The eighth edition of the London Concours, held from June 4-6, 2024, showcased an eclectic selection of nearly 100 collector vehicles on the manicured lawns of the Honourable Artillery Company headquarters in the heart of the capital city.
Winning cars were crowned across nine different classes such as Great British Racing, Coachbuilt Greats and Legendary V12s, by the London Concours’ Steering Committee – a team of motoring experts from fields such as journalism, finance, law, classic car sales and restoration.
After much deliberation, a 1994 Lamborghini Diablo SE30 prototype was crowned Best in Show after coming first in its class, Purple Reign, which was sponsored by Magneto. The Diablo is one of just two examples that was fitted with a factory-developed prototype supercharger upgrade in period, and it also features McLaren F1-sourced brakes, a 400km/h speedometer and a bespoke ECU.
After much deliberation, the 1994 Lamborghini Diablo SE30 prototype was crowned the Best in Show winner
The 1977 Hesketh 308E that won the Chairman’s Award also attracted plenty of attention, thanks to its controversial Penthouse and Rizla livery, which famously depicted a scantily clad Penthouse Pet from the once-popular men’s magazine. Beneath the hedonistic sponsorship is a machine designed by Frank Dernie and Nigel Stroud, which is powered by one of the greatest racing engines of all time: the Ford-Cosworth DFV 3.0-litre V8.
A 1986 Jaguar XJR-9 claimed the Great British Racing class victory, ahead of a 1967 Ford Escort Mk1 that was raced by the likes of Roger Clark, Jackie Oliver and Graham Hill. The iconic Silk Cut-liveried Jaguar began life as an XJR-6 in 1986, before ending its career with a fourth-place finish at Le Mans in XJR-9 spec in 1987.
McLaren’s 60th anniversary was celebrated with McLaren Day on June 4, which included a display that charted the marque’s road-car development from the iconic F1 hypercar, through to the MP4-12C of 2010, to today’s Artura and 750S supercars.
The London Concours also paid tribute to the Jaguar E-type with an eclectic gathering of 50 examples that spanned from early Series 1 models to contemporary restomods and Continuations. The special showcase marked 50 years since E-type production ended in 1974.
Some of the most memorable cars in the event occupied the Wild Cards class, which saw the bizarre 2007 TVR Scamander Amphibious emerge as the deserving winner ahead of a 1966 Iso Grifo GL350 and a 1958 Mercedes-Benz 220 S ‘Ponton’ Cabriolet.
Conceived by former TVR boss Peter Wheeler, and subsequently having spent 12 years languishing in a barn, the Scamander has recently been recommissioned with help from Evo founder and YouTuber Harry Metcalfe. The unique off-roader incorporates three-abreast seating beneath a sliding canopy, and is powered by a mid-mounted Ford V6 that develops 275bhp.
Other standout cars from the Wild Cards class included a 1974 Porsche 911 RSR with an eye-catching technicolour paintwork created by Chicago-based artist Lefty, aka Francesco Campanella, a one-of-a-kind 1958 Chevrolet Corvette C1 and a unique 1977 Jaguar XJC formerly owned by designer Ian Callum.
Another car that would have been at home in the Wild Cards class was The Beast. Originally custom built by Paul Jameson and John Dodd, The Beast is as renowned for its 27-litre Rolls-Royce aero engine as it is for the High Court case for copyright infringement prompted by its use of a Rolls-Royce grille. The Beast was Highly Commended in the Legendary V12 class, finishing behind a 1999 Ferrari F50 with just 9023 miles on its odometer, which was originally delivered to Guernsey.
The Hypercars class also had its share of headline-grabbing machines, including a 2023 Ferrari Daytona SP3, a Jaguar CX-75 prototype and a pair of McLaren P1 prototypes. The Daytona SP3 was named Best in Class ahead of a 2006 Porsche Carrera GT and the CX-75, which has successfully been converted to road-legal specification by CALLUM. Another CALLUM creation, the all-electric Skye, was on display after making its debut at the Concours on Savile Row in London on May 22.
Complementing the incredible selection of cars was Iconic Auctioneers’ London Concours Luxury Lifestyle Sale, which saw everything from desirable vehicles and luxury timepieces to art and automobilia cross the block on June 5.
Visitors also enjoyed tackling Asetek SimSports’ City Challenge simulator contest, as well as perusing boutiques from the likes of luxury watchmaker BALTIC, fine jeweller Calleija and many more.
For more on the London Concours, and details about the next event, which will take place on June 3-5, 2025, click here.
