The London Concours 2023 – Evolution of Aero class

It has taken me a while to get this post done, as life is busy, I have several videos to upload to out YouTube channel, but now I have got around to the review on the the recent and wonderful London Concours 2023, that was again held at the beautiful and historic Honourable Artillery Company estate in London. I attended on the 6th June which was the VIP, Press & owners day, and what a day.

You can see here our favourite pictures from the wonderful London Concours 2023. All of our photos are here on our Facebook Album here.

The Concours Classes in 2023 were:

Make green great again | Grand tourisme | Evolution of Aero | Golden-age coupes | Bespoke automotive | Built to race for the road | 60 years of Lamborghini | Wild cards

.

I took videos as I walked around each concours class. Here I want to focus on the Evolution of Aero concours class. You can see our video walk around the other classes by clicking on the links above or visiting our dedicated London Concours playlist on YouTube.

Here are the cars that featured in the Evolution of Aero concours class:

2013 McLaren P1

When the McLaren P1 arrived it was, as with its F1 predessor, at the cutting edge of racing tech.  Based around a carbon fibre monocoque, it boasts a 727 bhp 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 and 177 bhp motor.  The total 903bhp is sent to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch ‘box.

Further F1 tech includes Instant Power Assist System, and a Drag Reduction System to operate the rear wing. The Frank Stephenson-penned P1 generates 6ookg of downforce at 160mph.

This unique model wears a bespoke purple MSO exposed-carbon finish, complemented with silver rims and yellow calipers.

.

1990 De Tomaso Pantera GT5-S

The Pantera had much going for it: Italian flair teamed with US muscle. But by 1975 Ford had disengaged over quality concerns, which left Alejandro de Tomaso to further develop the car’s performance and aerodynamics.

The GT5 appeared in 1980, with wheel arch extensions that only got bigger with the GT5-S model of 1984. This also brought better brakes,larger wheels and a glass fibre body kit with an air dam and side skirts.

Just 183 GT5-S cars were built, and this one has sat in a collection for 27 years, with just two prior owners. It’s said to be the last GT5-S registered new in the UK.

.

1981 Porsche 930 Turbo

Although the concept of turbocharging had been around for many years, it was the pioneering developments of BMW and Porsche in the 1970s that thrust the word ‘Turbo’ to the forefront of performance motoring and beyond.

The 930 Turbo’s 3.0-litre, later 3.3, flat-six was needed to homologate racing cars, and in road-going form developed 256-296bhp. The current owner bought this example in May 2021 from three-time British Touring Car Champion Gordon Shedden.

Its engine has undergone a full rebuild by RPM Technik. The car also has rare Dr Fuhrmann orthopaedic seats; an £1800 option at the time, which meant not many buyers ticked that box on the order sheet.

.

1991 Jaguar XJR-15

Based on the Le Mans-winning XJR-9, the XJR-15 was Tom Walkinshaw Racing’s response to the XJ220, and was the world’s first Kevlar and carbon fibre production car. Designed by Tony Southgate and styled by Peter Stevens. Just 53 XJR-15s were built.

This example took part in the Jaguar Intercontinental Challenge, with owner Matt Aitken taking the wheel at Monaco and Silverstone, while David Leslie took over at Spa Francorchamps. The current, third owner has had it for more than 12 years.

It’s in original condition,having done fewer than 1000 miles. It can sprint to 6omph in 2.8 seconds, and topped out at 205mph.

.

2010 Lamborghini Murciélago SV

This final curtain call for the Murciélago was also the largest and last version of Lamborghini’s original V12, designed by the late Giotto Bizzarrini. It was a welcome return for the Super Veloce moniker, which had made its debut on the Miura.

The 6.5-litre V12 pushes out 661 bhp at 8ooo rpm, to deliver a o-6o mph time of 3.1 seconds and 0-100 mph time of 7.2 seconds. Such mind-warping figures need extensive aero, so the SV’s front spoiler was extended much further forwards to improve downforce, while the air intakes were enlarged to improve brake cooling. To help save weight, the exhaust was redesigned, the interior trimmed in Alcantara and carbon fibre used extensively throughout.

Of the 250 built, just six were produced for the UK. This is one of three surviving British cars; with 4300 miles and wearing Arancio Atlas with Nero Alcantara trim, it has a high wing and small SV sticker pack.

.

1970 Plymouth Superbird

The outrageous Plymouth Superbird was built as an homologation car based on the Roadrunner, in order to allow the manufacturer to win back Richard Petty from Ford and regain NASCAR for the Chrysler Corporation.

Its aerodynamics included a long ‘droop snoot’ and extremely high rear wing to keep the car planted to the race track at 200 mph. This car is number 1122 and sports the 440ci V8 engine option, complete with a six-pack carburettor set-up. It was first registered to a Charles Lewis of Albany, New York,and it then spent a long time in California before moving to Ohio. More recently it was restored by RK Motors of Charlotte, North Carolina. It was purchased by a UK car collector in 2013, and then acquired by the current owner in 2019.

.

1991 Ferrari F40

This Ferrari F40 was originally delivered to Sir Stirling Moss in 1991,and it has had just two owners since then. The model’s history file details correspondence between Enzo Ferrari and Sir Stirling, and later between the latter and the marque’s then commercial director Mario Clava, where Sir Stirling’s frustration with the car’s delayed delivery was evident. He pointed out that he’d raced 13 Ferraris, won in 11 of them, and come close to winning at Le Mans and Sebring. He went on to add: “lt is rather disappointing that winning with Ferrari does not have the kudos of being a pop star.” He was referring to his friend Nick Mason having already taken delivery of two F4Os – one for himself and one for Pink Floyd band-mate David Gilmour. The car has covered just 3600 miles.

.

2007 Bugatti Veyron

Few cars have shaken the foundations of the motoring world quite like the incredible Veyron -the world’s fastest car when it was launched, yet luxurious enough to be used as a grand tourer.

Originally destined for Belgium, Veyron no. 078 was PDI’d on 14 March 2007at Bugatti Automobiles SAS. The car became part of a well known collection and was used sparingly before being purchased by its first UK owner in 2009, with a mere 550km on the clock.

By 2012, when the Bugatti had covered just 871km, it was repurchased by the original UK selling dealer, put into storage and then sold to its second British owner. The Veyron was then purchased by its third UK keeper in late 2017 with 2050km. Since its arrival here, the Veyron has been maintained by HR Owen Bugatti.

.

1991 Schuppan 962CR P1

This car was the concours class winner and also the best in show winner.

With Group C endurance racing capturing the hearts and minds of motor sport enthusiasts around the world in the 1980s, numerous road-going projects sprung up .One of the most famous is the Schuppan 962CR.

Using a Porsche 956/962 as a base, the plan was to use a Reynard carbon fibre chassis with bodywork styled by Mike Simcoe. Sadly the plan didn’t work out, and just six cars (two LM models and two CRs) were built. This example was the project’s prototype and development car, and based on a racing machine that had competed at Le Mans in 1990.

It would later enter private ownership, spending some time in France before being brought back to the UK, where it has since been fully refurbished and retrimmed.

.

The London Concours was a thoroughly enjoyable show as it has been every year that I have attended.  It was also really good to award five of our readers, a pair of tickets each to attend the show, as they won a pair of tickets by entering our competition. Do make sure you are subscribed to our newsletter (click on the link below) and following us on social media (links below) so you don’t miss out on future competitions.

See you around.

Make sure that you are subscribed to our newsletter and following us on our social media channels to keep up to date with news, reviews, videos, our legendary competitions and more.

   Follow us on Instagram | Follow us on YouTube | Follow us on Facebook |  Follow us on Twitter