ITALIAN DIAMONDS AT THE LONDON CONCOURS

So, 2020 isn’t out for the count yet. The necessary, protracted period of caution which seemed to spell ‘cancelled’ for so many events is still rightly with us, a sobering reminder of the one downside to globalisation. Yet amongst this (and often against the odds), certain diamonds are finding ways to maintain their shine.

Running a little later than usual, the annual London Concours is one of them. Having adopted a brace of Covid countermeasures, it delivered its fantastic weekday billing with as much aplomb as ever - even if the weather was immeasurably kinder on day two…

Contemporary Finsbury could hardly be called ‘the rough’, but the Concours’ setting is as beguiling as the event itself. Barely registering from the roadside, the Honourable Artillery Company seems little more than an anachronistic castle on first glance, yet its gates give way to a delightful, hidden oasis of Georgian grandeur - enhanced further still by the high rise modernity around its flanks. When mid-summer comes around, rarely is a cricket pitch put to such good use as this…

A cricket pitch is only so large (particularly in a city), so it helps that London is curated with such exquisite taste. Entrants are grouped by theme, with superb examples illustrating the very finest subjects therein - a brace of Lamborghinis, ranging from 400GT to Aventador via Miura, Diablo and even the hilarious LM002 was amongst the first to greet visitors. Harry Metcalfe’s Espada took class win, although the none-more-‘70s Silhouette caught many an eye. Not far away, a Periscopio LP400 upstaged a 2500km-from-new F40, despite also rubbing shoulders with a Daytona and 300SL.

In fact, Italian metal was particularly well represented throughout - Testarossas, ISO Grifos and Fiat Dinos littered various classes whilst no fewer than nine 246 Dinos were gathered by Foskers, one in each of the original factory colours (and one with a very non-Dino V8). Thornley Kelham’s ‘Lancia Legends’ class covered some 65 years of the marque’s finest achievements, albeit slightly polarised into ‘pretty road cars’ and ‘monster rally cars’; Four (!) 037 Rallys, in full Group B battle dress, flanked by steroidal Group IV Stratos and Beta Coupes, was enough to divert attention from the rather more delicate Aurelia Spider and Flaminia SSZ. It also seemed to confirm that Englishmen will never grasp the correct pronunciation of ‘Lancia’.

So our cousins were doing well. But what of the Biscione?

There’s no hiding that our beloved Alfas were down in number - perhaps that curation isn’t quite as impeccable as suggested. However, the quality of those present should be cause for celebration. Mixing gamely with truly illustrious company, the “Golden Era: Convertibles” class featured an exquisite ’68 Junior Spyder in Grigio Chiaro. Inch perfect, delightfully poised and exuding weapons-grade charm, it certainly had the chops to hold its own in class. Who amongst us would put it second to an Austin Healey or Lotus Elan?

Sadly for the Duetto, the class also featured a Ferrari 330 GTS, which had history relating to the 1967 Turin motor show and was judged special enough to also take ‘best in show’. No shame in that then - if you must lose, do it in style.

Elsewhere, a rather less dainty character was strutting its stuff; a GTA Junior Autodelta evocation. Four-square and brimming with purpose, it had no class to win - but was on the lookout for a new buyer, and suitably well presented as a result. Reportedly with an enormous chunk of time and attention spent on it by none other than Alfaholics, the wide-arched warrior could be just the ticket for those lusting after a hot-rodded Series 105.

Hot rods of a more traditional style rounded out the field this year. Although not conventional Concours fodder, their cheeky and slightly brash disposition proved a fantastic counterpoint to the more usual exotica; in fact, their presence seemed to emphasise that this was perhaps one of the most inclusive and eclectic events yet at the HAC, at a time when this couldn’t be more important. Its sister event at Hampton Court, in less than a week’s time, certainly has its work cut out.