Belgravia’s Classic Cars drive on character

Photograph courtesy of Mitzi de Margary

Belgrave Square was the talk of the town last weekend. Belgravia’s first Classic Car Pop-up Show brought in the crowds there’s no denying that. Classic car connoisseur I’m not, I learnt that authentic classic cars range from veteran to post-vintage and although some older post-Second World War cars are referred to as classic, on paper they ain’t.

The collection of 100 motors really made the event what it was – all stylish works of art glistening in their glory. Too aesthetically beautiful to drive one might say? Shame you don’t see more cars like these on the streets as they make the everyday run-around cars look dreadfully bad looking and humdrum. Since owning a ‘normal’ car is increasingly going out of fashion maybe classic cars are the future? This or flying ubers (watch this space) or car sharing – a soon-to-be trend I’ve heard forecasted. How many times do you see big cars with just one person driving them? I’d be inclined to invest in a classic motor to use on special ocassions as at least they’re stylish! The everyday car has zero character.

Members of the famous classic car 96 Club, founded by Michael Scott exhibited many of the cars on show and the winner of the most exceptional car was the 1930 pre-war vintage Talbot.

My personal favourites exhibited at the show were the khaki green porsche, the black Bristol, the black 1976 Lamborghini Espada – this was one of 6 designed by Marcello Gandini. The Shah drove his kids in one. King Hussein drove one. I could get very sentimental about classic cars. They’re just so much cooler.

Written by Julia Nelson