London Concours 2024: The Purple Reign Concours Class

The London Concours is an automotive garden party in the heart of the city, gathering together nearly 100 motoring icons, old and new, in one of London’s most beautiful historic hidden venues, the HAC (Honourable Artillery Company) estate. The cars sit at the apex of an event brimming with fine champagne and world-class gastronomy, enjoyed with a live music soundtrack and surrounded by pop-up boutiques from sought-after luxury brands. Held across three days, the London Concours opens up the world of top-end craftsmanship in automotive and beyond, with live panel discussions, awards ceremonies and roving comperes, shining a spotlight on the passion and the heritage of the brands and vehicles on display.  It is truly a wonderful event for anyone with a passion for cars.

In 2024 the London Concours had nine concours classes, namely Great British Racing, The Legendary V12, The Hypercars, Carnaby Street, Coachbuilt Greats – Zagato, Purple Reign, Corvette – A Design Icon, Areo – Front Enlightened and Wild Cards

Here we look at the Concours Class: Purple Reign

In this class, London Concours took a modern twist on Henry Ford’s famous quote, welcoming cars in any colour as long as it’s purple. It remains a rare choice today, but some of the most striking performance cars are finished in this shade, stretching right back to Ferraris of the 70s. Here London Concours celebrated those brave souls who believed in purple, and have been rightly rewarded.

The cars on show:

1964 Aston Martin DB5

DB5Chassis DB5/1604/R is an early Series IV. Presented in its original Roman Purple colour, it is one of 1022 built. The owner acquired it in 2018, when it’d been off the road for 40 years. It’s now been refurbished to ensure its preservation while keeping its patina. In 2019, RS Williams undertook a complete mechanical overhaul, during which the engine was rebuilt to 330bhp 4.7-litre spec. Cosmetic improvements included new carpets, spotlights and a concealed radio. The car was stripped in order to attend to rust and deterioration, but the paint was left untouched to retain the feel of an unrestored car. Since 2020, the Aston Martin has covered 18,000 miles, including cross-continental runs.

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1964 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso

Designed to bridge the gap between the sporty 250 GT SWB and the luxury-focused 250 GTE 2+2, the 250 GT Lusso turned out to be the last of the famous ‘250’ line. A 240bhp 3.0-litre Colombo V12 gave 150mph and a sub-8.0-second 0-60mph sprint. The valves and crank were sourced from the 250 GT, while the pistons and block came from the 250 GTE. The Lusso element meant the car offered hitherto-unknown levels of space compared with its sportier sisters. And if the fixed-position seatbacks gave taller occupants a challenge, the driver could at least adjust the pedals by up to 5cm. They also got a three-spoke wood and aluminium Nardi steering wheel.

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1970 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 “Daytona”

Also known as the Daytona after Ferrari’s victory on Ford’s home turf in the 24- hour race of the same name, the 365 GTB/4 was the last of an era until the 1990s. It marked the end of the two-seater, front-engined, V12 Ferrari flagship – but what a way to go out. Penned by Pininfarina’s Leonardo Fioravanti, the 365 GTB/4 used a 347bhp development of the 275 GTB/4’s Colombo V12. Independent suspension featured at each corner. Just 156 were built in right-hand drive. Early cars had fixed headlamps behind an acrylic glass cover, but this was changed to retractable pop-up headlamps in 1971.

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1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Touring

The Carrera RS 2.7 was built to allow Porsche to put up a strong fight in endurance racing, but its impact went far beyond that. Despite the marketing department’s fears about such a hardcore car, it sold more than twice what was needed for motor sport homologation. Using the 911S as a basis, the engine was bored out to 2.7 litres and the car was lightweighted down to the minimum. It also featured Bosch mechanical fuel injection, beefier suspension, larger brakes, wider rear wheels and the infamous ducktail spoiler. Spending 30 years in the care of Simon F Phillips, a five-time Le Mans starter and former BRDC director, this matching-numbers 2.7 RS Touring was purchased by the current custodian in 2013, having been previously refinished in dark metallic grey. Restored to its original colour in 2015, it’s one of just 16 examples built in Lilac, and one of 117 RHD cars from the total production run.

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1994 Lamborghini Diablo SE30 Supercharged

This impressively upgraded 634bhp SE30 prototype boasts a supercharger upgrade and a unique purple finish. It is a one-of- a-kind masterpiece, born of the creativity and passion of the team at Lamborghini Hoecker in Landau, in collaboration with the marque’s Sant’Agata Bolognese factory. Said to be one of the fastest Diablos ever, it has been sparingly driven in recent years and is in excellent condition. Various modifications include McLaren F1 brakes, a specially adapted engine control for the supercharger, a carbon intake for the supercharger air duct and a 400km/h speedo.

This car one the concours class category and also the show winner.

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1995 Lamborghini Diablo SE30 Jota

The SE30, built to mark Lamborghini’s 30th year, was essentially a street legal race car. A reworked fuel system, exhaust and air intake helped it to kick out 523bhp. It also did without the standard Diablo’s four-wheel drive. To keep weight down, the SE30 used Plexiglas side windows, and it lost the air-con, stereo and power steering set-ups. It also got carbon fibre seats, a larger rear spoiler, magnesium alloys and a
deeper front spoiler. The Jota kit further upped power to 595bhp. This car was sold new to a major UK collector, and is one of just two factory-built RHD cars that came to the UK. It’s the only one here now.

This was my favourite car of this concours class.

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2013 McLaren P1

As with its McLaren F1 predecessor, the P1 was at the cutting edge of racing tech. Using a carbon fibre monocoque, it’s powered by a 727bhp 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 augmented with a 177bhp electric motor. That is a huge 903bhp, sent to the rear tyres via a Graziano Trasmissioni seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
Further F1 technology can be found elsewhere, with the Instant Power Assist System and Drag Reduction System. The Frank Stephenson-penned P1 generates 600kg of downforce at 160mph. Just 375 cars were built, with little more than a quarter of the figure remaining in Europe.

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2022 Ferrari 812 Competizione

The 812 Competizione follows in the footsteps of the 599 GTO and F12 TdF, by turning the adrenaline up to 11 on Ferrari’s flagship series production car. The 812 Superfast’s 6.5-litre V12 was retuned to produce 819bhp, with 510lb ft of torque at 7000rpm. Many of the internals were revised, with upgraded conrods, pistons and crank. The intake system was also redesigned, helping to deliver more power at higher revs. Further upgrades included the reworking of the 812’s aerodynamic profile, as well as adding independent four-wheel steering. The seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox was updated, too. This particular car was purchased in September 2022, from Meridien Modena in Lyndhurst, Hampshire. The Ferrari frequently visits charity track days at Goodwood.

In my opinion, one of the better looking Ferrari of the last decade.

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2022 Zenvo TSR-S

The Zenvo TSR-S is the roadgoing version of the TSR, the track-only version of the Zenvo TS1 GT. The TSR-S is 85kg lighter than the latter, at 1465kg. Its carbon fibre wing can rotate in two axis, acting as an air brake and for further stabilisation in corners. While the cabin can be as stripped out as the TSR’s, a radio and air-con can be added. The 5.8-litre twin-supercharged V8 kicks out 1177bhp, which can punt
the Zenvo to 62mph in 2.8 seconds and on to 202mph. Owned by Tim Burton – aka Shmee150 – it has been showcased on the Road to Zenvo online video series. He’s used the car in Europe and taken it to the US, too.

Not a great looking car in our opinion, but it sure is purple and has presence.

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I hope you liked our article. What is your favourite car here?