Top 10 cars from the London Classic Car Show 2021

The London Classic Car Show 2021 took place at Syon Park, West London from the 25th and 27th June 2021 and what an event it was. We attended this event on Friday 25th June. The weather was perfect, even though the weather forecast had stated rain was highly likely. The event was well attended and a good display of vehicles present, topped off with a good selection of stalls and good talks held in their Theatre, where they interviewed various well-known car people.

Here are our top 10 cars from the London Classic Car Show 2021. We’ve listed the cars in order of the cars that caught my attention most. See what you think of our selection, we’d love to hear your comments on the cars we’ve selected. If you attended this event what were your favourite cars?

You can read our postcard from the London Classic Car Show 2021 here. View all of our photos from the event here and don’t forget to follow us on social media channels, we are on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

1914/17 Fafnir Hall-Scott Special

Fafnir was a car manufacturer based in Aachen,Germany, between 1908 and 1926. The name comes from an evil dragon in Nordic legend. This 1914 car is fitted with a 10-litre Hall-Scott aero engine built in 1917 for an American Standard J1 biplane. The bodywork is styled after one of the six Fafnir team cars of the early 20’s (shown below), which all had different ‘faces’ on their radiator shrouds and radiator caps in the form of a hat.

This car is still raced today, and most recently was seen in action at the 2019 Members Meeting at Goodwood. Super cool, beautiful, raw, honest, I’d just love to own and/ or drive it. PLEASE.

Car facts

Chassis: 1914 Fafnir

Engine: 1917 Hall-Scott A7-A, four cylinder, water-cooled,single overhead cam

Capacity: 10.000cc

Bore x Stroke: 5.25 inches x 7 inches

Power: C.100bhp

Torque: 480ft lb (650Nm)@ 1300rpm

Gearing: 58mph per 1000rpm

Max speed: Over 100mph

Brakes: Rear only

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1905 Fiat Isotta-Fracchini

What a beast of a car. This car featured in the Aero-engined monsters, and what a monster (a beautiful monster I’d like to add) it is. The present owner (Michael) told me this had a 16 litre engine, sourced from a World War One Zepplin, yes a Zepplin. Totally bonkers. The current owner has also driven over 100mph, where he states the front starts to lift a little (you’ll need balls of steel to drive this then).

This car has an estimated 230 hp and is said to be capable of 127 mph! It is the epitome of the Aero-engined monster. I love it. Bravo.

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Bensport “Le Sarthe“ Fastback Coupe

This car was designed by and it’s built by Bensport Ltd, in Hilton, Somerset, England. It is not a copy or a re-creation, but a unique, new, coachbuilt Bentley, in the spirit of the 1950s. Named to reflect Bentleys splendid racing history at Le Mans “Le Circuit de La Sathe”.

Based on a Bentley are type chassis, manufactured in crew in 1954, now totally restored to the most demanding standards by Bensport. Each car carries its own Bentley factory record cards confirming mechanical authenticity. The body is handcrafted on an English wheelbase by time served craftsmen. The beautiful interior again reflects the time to trim style of the 1950s, with simple luxurious elegance. The skilful blend of body, interior and chassis, united using the finest engineering techniques, morph into La Sarthe. But La Sarthe is not just beautiful; it is also practical and can happily be used on the modern motoring conditions. The subtlety of line and a flowing curvaceous form is sympathetically combined with the requirements of the modern driver. Power steering, air-conditioning, power windows and more, all contribute to a thoroughbred classic of unparalleled elegance, giving an unparalleled driving experience. La Sarthe is available with manual or automatic transmission and in right or left hand drive. List price will be £550,000, ouch, but that seems to be the price of bespoke handbuilt cars these days.

A truly beautiful car with amazing English craftsmanship. Love it.

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1939 Delahaye 135 MS

I do not have any information for you on this car, but I do know it is beautiful, so deserves a place in out top 10. Exquisite.

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1964 Maserati Sebring I

What a beauty. Registration: BPR 448B

Originally known as the Maserati 3500GTiS, this sporty 2+2 coupe, designed by Giovanni Michelotti for Vignale sits on a shortened Maserati 3500GT tubular steel chassis.

It is one of 348 series one cars, and one of only 15 RHD versions. Despite an exotic specification for the era, at around £5,200 in basic spec, it was very expensive, even compared to an Aston Martin DB5 at £4,200 let alone an E-type for £2,000. This was the model that began Luciano Pavarotti’s lifelong love affair with Maserati.  Even Jeremy Clarkson, as a young boy, became infatuated with this, the most desirable car in his treasured Ladybird Book of Motor Cars.

The 235 BHP comes from a straight six all aluminium double overhead camshaft engine of 3485cc with 2 sparks plugs for each of its 6 cylinders fed by Lucas mechanical fuel has an alternator, disc brakes all round, 5 speed ZF manual gearbox, a GKN limited slip differential, plus the desirable option of Borrani wire spoke wheels. Comforts include electric windows; a curious surface mounted rear window demist system and air horns that now play “il Padrino”.

Performance was a claimed 146 mph with 60 mph coming up in 7.6 seconds, but 135 mph with 60 mph achievable in under 8 seconds is probably more realistic. The current owner has owned this car since 1997. The previous owner acquired this car in 1986. This Sebring is no trailer queen, but a true Grand Tourer, having taken the present owner all over Europe, including round trips to Norway, Berlin, Rome, Paris, Dresden, Florence, Sweden, Austria, the Pyrenees and more.

It has won Concours events in Belgium, Holland, Germany and the UK and has been a winning partner on many rallies, successfully participating in track and hill climb events too. The owner says “Guiding its bonnet down the road, I never tire of its sporty feel, knowing my Sebring is a true and glamorous friend!”

Stunning, just the type of car I can look at for ages. Love it.

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1957 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL

What an absolute beauty. In my opinion this 190 SL is in the best colour combination, that being silver exterior, red interior. Gorgeous.

The 190 SL four cylinder was first shown in 1954 at the New York Auto Show. This car was shipped from Daimler Benz in Germany to Stude Baker Packard in Los Angles in late December 1957. The data card shows the car had extras when it was sent to the USA including; the stereo which was the Becker Europa. However, the car was fitted with the Becker Mexico which was a massive upgrade. The Becker Mexico was fitted in the 300 SL and the Gullwing. The stereo would have cost $280.00 which today would equate to around $7000. How bonkers is that? The stereo has been refurbished with the auto tracking working. The stereo now connects to your phone via bluetooth with a high quality surround sound speaker system has been fitted inside the car. An additional feature is the clock, which is fitted in the glove box. However, this was not standard for another 2 years. The car was purchased in 2020 by the current owner from a car collector in Western France. He had the car for 8 years, and before that a collector in Spain had the vehicle for a further 10 years.

This year the car was taken back to the aluminium body by S&S repair centre, the exterior was resprayed in the silver you see today. Also, the exterior chroming was taken off and re chromed at a cost of £2,800. The car has been fitted with an extra fan to stop the car from over heating, which can be turned on at any time when it is needed. The present owner has also had an electric fuel pump fitted so that the car will start first time and on hills, this is fitted to a switch and is used when needed. The interior of the car has been kept in its beautiful oldish condition. Stunning.

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1959 Chevrolet Corvette

Gee whizz it’s a cracker.

Reguistration: 159 XVF

Built 26th May 1959 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA Number 7779 of a total of 9670 built that year. 1959 Base Price was $3875 plus approx $400 for options. Total $4275 or £1500 (1959 exchange rate)  which equated to $38000 and £29000 (June 2020 exchange rate). Most components are original including: Chassis, Body, Copper Radiator, Instruments & Gauges, Steering Wheel, Glass, Seat frames & filling, Generator, Distributor, Air Cleaner, Valve Covers, Brakes (drum), Most of the Suspension (solid rear axel), Posi rear end built 30th April1959, T-10 4 speed Borg Warner Transmission built 24th March 1959. The original Engine would have been a 283 cid (4.7 ltr) V8. This was replaced at some point with the current 327 cid (5.4 ltr) V8

Small Block 3782870, Engine code T0715HC. This engine was built as a 275 HP 4 barrel with a Powerglide automatic transmission in July 1965 in Tonawanda, New York. It’s now matched with a Carter AFB 4 barrel Carburetor and 300HP Corvette Intake 3844459 built 1963-1965.  It is stunning, we love it. When the owner wants to sell it, price dependent, I would seriously consider buying. Bravo.

More info on this car here.

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1971 Maserati Ghibli 4900 SS

Registration: MCU 373K – 1971

This left-hand drive Ghibli is 1 of 425 SS coupes. The car was purchased new in 1972 by Pittsburgh shipping magnate John Feury, who apparently racked up a grand total of 5,900 miles in 15 years before selling car in 1987 to Eldo and Betty Bisacca, also from Pittsburgh. Eldo drove the car sparingly over the next 13 years until his death in 2000. The car remained in the family’s ownership, with Betty keeping the car in storage until her death in 2014, when the car was discovered in her dry, but much cluttered garage. The mileage at this time was around 9,500 miles.

A US classic car dealer brought the car back into use and sold it unrestored to the current UK owner in early 2016.  The car showed some patina from its long unattended slumber in Betty’s garage, but was an honest and original Ghibli that still bore it’s factory specification of ‘Rocco Fuocco’ paintwork, ‘Bianco’ Connolly leather and its original engine.

The current owner had a sensitive restoration carried out in the UK by Radford Restorations, which took around a year to complete and the car was registered in the UK in November 2016. It still has a very low recorded mileage of just over 11,000.

Astounding. Love, love, love.

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1939 Bentley 4.25-Litre MX Overdrive Chassis (Bentley Embiricos)

This car is also known as the 1939 Embiricos Bentley. It is an absolute stunning car and a beautiful piece of art. To many this Bentley is the best looking Bentley ever made. It is named after its first owner, Andre Maris Embiricos, a Greek shipping tycoon and amateur racing driver who financed the cars design and construction. In a way, however, its admirers should perhaps instead link it with the name of Georges Paulin, the talented French engineer and aerodynamicist. He created its wind – cheating profile while a designer working for the coachbuilders Pourtout Carrossier when he was, apparently, also working at his business as a dental technician in Paris. It would also honour him as he was a brave French resistance operative in World War II who was executed by a Gestapo firing squad. As well as being beautiful, the car was also fast. In 1949 its new owners, H.S.F. Hay and journalist Tommy Wisdom, cruised in luxury to an impressive sixth place in the Le Mans 24 hours race. Today the car is considered an important part of Bentley history because its design influence future Bentley production models such as the 1952 R-Type Continental.

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1961 Lancia Appia 3rd Series GTE Zagato

No real details on this specific car, but what a beauty. What’s not to love it’s a Lancia and it’s got styling by Zagato. Zagato always take cars to another level from a beautiful aesthetic perspective and this car is right up there as a beautiful and stunning looking car. We love this car.

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Land Rover Defender (Retro Mod – Electric)

This is a bespoke car that has been made by the Electric Classic Cars Company. It’s absolutely beautiful and truly unique it’s a one of one car and we love it. Bravo to all at the Electric Car Company that were involved in the build.

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STEYR Puch 500

A very rare Fiat 500. The seller, the classic car company reckons there’s only four of these cars in the UK. This car in a cherry red is absolutely stunning and we love it.

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Okay so there you have our top 10 cars from the London Classic Car Show 2021. I’m sure you’ll have noticed that there were more than 10 cars, there were actually 12 and we could’ve put in many more great cars, including some of our favourites, a Ferrari F40, a Lamborghini Diablo, an Alfa Romeo SZ, a BMW 635CSI, a BMW M1 (this was impeccable and owned by BMW). Just so many cars to choose from, it’s always hard to get your list down to just a top 10. Anyway hope you liked our top 10. What car above grips your attention?

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For more London Classic Car Show news, views, photos, videos and reviews you can get more information here. For more Top 10s check this out.