2 cylinder 10HP Renault Wagonette. Entered by Dee Searle, driven by Les Searle. Note the new electric Renault 5 behind.

1899 De Dion Bouton Trike, single cylinder 1HP, entered by Clive Pettit, ridden by Harry Johnson.

1896 Salvesen Steam Wagonette, 10HP, entered by Duncan Pittaway, driven by Sophie Pittaway.

1901 Mors Tonneau, 4 cylinder 10HP, entered by the Royal Automobile Club, driven by Duncan Wiltshire.

1894 Benz Velo, single cylinder 1.5HP, entered and driven by Herman Layher.

1896 Raynaud (French) 8HP 2 cylinder Vis-a-Vis, entered and driven by Bernhard Holmes.

1904 Peugeot Two seater, single seater 5 HP, entered and driven by David Little.

1902 Renault Voiturette, single cylinder, 6 HP, entered by Cesar Pau.

1904 Albion Wagonette, 2 cylinder 15HP, entered and driven by David Pain.

1904 Rambler Covered Tonneau, 2 cyinder 8HP, entered and driven by Wim Peters.

1903 Darracq Tonneau, single cylinder 8HP, entered and driven by Steven Nixon.

1904 Napier rear entrance tonneau, 4 cylinder 12 HP, entered and driven by Richard Whittemore.

1903 Maxim rear entrance tonneau, 2 cylinder 16 HP, entered and driven by Ian Strang.

1903 Panhard-Levassor Tonneau, 4 cylinder 15 HP, entered by Richard Whittemore, driven by Joshua Whittemore.

1904 Columbia rear entrance tonneau, 2 cylinder 14 HP, entered and driven by Keith Stewart.

1898 Fisson (French) Tonneau, 2 cylinder 8 HP, entered and driven by Alexis Llaveria Almacellas.

1900 Daimler Tonneau, 2 cylinder 6 HP Entered and driven. by John Worth.

1898 Peugeot Vis-a-vis, 4 cylinder 6 HP, Entered and driven by Christopher Loder.

Looking down from the balcony into the rotunda of the Royal Automobile Club on Pall Mall. At the top 1898 Panhard – Levassor Voiture de Course, 4 cylinder 18 HP. Believed to be the only surviving example of the thirteen built to ‘Course’ specification, and one of only 6 vehicles which competed in and finished the inaugural Paris – Amsterdam – Paris Race held in 1898. Below that, a 1904 Rochet – Schneider Model 2500 16/22 HP 4 Cylinder 4400cc, top speed 50 mph.

One part of the St James’s motoring spectacular was the Art of Motoring exhibition held in the ‘Iconic Images’ gallery just of Pall Mall at 16 Waterloo Place. The following few shots are of pieces that I particularly enjoyed. You should take a look at Emma Capener’s web site, his pencil drawing of Jim Clark is superb.

Not content with finding the car parked outside, hanging on the wall of the staircase of the RAC Club House on Pall Mall, we found a Guy Lipscombe (1881-1952) depiction of the 1907 French Grand Prix which features Nazzaro’s Fiat and the Claudie Richez’ Renault R3.

This picture is also on the stairwell of the RAC Club but I am darned if I can read who it is by. Perhaps you may know, or know somebody who does.

‘Wetter than an otter’s pocket.’ the ex-Hawthorn D Type Jaguar at the 2024 Goodwood Revival by Paul Howse.

‘Lady Helen.’ Helen Stewart taking on the role of timekeeping at Monza in 1968, by Emma Capener.

‘750 Monza’ by Paul Howse.

After viewing the cars on Pall Mall and the art exhibition I took a short walk to the Peninsula Hotel on Hyde Park Corner to view the RM Sotheby’s auction. Unsurprisingly there was nothing I could afford but these took my fancy!

A general view of some of the cars for sale, in the center is a 1934 Rolls Royce Phantom II Continental all weather tourer by Hooper & Co. Originally built for Nubar Gulbenkian, British-Armenian oil baron, who once said “I like to travel in a Gold Plated London Taxi as it turns on a sixpence, whatever that is!”