Royal Automobile Club’s spectacular St James’s Motoring Spectacle draws a record number of visitors to central London for star-studded celebration of motoring past, present and future.
St James’s Motoring Spectacle
The Royal Automobile Club’s hugely popular St James’s Motoring Spectacle returned to Pall Mall today (Saturday 31 October), bringing together the very best of motoring, past, present and future in a unique and star-studded celebration open to all.
With the famous central London street closed to through traffic and the autumn sun shining from a cloudless blue sky, close to 15,000 visitors were treated to an extraordinary display spanning the full spectrum of motoring – from Victorian penny farthings and pioneering veteran cars to today’s cutting-edge electric vehicles and the low-carbon technologies shaping tomorrow’s mobility.
This year’s spectacular event was staged on the eve of the RM Sotheby’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, which celebrates the 140th anniversary of Carl Benz’s game-changing Patent-Motorwagen, widely recognised as the world’s first production car. Appropriately, an example of the revolutionary 1886 three-wheeler formed one end of the remarkable 14-decade timeline on Pall Mall.
At the other end was an eye-catching collection of motorsport champions from Formula 1, rallying, touring cars and sportscars, alongside a stunning array of little-seen hypercars offering a glimpse of the future.
In all, more than 160 carefully curated vehicles representing every era of motoring took over Pall Mall, many celebrating major motoring and motorsport milestones.
St James’s Concours provided a spectacular prelude
At one end of Pall Mall, the St James’s Concours provided a spectacular prelude to Sunday’s RM Sotheby’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, with more than 100 of the extraordinary pre-1905 vehicles set to depart Hyde Park at dawn for the Sussex coast. The world’s most prestigious gathering of pioneering veteran cars was further enhanced by many of the intrepid drivers and passengers dressing in wonderfully authentic period clothing.
An expert judging panel, including television personalities Edd China and Alan Titchmarsh, presented a series of coveted awards, together with magnums of Piper-Heidsieck champagne, to the winning entrants.
This year’s Concours was undoubtedly the best yet, with a number of outstanding entries including the world’s oldest surviving Rolls-Royce, the oldest surviving Daimler and Mercedes-Benz’s oldest roadworthy commercial vehicle, dating from 1899.
“The quality and variety of veteran cars has been better than ever,” said Alan Titchmarsh. “Pall Mall is absolutely thronging with people and there’s a wonderful atmosphere in beautiful weather – what could be better?
“I love coming here – it’s one of my days off in the year! There are so many enthusiasts with so much goodwill and jolly spirits. Even if people don’t know about these veteran cars, they know what they signify and what they mean – this is where it all began. There really is something very special about today.”
The Overseas Award went to the 1904 Soc.Man.d’Armes of Robin Heringa from the Netherlands, while the Historic Award was presented to Andrew Rhind-Tutt’s 1900 single-cylinder De Dion-Bouton ‘Imperial’, which boasts a remarkable heritage.
Motoring Attire Award
The Motoring Attire Award was claimed by the well-dressed crew of Michael Rogers’ 1904 Siddeley, the Chairman’s Award went to Malcolm Ginns’ splendid 1902 Panhard et Levassor, while the Feature Award was presented to Dee Searle’s 1899 Benz.
The overall winner was Terry Brammall’s recently restored 1904 Rolls-Royce – the oldest surviving Rolls-Royce in the world.
“This is a very special and significant piece of automotive history and the only remaining Rolls-Royce eligible for the London to Brighton,” explained head judge Philip Oldman. “The car has undergone an incredibly meticulous restoration and now looks just as it did when it first left Henry Royce’s Cooke Street factory more than 120 years ago.”
Celebrating Britain’s Grand Prix Heritage
Taking pole position on Pall Mall was a special display marking the Club’s long association with Grand Prix racing dating back to the UK’s very first Grand Prix, staged at Brooklands a 100 years ago in 1926. It was the Royal Automobile Club that organised that milestone event and, paying tribute to the Club’s pivotal role in British motorsport history, a 2026 Williams FW48 and 2004 BAR-Honda wowed the crowds.
Visitors also had the unique opportunity to have their photograph taken with the famous gold British Grand Prix trophy, most recently presented to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at Silverstone in July.
Fittingly, the first to be photographed with the coveted trophy were Karen Scarborough, the Lord Mayor of Westminster, and Duncan Wiltshire, Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club. The pair also officially opened the Spectacle by cutting the ceremonial ribbon.
Celebration of everything that makes motoring so special
“The St James’s Motoring Spectacle is a wonderful celebration of everything that makes motoring so special,” said Duncan Wiltshire. “To see Pall Mall filled with more than 15,000 people. Enjoying the sunshine and an extraordinary collection of vehicles spanning 140 years of motoring history. Right outside the Club’s Pall Mall clubhouse, is a truly magnificent sight.
“From the pioneering machines that changed the world to the latest racing cars, supercars and technologies shaping the future. Today has demonstrated just how broad and fascinating the world of motoring is. It is particularly pleasing that this is a completely free event. Allowing everyone to experience and enjoy this incredible story for themselves.”
The Formula 1 centrepiece was joined by an incredible array of champions from many other motorsport disciplines.
Celebrating Elfyn Evans becoming Britain’s third World Rally Champion. One of the Welshman’s cars was joined by iconic machines rallied by Colin McRae and Richard Burns, the UK’s two other WRC champions. Previewing the World Rally Championship’s return to the UK for Rally Scotland next autumn. This feature also presented one of the latest Ford Puma Rally1 cars from M-Sport.
Notable exhibits
Other notable exhibits included Jaguar’s title-winning Formula E racer, Land Rover’s Defender D7X-R. Which made history by taking class honours on the 2026 Dakar Rally. And the NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus ST that has just taken Ash Sutton to an unprecedented fifth British Touring Car Championship title.
Sportscars were out in force, too. With the Le Mans racers returning to the UK in 2027. Both the Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR-LMH and Cadillac V-Series.R racers were on show. Alongside the Royal Automobile Club’s famous Tourist Trophy. Which will be presented to the winners of next April’s six-hour showdown at Silverstone.
Adding further prestige to the occasion, Wiltshire was joined by Silverstone CEO Stuart Pringle OBE and Pierre Fillon. President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, organiser of the world’s most famous 24-hour race.
A Glimpse Of the Future
State-of-the-art hypercars were also a major crowd-pleaser in the Modern Design Zone, particularly among younger visitors. Showcasing cutting-edge innovation and low-carbon technology. Standout displays included an Aston Martin Valhalla. Bugatti Chiron, Ferrari SF90 XX, Maserati MCPura Cielo and Koenigsegg CCX.
Further underlining the evolution of motoring, the latest electric versions of two iconic city cars. The Fiat 500 and Fiat Panda – offered a glimpse of how familiar automotive names are being reinvented for a new era.
Two additional displays celebrated significant anniversaries. 50 years of the Volkswagen Golf GTI and 60 years since the advent of the mid-engined supercar.
The Golf display featured the world’s earliest surviving Golf GTI alongside the latest special anniversary Golf GTI Edition 50. Illustrating how a formula born in the 1970s continues to evolve. The mid-engined supercar celebration brought together sensational examples. Of the Lamborghini Miura, Lamborghini Countach, Lotus Europa and Unipower GT – pioneering designs that helped redefine the performance car.
Star cars attracting attention
Two star cars from the Royal Automobile Club’s summer Club Concours also attracted plenty of attention. A 1970 Plymouth Superbird and a beautifully restored Jaguar C-Type from the 1950s.
Reflecting its location in the heart of London, the St James’s Motoring Spectacle also featured a special zone dedicated to urban transport through the ages. Highlights included an array of microcars, from a Goggomobil and Trojan to the latest retro-styled, battery-electric Microlino.
London is also one of the world’s great cycling cities, so pedal power was well represented on Pall Mall. While the iconic Vespa scooter celebrated its 80th anniversary with a display charting six generations of its evolution. Culminating in the latest electric models. These were complemented by a dazzling selection of Honda MotoGP and TT racing machines for lovers of two-wheeled motorsport.
For visitors inspired by the incredible vehicles on show. An educational zone focused on sustainable technologies and the future of motoring offered interactive exhibits and career guidance.
New opportunities
Opportunities across a wide range of disciplines – from restoration and heritage skills to battery technology. Were showcased by participants including Imperial College London, Oxford Brookes University. The Association of Heritage Engineers, the National Transport Trust and the Worshipful Company of Coachmakers.
The resounding success of the third St James’s Motoring Spectacle. Capped a busy London Motor Week for the Royal Automobile Club. Featuring industry dinners, awards presentations. The Art of Motoring Exhibition and RM Sotheby’s prestigious London Sale at The Peninsula London.
The celebrations culminate tomorrow (Sunday 1 November). When more than 400 veteran cars will depart Hyde Park at daybreak. For the 2026 RM Sotheby’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.
For more information visit: www.motoringspectacle.co.uk