Britain’s most exclusive car show returns to Hampton Court

From a Ferrari 250MM Spyder with racing pedigree to the opulent Rolls-Royce “Phantom of Love”, the Concours of Elegance 2025 brought 80 of the world’s rarest and most storied cars to Hampton Court Palace. Motoring editor Mark G Whitchurch reports from Britain’s most exclusive showcase

Set against the regal backdrop of Hampton Court Palace, the Concours of Elegance 2025 was a celebration of automotive artistry, heritage and style. In the manicured formal gardens, where the ghosts of monarchs linger and the scent of Fortnum & Mason picnics drifts through the air, a different kind of royalty gathered between 5 and 7 September.

Featuring 80 of the world’s rarest and most historically significant cars, many of which had never been seen in the UK before, the event offered a curated and intimate experience unlike any other car show in Britain. It is often described as the UK’s Pebble Beach or Villa d’Este.

Each vehicle is chosen for rarity, historical significance, design excellence and sheer presence. These are living artefacts, often driven to the palace under their own power, rather than static museum pieces.

This year’s line-up resembled a fantasy garage. A 1955 Aston Martin DB3S Coupé, one of only three ever built, stood alongside a 1938 Delahaye 135MS with Figoni et Falaschi coachwork so sculptural it could belong in the Louvre. Nearby, a 1926 Rolls-Royce Phantom I known as “The Phantom of Love” dazzled with a Rococo interior inspired by Marie Antoinette’s sedan chair. It is more than a car; it is a rolling Versailles.

Three exquisite Vignale-bodied Ferraris from the 1950s also stole headlines. Two Ferrari 212 Exports, one barchetta and one cabriolet, were restored to original specification and rich in motorsport history. Yet it was the 1953 Ferrari 250MM Vignale Spyder, the final example built and a podium finisher at the 1000km Buenos Aires race, that stopped me in my tracks.

One of the standout features of the 2025 edition was “The Collector” class, a showcase of ultra-rare Ferraris and Porsches from a single private collection. Many had never been displayed publicly before. It was a glimpse into a world few will ever access, and it was breathtaking.

Among the Ferraris was the SF90 XX Spyder, a hybrid hypercar with nearly 1,000bhp and a silhouette that looked like lightning in metal. The F40 LM, a race-bred evolution of the iconic F40, snarled with exposed carbon and aggressive aero. The 333 SP, a prototype racer once dominant in IMSA, now sat serenely on palace lawns.

The Porsche line-up was equally intoxicating. A 935 Homage with its vast rear wing and Martini livery channelled the spirit of Le Mans. A Targa Florio-winning 911 RSR still wore its evocative colours. These were chapters in the story of speed rather than simple display cars.

An exceptionally rare French sports car, the Ligier JS2, returned to the limelight for the first time in decades. Conceived by racing legend Guy Ligier in the early 1970s, the lightweight machine was powered by a 3.0-litre Maserati V6, giving it performance strong enough to challenge Italy’s finest. It drew admiring crowds throughout the weekend.

The Concours is about more than horsepower and heritage. It is about atmosphere: the way sunlight catches the polished chrome of a Bentley Speed Six, or how the scent of Penhaligon’s perfume mingles with freshly cut grass and vintage petrol.

Guests arrived dressed for a garden party rather than a racetrack. Linen suits, silk scarves and panama hats abounded. Charles Heidsieck champagne flowed freely, while gourmet hampers from Fortnum & Mason were unpacked on tartan blankets. It was an unmistakably British scene in the autumn sunshine.

Luxury brands lined the perimeter, from bespoke watchmakers to artisan leather houses. Main sponsor A. Lange & Söhne showcased its horological masterpieces. Leading UK automotive specialists including Fiskens, Brian Classic & Company, Bentley Heritage, HWM Aston Martin, Morgan, Automobili Lamborghini, P&A Wood, William L’Anson and the National Motor Museum assembled an extraordinary inventory to tempt collectors.

The Restoration Showcase added another dimension. Bare bodyshells fresh from paint sat alongside fully restored Land Rover resto-mods, highlighting the craft of preservation.

Manufacturers also lent strong support with heritage fleets. Bentley displayed much of its historic collection, while the Mercedes-Benz Heritage Museum presented three icons. At the centre was the legendary W196R, chassis number 13, driven by Juan Manuel Fangio to victory at the 1955 Dutch Grand Prix. Alongside it, the W05 hybrid, the car that began Mercedes’ modern dominance in 2014, stood as a reminder of F1’s current era. Completing the trio was the radical C111-II, a 1970 concept still futuristic five decades on, with four-rotor Wankel engine, lightweight bodywork and dramatic gullwing doors.

Inclusivity and fresh energy came through two parallel events. The Levitt Concours, named after pioneer racer Dorothy Levitt, celebrated women-owned classics from Alfa Romeo Spiders to Porsche 911 SCs. The Thirty Under 30 showcase honoured young enthusiasts restoring cars on tight budgets, proving that passion matters more than polish.

Even the youngest visitors were included through the Junior Concours, which featured pedal cars, scale models and electric miniatures proudly paraded by parents and children. It was charming and strategic, planting the seed of car appreciation early and cultivating the next generation of collectors.

What makes the Concours unique is access not only to the cars but also to their custodians. Owners stood beside their machines, sharing stories of restoration and racing. One moment you might be speaking to a Le Mans veteran, the next to a collector who had once refused a seven-figure offer for his Alfa Romeo 8C.

Alongside the parades were panel discussions and fireside chats on subjects ranging from sustainable fuels to the future of coachbuilding. Business cards changed hands as freely as ideas.

Although proudly British in setting and sensibility, the Concours is international in scope. Cars arrived from Monaco, California, Tokyo and beyond, adding global depth without diluting character. This remains a British affair: polished, polite and quietly spectacular.

In an age of instant gratification, the Concours offers something rare. Time to admire, time to converse, time to reflect. It is as much about stillness as spectacle, about the artistry of a hand-formed fender or the patina of a century-old dashboard.

It is also about preservation. Many of the cars are the last of their kind, kept alive not by museums but by dedicated individuals. Bringing them to public view ensures their stories endure.

As the sun dipped behind Hampton Court and champagne glasses emptied, one phrase captured the mood: “The right crowd, and no crowding.” Borrowed from Brooklands before the war, it still defines the Concours.

The event is not designed for everyone, and that is the point. It is for those who value craftsmanship, elegance and history, and who understand that sometimes the most powerful engine is the one that moves the soul.

My Favourite: 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C Boulogne Saloon

Commissioned by WWI veteran Lieutenant Glen Kidston RN, the 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C Boulogne was one of the most luxurious and technically advanced cars of its era. Built with bespoke coachwork by Hooper & Co., it featured lavish details including silk curtains, ivory fittings and four horns. Debuting at the Olympia Motor Show and lapping Brooklands at 84mph, it quickly became a symbol of aristocratic elegance.

After decades of obscurity and multiple body changes, including a stint in Jamaica and 60 years in New Zealand, the car was rediscovered by leading international dealer Simon Kidston, nephew of Lieutenant Kidston, who repatriated it to the UK in 2018. Retaining its original chassis and mechanicals, it underwent meticulous restoration to 1924 specification, guided by original Hooper records found in a Cold War-era archive of the British Science Museum.

Following 18,000 hours of expert craftsmanship by Jonathan Wood, the car was completed in August and reclaimed its original registration, HS 3566. It made its concours debut at Pebble Beach before returning to the UK for a triumphant showing at Hampton Court, 101 years after its first public appearance.

Best of Show: Rolls-Royce Phantom I “The Phantom of Love”

The 1926 Rolls-Royce Phantom I, affectionately known as “The Phantom of Love”, was one of the undisputed stars of the 2025 Concours. Commissioned by Clarence Gasque, a Woolworths executive, as a lavish gift for his wife, the car is a breathtaking fusion of romance and craftsmanship.

Coachbuilt by Charles Clark & Sons, its design was inspired by a Rococo-style sedan chair once owned by Marie Antoinette. The result is an opulent interior featuring satinwood panelling, hand-painted medallions and Aubusson tapestries that alone took nine months to produce. Cherub-adorned lighting fixtures and a bow-fronted drinks cabinet completed the palatial ambience.

Costing £6,500 when new, at a time when the average UK house price was £500, the Phantom of Love symbolised extravagant devotion and remains one of the most artistically ambitious Rolls-Royces ever built. Its presence at Hampton Court captivated visitors and judges alike, reaffirming its status as one of the most romantic and historically significant motor cars in existence.

Our Classic for the Day: 1968 Aston Martin DB6

My thanks go to Debbie Fortune for allowing me to take her prized 1968 Aston Martin DB6 to Hampton Court Palace, with her husband Mark Hayward joining me for the ride.

Back in the day, the DB6 was known for its refined ride and luxurious appointments. Servo-assisted brakes, hydraulic power steering and four-wheel disc brakes were some of the technical features that elevated its status.

An evolution of the iconic ‘James Bond’ DB5, the DB6 was described by Chiltern Aston Martin specialists at the Concours as “the car the factory always intended to build” when it launched the DB5. Designed as a grand tourer with sporting connotations, its extended wheelbase and Kamm-tail gave aerodynamic efficiency while retaining the evocative styling of its predecessor. The spacious 2+2 layout added to its usability.

Inside, it remains a masterclass in British craftsmanship and understated luxury. Rich Connolly leather is paired with deep-pile Wilton wool carpets, while the imposing wooden-rimmed steering wheel creates a commanding yet inviting driving position.

This particular example has been carefully enhanced for modern touring. Air-conditioning, available when new, has been upgraded to a modern unit. A five-speed gearbox ensures the 4.0-litre DOHC straight-six delivers creamy performance with ease. Modern tyres and supple suspension work in harmony with beautifully weighted steering, allowing the long curvaceous bonnet to be placed confidently into fast, flowing corners.

Debbie believes that classic cars must be driven if they are to be appreciated by the next generation. After 200 miles of exhilarating driving, her DB6 proved to be exactly that: elegant, capable and utterly rewarding.

Mark G. Whitchurch is a seasoned motoring journalist whose work—covering road tests, launch reports, scenic drives, major races, and event reviews—has appeared in The Observer, Daily Telegraph, Bristol Evening Post, Classic & Sports Car Magazine, Mini Magazine, Classic Car Weekly, AutoCar Magazine, and the Western Daily Press, among others. He won the Tourism Malaysia Regional Travel Writer of the Year in 2003 and is a member of The Guild of Motoring Writers.

Photos: Supplied