Royal Support

photo credit Tim Scott at Fluid Images

Southern Porsche Club member, Jeff Maynard, was proud to provide

his people's choice winner at Beaulieu's Supercar showdown the month before - a GT3 RS where it won over Lambos,  Ferraris etc

It was the only modern Porsche on display for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee,

after the German financed official Porsche Club GB "declined to attend", according to the disappointed organisers we spoke to.

photo credit Shutterstock

The car enthusiast world entered a new era in September with a level of Royal support never before witnessed, putting the UK at the pinnacle of world class concours events.

“This has set a new standard"                                 

Petersen Museum, Los Angeles

“I thought I had seen it all...but nothing prepared me for this event" 

Victor Muller

“The event was more thrilling than when I clocked 190mph in the open top Turbo S" 

Jeff Maynard

Prince Charles' rare Aston Martin Volante DB6 MkII appeared together with the most expensive and rare collectors' cars in the world - including cars from USA, Argentina,and Europe, some never before seen here. 

Prince Charles' Aston Martin Volante DB6 MkII - one of about a dozen made

Jeff's People's Choice (Beaulieu the month before).

Jeff was asked to display his GT3 RS (rather than his 911 Turbo S cabriolet!).

He was also asked to wear ‘period dress’ so he wore Calvin Klein shorts and a Ralph Lauren polo shirt! The tour had driven from Kensington Palace to Windsor Castle.

Jeff, a well known figure in the British Porsche world, had not been on the Tour, but in co-operation with Octane magazine appeared in a class of his own!

The RS, with some British livery highlighting some curves, had two weeks previously won a People's Choice award in Lord Montagu's Bank Holiday Supercar Showdown at Beaulieu.

Jeff's Car on the Long Walk 

“I was thrilled when asked to bring the RS.” Jeff told one reporter. “After all, the monarchy is the only part of the Establishment one can still respect today. To have been part, in these surroundings, not only of a Diamond Jubilee event but also of a celebration of Britain’s contribution to the motor car was awesome and always will be for me. It was more thrilling than clocking 190mph in the open top Turbo S last month!”

Fellow club member and a former F1 team member, Brett, can certainly echo sentiments of British achievement. His 2000+HP showcar, always in demand and popular at charity events, relies on sophisticated world leading British technology. 

In fact Lord Montagu's insurers deemed the British had made his Porsche former flagship 928 too powerful to run with Lamborghinis and Ferraris along the Beaulieu Motor Museum 'drag strip' at August's Supercar Showdown. 

Brett has his eye on the Long Walk now...

Three classic Porsche favourites were also present at Windsor. A 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder from Arizona, a 1965 911 and a 1988 964 Carrera 2.

Classic 550 Spyder from Arizona. The famous term 'Carrera' for Porsche cars was named

after 550 Spyder race success

(

Arrival of cars on the Friday (Photo credit: Tim Scott at Fluid Images)

One of the visitors from the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles said "I have been doing these type of events for over 30 years and this has set a new standard"

One display owner, Mr Victor Muller, said: “As a seasoned collector for over 30 years, I thought I had seen it all – Villa d’Este, Pebble Beach …. but nothing prepared me for this event. It was overwhelming.” Mr Muller owns the 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom 1 Barker Open Tourer that served as transport for Princess Elizabeth, as she was then, before she learned of her accession to the throne.

The Top Gear team said their brains went fuzzy.

John Murray from the Northern Porsche Club also utilised an f word - "fantastic".

The organisation of this royal event by Thorough Events was impeccable and friendly. 

A Jubilee tour of 60 cars also took place driving from Kensington Palace to Windsor Palace. 

The Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall displayed a gamut of cars - Veteran, Edwardian, Vintage, Post Vintage, and Classic - hardly surprising their waiting lists are so long to join such a club ! 

Other British Car clubs (see list below) were also heavily involved and absolutely delighted to attend!  One club magazine editor we texted after the event replied he hadn't felt as good since his wedding day! 

ALL WINNERS

There was no judging of cars - the organisers maintained that if a car had been invited to Windsor, it was already a winner!

However, there was a ‘best in show’ car voted for by entrants as the car they would most like to drive home in.  This was won by a 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta from America, owned by collector Jon Shirley, and a former Pebble Beach winning car. It was displayed in the Upper Ward Quadrangle which the public had access to for the first time.

Entrant's Favourite to drive home was also Best in Show at Pebble Beach 2008

McLaren 12c Spider makes its debut. 

It was driven by British actor Henry Cavill, star of the latest Superman film (Photo credit Paul Madden)

Ferrari 290MM Scaglietti Spider, Aston DB4 GT Zagato, Ferrari 250 GTO,

Maserati Tipo 60 Birdcage,, Ferrari 250 GT Zagato

Rolls-Royce Phantom 1 Jonckheere Coupe

Lambo Club's 1972 Miura SV  (Photo credit Paul Madden)

The Miura is often voted as the most beautiful car ever made.  One retired professional reporter once told us "We would have walked across Europe to have seen a Miura"

From California - 1938 Bentley 4 1/4 litre 'Embiricos' Coupe. Fastest pre-war car and Le Mans racer

Photo credit Tim Scott at Fluid Images

Aston Martin Owners Club

Ferrari Owners Club

1930 Bentley Gurney Nutting Speed Six Tourer  (Photo credit Paul Madden)

Astons for Summer Weather

Some Videos

Classic Driver  Cavill  Bentley   

Windsor Castle Concours of Elegance 2012 – List of Concours Entrants by Class

St. George’s Class – Pioneering Automobiles

1896 Panhard-Levassor 6 hp Private Omnibus

1904 Lenawee Rear-Entrance Touring Tonneau

1912 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost London-Edinburgh Tourer

1914 Sunbeam Tourist Trophy

1918 Straker-Squire X/2 Prototype

Thames Class – Grand Carriages

1924 Vauxhall 30-98 Type OE Wensum Tourer

1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Barker Open Tourer

1930 Bentley Speed Six Gurney-Nutting

1931 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre Supercharged Blower Bentley

1934 Avions-Voisin C-25 Berline Aerodyne

Frogmore Class – Aristocratic Behemoths

1925 Rolls Royce Phantom I Jonckheere Coupe

1931 Daimler Double-Six 50 Corsica Drophead Coupe

1931 Bugatti Type 41 Royale ‘Kellner’ Coupe

1930 Bentley 8 Litre Tourer

1933 Duesenberg Model SJ Beverly Berline by Murphy

1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Gurney Nutting Sedanca Drophead Coupe

1958 Bentley Continental S Type H J Mulliner

Brunswick Class – Pre-War Sporting Heritage

1929 Mercedes-Benz SSK Corsica Drophead Coupe

1931 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Zagato Spider

1934 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 LM Spider ‘Le Mans Winner’

1935 Frazer Nash Twin Supercharged ‘Shelsley’

Winchester Class – Grand Tourers of the 1930s

1932 Cadillac V-16 Fisher Convertible Coupe

1933 Delage D8S de Villars Roadster

1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Corto Touring Spider

1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta

1938 Delahaye V12 Type 145

1938 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante

Chancellor’s Class – Magnificent Machines

1936 Mercedes-Benz 500K Special Roadster

1937 Bentley 4 1/4 Litre Vesters and Neirinck Fixed Head Coupe

1938 Bentley 4 1/4 Litre Embiricos Pourtout Coupe

1935 Horch 853 Sport Cabriolet

Saxon Class – The Thrilling Thirties

1935 Squire 1500 Markham Roadster Short Chassis ‘Skimpy’

1937 Delahaye 135S

1937 Lagonda LG45 Rapide Tourer

1939 SS100 Jaguar Two-Seater Sports

1939 AC 16/90

Consort Class – Legends of Style

1947 Bristol 400 Farina Drophead

1950 Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta

1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic

1954 Maserati A6GCS Pinin Farina Berlinetta

1954 Lancia Aurelia B24 Pinin Farina Spider

1957 Ferrari 250 GT Zagato Berlinetta

Gunners’ Class – Built to Win

1953 Jaguar XK C Type 053 Lightweight

1954 Austin-Healey 100S Works

1955 Porsche 550 Spyder

1956 Ferrari 290 MM Scaglietti Spider 0626

1956 Aston Martin DB3S/9

1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa TR58 Scaglietti

1959 Maserati Tipo 60 Birdcage

Ensign Class – Sporting Thoroughbreds

1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupe

1957 Jaguar XKSS

1957 BMW 507

1961 Jaguar E-Type Roadster ’77 RW’

1963 AC Cobra 289

1963 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato Berlinetta

Lancaster Class – Mythical Masterpieces

1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta

1963 Ferrari 250 GTO Series I

1968 Ford GT40 MK III

1972 Lamborghini Miura SV

Knight’s Class – Historic Motorcycles

1927 Scott Tourist Trophy Works

1948 Vincent Black Shadow ‘John Edgar Lightning’ Prototype

1954 Norton F-Type Experimental Prototype

1954 BMW 500 Rennsport

1966 Triumph Tiger 100

1990 Ducati 851 SBK ‘Raymond Roche’

Brilliant Cars Presented by the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall

Parked by the George IV Gateway

List kindly sent by the Royal Automobile Club Motoring Secretary

Other Car Clubs that Accepted Invitations for 60 Cars

Aston Martin Owners Club

Barkham and District Car Club

Bentley Owners Club

Ferrari Owners Club

Jaguar Drivers Club

Marcos and TVR Owners Club

Octane Jubilee Tour of Elegance - Participants 

(The Tour drove from Kensington Palace to Windsor Castle on the Sunday !!)

Year          Actual Car   

1952      1953 Bentley R Type Continental   

1953      Austin Healey         

1954      1955 Jaguar XK 140    

1955      MGA   

1956      Jaguar   

1957      Jaguar XK150   

1958      1959 Bristol 406 (identical to 1958)   

1959      Mini   

1960      Alvis TD 21 Series   

1961      Jaguar E-Type   

1962      MGB 1963   

1963      Gordon Keeble   

1964      1965 Ferrari 275 GTB   

1965      Porsche 911    

1966      Lamborghini Miura   

1967      TVR Vixen S3 1971/1972   

1968      1965 Triumph TR5   

1969      Bristol 411  

1970      Range Rover   

1971      1972 Bentley Corniche    

1972      1972 Aston Martin Vantage   

1973      Maserati Khamsin   

1974      Countach   

1975      Jaguar XJS    

1976      1976 Esprit    

1977      Aston Martin Lagonda   

1978      1976 Morgan Plus 8 Lightweight   

1979      BMW M1   

1980      Audi Quattro   

1981      Delorean     

1982      1984 Bristol Brigand   

1983      BMW 635csi   

1984      Ferrari Testarossa   

1985      M3   

1986      1988 Aston V8 Zagato    

1987      Ferrari F40   

1988      Porsche 964 Carrera 2    

1989      Aston Martin Virage    

1990      Bentley   

1991      TVR Griffin    

1992      McLaren F1   

1993      Jaguar XJ220   

1994      1994 Bugatti EB110 GT   

1995      1999 Ferrari 355 GTS    

1996      Lotus Elise      

1997      1998 XK8   

1998      Diablo   

1999      2001 Pagani Zonda   

2000      BMW Z8 Roadster   

2001      Renaut Clio V6 Sport   

2002      Murcielago (Yellow)   

2003      Lamboughini Gallardo   

2004      Aston Martin DB9   

2005      Bugatti Veyron   

2006      Ferrari 599   

2007      Maserati Gran Turismo   

2008      Ferrari California convertible   

2009      Ferrari 458 Italia   

2010      Aston Martin One-77   

2011      Lambourghini Aventador, Alfa Romeo 8C Spider   

2012      McLaren MP4 12-C Spider   

Updated list kindly sent by Octane

Cars originally requested by Octane from readers and clubs

Porsches in blue were eventually displayed at Windsor (plus our club's car, Jeff's GT3 RS !). Porsches in red were either not offered or chosen.

  1952 Bentley R Type // Riley RME

· 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 // Austin Healey 100 // Porsche 550

· 1954 Jaguar XK140 // Alfa Romeo Giulietta // Jensen 541

· 1955 Bentley S1 // Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud // Jaguar Mk1

· 1956 Austin Healey 100-6 // BMW 507 // Jaguar Mk VIII

· 1957 Jaguar XK150 //Lotus 7

· 1958 Lancia Flaminia // Bristol 406 // Aston Martin DB4

· 1959 Mini // Jaguar Mk2 // Maserati 5000GT

· 1960 Alvis TD21 // Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato // Saab 96

· 1961 Jaguar E-Type // Lancia Flavia // Triumph TR4

· 1962 MGB // Bentley S3 // Alfa Romeo Giulia

· 1963 Aston Martin DB5 // Lamborghini 350GT // Gorfon Keeble

· 1964 Porsche 911 // Ferrari 275GTB // Sunbeam Tiger

· 1965 Ford Mustang // Ford GT40 // Aston Martin DB6 // Bristol 409

· 1966 Jensen Interceptor // Lamborghini Miura // Alfa Romeo Spider

· 1967 Toyota 2000GT // Aston Martin DBS // TVR Vixen

· 1968 Ferrari Daytona // Morgan Plus 8 // Triumph TR5

· 1969 Bristol 411 // Triumph TR6 // Ford Capri

· 1970 Range Rover // Triumph Stag // Citroen SM // Lamborghini Urraco

· 1971 Maserati Bora // Alfa Romeo Alfasud // Bentley Corniche

· 1972 Bentley Corniche // Lancia Stratos // Jenson-Healey

· 1973 Ferrari 308 GT4 // Maserati Khamsin

· 1974 Lamborghini Countach // Lotus Eclat

· 1975 Triumph TR7 // Jaguar XJ-S // Rolls-Royce Camargue

· 1976 Aston Martin Lagonda // Lotus Esprit // Porsche 924

· 1977 Porsche 928 // Alfa Romeo Giulietta // BMW E23

· 1978 BMW M1 // Mazda RX-7

· 1979 Lancia Delta // Mercedes-Benz S-Class W126

· 1980 Audi quattro // Ferrari Mondial // Austin Metro

· 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 // Lamborghini Jalpa // Maserati Biturbo

· 1982 Lotus Excel // Porsche 944

· 1983 BMW M635CSi // Land Rover Defender // Peugeot 205

· 1984 Ferrari 288GTO // Ferrari Testarossa // Bentley 8

· 1985 Bentley Turbo R // BMW M5 // Ferrari 328

· 1986 Porsche 959 // BMW M3 // Aston V8 Zagato

· 1987 Ferrari F40 // Ferrari 348 // Land Rover Discovery

· 1988 Porsche 964

· 1989 Aston Martin Virage // BMW Z1

· 1990 Honda NSX

· 1991 TVR Griffith // Bentley Continental R

· 1992 McLaren F1 // Jaguar XJ220 // Ferrari 456

· 1993 Aston Martin DB7 // Porsche 993

· 1994 Maserati Quattroporte // Jaguar XJ // Ferrari F355

· 1995 Ferrari 355GTS

· 1996 Lotus Elise // TVR Cerbera // Porsche Boxster

· 1997 Jaguar XK // Bentley Turbo RT

· 1998 Bentley Arnage // Porsche 996

· 1999 Pagani Zonda // Ferrari 360

· 2000 Lotus Exige // Morgan Aero 8 // BMW Z8

· 2001 Aston Martin Vanquish

· 2002 Ferrari Enzo // Koenigsegg CC8S // Lamborghini Murciélago

· 2003 Lamborghini Gallardo // Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren

· 2004 Porsche Carrera GT // Aston Martin DB9 // Ferrari 612 Scaglietti

· 2005 Bugatti Veyron // Aston Martin Vantage // Gumbert Apollo

· 2006 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano // Lotus Europa S // Audi R8

· 2007 Nissan GT-R // Maserati GranTurismo

· 2008 Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe // Jaguar XF // Lotus Evora

· 2009 Ferrari 458 Italia // Aston Martin Rapide // Jaguar XJ

· 2010 Aston Martin One-77 // Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

· 2011 Lamborghini Aventador // Ferrari FF // Porsche 991

The event raised funds exceeding the target of £250,000 for Cancer Research UK, Marie Curie Cancer Care, East Anglia's Children's Hospices and The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.  

Apologies to cars not shown - only an encyclopaedia of photos and text would do the event justice !!!  Now if that were ready by Christmas in the book stores....

                                And Gentlemen in England now abed

                                Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,

                                And hold their throttles cheap whiles any speaks

                                That were here at Windsor upon this day.

POSTSCRIPT Following the success of this event there will now be annual events cycling Royal Palaces, and including car clubs except in the smallest grounds.