The London Concours 2018 will gather the most incredible collection of vehicles ever seen in the City of London, as the event kicks off at the Honourable Artillery Company from 7-8 June.
Nearly 100 performance icons, past and present, will park up in the five-acre oasis of green, hidden just off City Road – a stone’s throw from London landmarks like the Barbican and the Gherkin – for this year’s event. The main concours line-up of judged vehicles is split into classes named for the event’s central theme – Speed – so expect to see vehicles in ‘Fast’, ‘Faster’, ‘Very Fast’, ‘Superfast’, ‘Hyperfast’ and ‘Era-Defining’.
In ‘Fast’, presented by Remy Martin, you’ll find everything from a 1911 Renault Type CC up to the 1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale, with plenty more icons of speed in between. In ‘Faster’, presented by Azur, are rarities like the 1952 Ferrari 212/ 225 Inter Belinetta and 1953 Fiat 8V Ghia Supersonic. At the more modern end of the spectrum is the 1982 Porsche 911 SC and 1990 Alfa Romeo SZ.
‘Very Fast’, sponsored by Geely, runs from the 128mph 1911 Fiat S76 ‘Beast of Turin’, through the 1970 De Tomaso Mangusta and 1972 Ferrari Dino 246GT into the 2000s, with the Ferrari 550 Maranello and exclusive Porsche 911 Sport Classic.
Those cars in ‘Superfast’, presented by evo Magazine, were among the fastest in the world during their day, including the 1960 Aston Martin DB4 GT, 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL ‘Batmobile’ and 2003 Lamborghini Murcielago. Many cars from the past few years will also be on display, including the hardcore Aston Martin Vantage GT12, Ferrari F12 TdF and Bentley GT3-R. ‘Hyperfast’, sponsored by Octane takes matters of speed further still, showcasing only the fastest and purest supercars, including the Lamborghini Countach QV 5000, Ferrari F50 and Bugatti Veyron.
Then there are the cars that simply came to define their era, such were their achievements and innovations. In the ‘Era-Defining’ class, sponsored by Concours of Elegance are only the most iconic vehicles ever created, including the 1995 McLaren F1, 1990 Ferrari F40, 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL ‘Gullwing’ and 1969 Lamborghini Miura S.
But the main concours display of vehicles is only one small part of the London Concours event. Guests will also be able to see a grid of Global Endurance Legends, ranging from the Le Mans-winning Audi R8 prototype to the extreme Mercedes CLK-GTR and Ferrari F40 GT. In the evo Supercar Paddock, visitors will find a line-up of 10 of the latest hypercars, including the all-new Ford GT, Aston Martin Vantage and McLaren 720S.
Two further paddocks, the Royal Automobile Club display and the London Concours paddock, will pay homage to recreations, tuners and automotive innovations with a display of nearly 20 vehicles. Among them is the 1954 Lancia Aurelia B20GT ‘Outlaw’, the BMW Isetta ‘Bubble Car’ and the 2007 RUF Porsche 911 Turbo.
Some of the UK’s finest automotive specialists, retailers and brands will also be displaying some of their most incredible stock and new models. TVR will be bringing the new Griffith, Alpine is showcasing the new A110, Stratstone of Mayfair will be displaying the Aston Martin DB11 Volante, Brough Superior will have a display of its new SS100 motorbike and Eadon Green is hosting the art deco-inspired Zeclat. Classic car specialists Nicholas Mee & Co, Fiskens, JD Classics and Hemmels will also all be on the lawn.
Outside of the car displays, London Concours will also feature a number of pop-up luxury watch boutiques, including those of Breguet, Glasshutte and Vacheron Constantin. The latter will be bringing ‘Les Collectionneurs’ to London Concours, a collection of the brand’s most rare vintage timepieces, freshly serviced and restored. Arthouses, Collier Dobson, and Ella Freire will also be at the event, showcasing their latest pieces.
Billed as the ultimate luxury automotive garden party in the heart of the City, London Concours features a number of premium food and drink options, including bespoke cocktails from Remy Martin and champagne by Taittinger. There are a number of breakfast, lunch and evening cocktail options for entertaining, too
