The best cars of the London Concours

An era-defining supercar, the F40 was a bi-turbo behemoth which demanded respect – and prime bedroom-walls real estate for many a child of the 1980s. Heralded in automotive folklore for its aggressive looks, carbon fibre-kevlar-aluminum body construction and astonishing engine note, the F40 is for many the ultimate iteration of the Ferrari F-car.

With a limited production of just 499 cars, Ferrari’s technological tour de force was first introduced in 2013. Powered by a 950bhp hybrid V12, the LaFerrari has a top speed of more than 217mph and can travel from 0-62mph in under three seconds.

The Jaguar XJR-15 is one of the most focussed road cars ever produced, having been directly derived from the Jaguar XJR-9 that won at Le Mans in 1988. The carbon-fibre tub and high-tech racing suspension both came directly from the Le Mans racer, with a 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 450hp.

Greeting visitors to this year’s London Concours will be a very special display of the 2018 ‘Best in Show’, the 28.5-litre Fiat S76 ‘Beast of Turin’. Hosted on an elegant rotating stage from Spin-It automotive turntables, guests will be able to experience the sheer size of this land speed record car, which reportedly hit 135mph almost 110 years ago. 

Described by some as the world’s first supercar, the Lamborghini Miura debuted in 1966 with the aim of relegating Ferrari to the sidelines. The Miura became the fastest car in the world at the time, with a top speed of 170mph, and as many as ten examples will gather at the London Concours.

A bespoke creation by specialists Thornley Kelham Ltd, this 1954 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT ‘Outlaw’ is the result of more than 5,000 hours of restoration and customisation, including a lowered roofline and 2.6-litre fuel-injected V6. 

The F1 was the fastest car in the world for 13 years, from 1992 to 2005, setting a record of 240.1mph. It implemented a number of firsts for a road car, including a chassis made completely of carbon fibre-reinforced polymer. The F1 seats three people, with the driver sitting centrally, and also features an engine bay lined with gold leaf for heat management. 

This Porsche 356 is part of the ‘Outlaw’ restoration scene, taking rare and valuable cars and modifying them to personal tastes. In this case, the removal of the bumper and bonnet chrome help create a smooth exterior look, complemented by a stylish red and black leather-trimmed interior.

This collaboration between Mercedes and McLaren produced one of the most dramatic sports cars of the early 2000s. Its lightweight carbon-fibre body and 650PS hand-built V8 engine allowed for acceleration from 0-62mph in just 3.6 seconds.