10 Rare Cars that stood out at London Concours 2022

Very late in posting this, but life is busy, so I do what a can when I can. Here are 10 cars that really stood out to me at the London Concours 2022 that I’ve never seen before. In no particular order. Just wow on these cars, I love a rare and unique car.

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1996 Mercedes-Benz F200 ‘Imagination’

Featured in the coachbuilt and concepts concours class. What a sleek and beautiful looking car. Revealed at the 1996 Paris motor show, the electro- transparent roof would be seen on the Maybach 62, the butterfly doors would be used on the McLaren Mercedes SLR and the active body control suspension system would eventually be introduced on the 1999 CL- Class.

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2005 Bizzarrini Ghepardo

I like this car a lot. Unique looking, very low, just cool, period. The Ghepardo concept was revealed at the 2005 Geneva Auto Salon, with an all-aluminium body – a Bizzarrini calling card – and the shape inspired by the legendary 5300 GT.  The engine came from a Renault – derived GP2 engine capable of revving to 10,000 rpm. The car was said to be capable of 0 to 62 mph in 3.8 seconds, with a top speed of 225 mph.

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1998 Jaguar XK180 concept car

I think that this Jaguar has to be one of the coolest Jaguar’s ever made and not put into full production. What a shame. Looks very cool dont’t you think?

Built to mark 50 years of the XK120, the XK180 caused a huge stir at the 1998 Paris motor show. It was designed by XJ220 stylist Keith Helfet as a modern interpretation of the D-Type and E-Type. Although enthusiastically received, only two cars were ever built: this example is owned by the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust.

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1956 Maserati A6G 2000 GT

Very elegant and a beautiful looking car. Just 60 A6G 2000 GT’s were built, with most being bodied by Zagato, Pininfarina or Frua.  However, this particular example is one of 21 crafted by Turin- based Carrozzeria Allemano. 

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1960 Chrysler 300F Convertible

Featured in the fins and chrome and class. Very cool. You’d certainly need to have a large garage to fit this beauty in.

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1954 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Zagato

Featured in the coach built and concepts class. Another Zagato beauty.

The 1900 was Alfa’s first production-line car, but while upper management heralded the cost savings, general manager Iginio Alessio feared for the future of the Italy’s design houses and stylists. He instructed the car to be made so that five coachbuilders could use the unitary frame as the basis for their creations.

Zagato created this example for Joakim ‘Jo’ Bonnier, who won with it at the 1955 Swedish Grand Prix, and took a class victory at the Karlskoga circuit a week later.  Bonnier then sold the Alfa to Carl Lohmander, who competed in it at Denmark’s Roskilde Ring before inviting Bonnier to drive it at Oulton Park’s 1955 International Trophy. Again he took class victory.

Lohmander raced the car at several events, such as the Avusrennen in Berlin, and the car was featured in the December 1955 edition of Motor-Revy.  The car has since remained in Sweden and Norway, continuing to compete in many events.

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1991 Ronart Lightning GT

Featured in the coach built and concepts class. Not a beauty in my opinion, but unique for sure.

Built on the principles of quality and correctness – and V8 talk – the Peterborough – produced and built Ronart Lightning was intended to be a leading grand tourer. The body is all carbon fibre, and the space frame chassis and monocoque were designed in house with bespoke suspension.

The engine and gearbox came from Ford’s Mustang SVT, and it’s 4.6-Litre V8 provided 320bhp. A 500bhp supercharged version was also offered. The car was ahead of its time, featuring sat-nav, integral cooling fans in the leather Recaro seats, and it also had detachable carbon fibre roof panels.  Only six examples were built before production ceased, and this is one of justice three that are thought still to exist.  The fifth car built, it was the Ronart demonstrator and specified by the company chairman.

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1967 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Pick-Up

Featured in the coach built and concepts class. Two phrases I never thought I would hear in the same sentence Rolls-Royce and pick up. Amazing that this car even exists and respect to the original owner for commissioning its creation.

The brief for this unusual conversion was simple: build the ultimate Goodwood Revival tow vehicle. The car’s owner, a prominent historic motorsport enthusiast, entrusted Essex based Clarke and Carter with transforming a 1967 Silver Shadow into an elegant pickup.

In fact, the example the specialist was given had already been converted, but to a rather lesser standard- so to attain the quality required the restorers virtually had to start all over again.

The result is befitting of the authentic cars ethos, with hand-crafted detailing applied throughout. Fun flourishes included the ‘pick-up’ badging, created in a script mimicking what you would find on an original Silver Shadow.

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1935 Jaguar SS1 Airline Saloon

Featured in the great British history class. I just think this is a cool car, very unique looking and a unusual colour.

The SS1 offered extravagant looks for a palatable price, and was available in fixed head coupe, tourer, sports saloon and drophead coupe form. It was not intended as a performance car, with up to 20 BHP available.

The Airline coupe was styled to get the most out of the six- cylinder engine, with a smooth air-sparing design that reflected the art deco fashion of the time. Only 624 were produced, and this one was originally delivered in March 1935 to Captain S Clough by Glovers of Harrogate.

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1929 Vauxhall Hurlingham 20-60 Speedster

Featured in the great British history class. Vauxhall built its’s first car in 1903, making it Britains oldest car maker. Named after the Vauxhall area of Lambeth where the original works were located. In 1905 Vauxhall moved to Luton where between 1927 and 1933 less than 50 Hurlinghams were built. To date only 19 cars are known worldwide with 5 in the UK. The Hurlingham captured the art-deco spirit of the 20’s with a centre body line running from the speedbird mascot to cropped boat tail. Scuttle mounted marine style vents, twin window-screens and flip up mother-in-law dicky seat complete the design.

I hope you enjoyed seeing these cars as much as I did. Many of these cars I saw for the very first time at the London Concours, which is why I love this event so much and cannot wait for next years event.

Have you seen our video (below), where we take a walk around the London Concours 2022, if not, here it is (and don’t forward to subscribe to our YouTube Channel).