The stretch of Regent Street between Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Street becomes a pedestrian zone for
the day to facilitate the show, always attracting large crowds to meander through the wide variety of
vehicles on display. As part of the show there were close to a hundred of the veteran run participants on
display, featuring in a pre-run Concours d’Elegance, which was won by a 1903 Peerless Model F that had
spent its early years in a mining town in Colorado.
In the electric car zone there were manufacturer displays from BMW, Fiat, Kia and Polestar, whilst there
was also a modern electric powered interpretation of the popular in the ‘50s Morris J-Type van. This new
retro styled version features a lightweight carbon fibre body and is designated Morris JE, due to its motive
force. There was also a pair of hydrogen-powered Enterprise Rent-a-Car loaned Toyota Mirais, which were
acting as official course cars for the Veteran Car Run.
Between the veterans and the alternative energy cars of today, there was a broad spectrum of classic
models, including Aston Martins and Ferraris, together with a line-up of Jaguar E-types, celebrating the 60th
anniversary of the model’s launch at the 1961 Geneva Motor Show. One of the E-Types on display was
originally owned by Dave Clark of the sixties British pop group The Dave Clark Five, and featured on one of
their album covers.
The show is family orientated, featuring song and dance routines from the West End Kids, an electric Go
Kart track for children between 4 and 10 years of age, the Abel’s removal company with their horse drawn
removal wagon, the horses being a great attraction for the children, together with a pair of Top Gear
Mercedes F1 simulators.
Keith Bluemel
11/2021
|