An exceptional line-up of cars, representing more than a century of motoring, provided the main attraction at the 2026 Concours of Elegance Hampton Court. The 70-plus cars assembled in the Fountain Garden of Henry VIII’s famous Palace for the three-day event that has become the UK’s finest traditional concours.
They were joined throughout the weekend by car clubs, specialist displays, Thirty Under 30, the Junior Concours and more, including a special display of seven cars from collector Michael Dacre. These include the famous ‘Phantom of Love’ Rolls-Royce and the freshly restored Roadless Forest Rover, below.
Best in Show, voted for by fellow Concours participants, was 1928 Mercedes-Benz 710 SSK Rennwagen, chassis 36246. This genuine competition car was originally supplied in Rennwagen specification. The SSK (for Super Sport Kurz) was developed from Ferdinand Porsche’s Model S chassis, with its wheelbase shortened from 3400mm to 2950mm to create a more agile competition machine. It’s powered by a 7065cc M06 straight-six engine, fitted with Roots-type supercharger and producing around 250bhp in racing spec.
Chassis 36246 was delivered to Argentina, where it was raced by Julio Berndt and his brother-in-law Carlos Zatuszek. The pair entered the SSK in the 1929 500 Miles of Argentina, while Zatuszek subsequently competed with the car in the Córdoba Grand Prix and Argentina’s Herbstpreis. It continued competing in South America until 1958.
The SSK was moved to North America in 1967 and passed through a succession of significant collections before joining Rolf Meyer’s Mercedes-Benz collection. A restoration by Reifen-Wagner in 1995-96 returned it to its early racing configuration. Despite its international competition history and appearances at major events, the SSK had never previously appeared at an event in the UK.
Other Hampton Court Concours winners included the following:
Pre-1920s: 1914 Humber TT
One of three competition cars secretly developed by Humber for the 1914 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy, the Humber featured an advanced twin-overhead-camshaft, four-valve-per-cylinder engine. It is now the sole survivor of the three original Humber TT cars and remains in remarkably original condition.
1920s: 1927 Bentley 3 Litre Le Mans Team Car
Built specifically for the 1927 Le Mans 24 Hours, chassis ML1501 – better known by its registration YF 2503 – was one of Bentley’s purpose-prepared team cars, driven by George Duller and Baron André d’Erlanger. Its race ended in the infamous White House crash, when several leading cars became caught in a major accident during the evening. YF 2503 is the sole surviving Bentley from the 1927 team and subsequently enjoyed a colourful competition history of its own. Following an extensive restoration completed in 2019, it has returned to major international events, including Pebble Beach and Le Mans.
1930s: 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B
Chassis 412028 is the only Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B known to have received cabriolet coachwork by Stabilimenti Farina. It was originally associated with Giuseppe ‘Nino’ Farina – Italian Champion in 1937, 1938 and 1939, and later the first Formula 1 World Champion in 1950. Its coachwork is believed to have been designed by Farina’s uncle, Battista ‘Pinin’ Farina, the founder of the company we now know as Pininfarina.
1940s: 1947 Delahaye 135 MS
This 135 MS Vedette Cabriolet is one of five believed to have been built by Henri Chapron and one of four known survivors. It was displayed on the Delahaye stand at the 1947 Paris Motor Show, and is distinguished by its recessed door handles, rear wheel spats and two-tone finish. A comprehensive restoration by JWA Classic preserved its Chapron coachwork, matching-number engine and the details that identify it as the original 1947 show car.
1950s: 1953 Siata 208 CS
Chassis CS072 is one of only nine Siata 208 CS berlinettas bodied by Carrozzeria Balbo of Turin and one of six known survivors. The Siata recently underwent a painstaking restoration that retained many of its original construction details. It has since achieved a class victory at The Amelia in 2022, followed by another class win at Pebble Beach in 2025, where it was also presented with the Strother MacMinn Most Elegant Sports Car award.
1960s: 1960 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato
Chassis DB4GT/0182/R, better known by its registration 1 VEV, was built for John Ogier’s Essex Racing Stable and was one of two DB4 GT Zagatos ordered by the team and one of just four prepared in lightweight competition form. Raced at Le Mans, Goodwood, Monza and Silverstone by drivers including Roy Salvadori, Tony Maggs, Jim Clark and Innes Ireland, 1 VEV has retained much of its original structure. Its significance was further recognised at Hampton Court Palace when it was also named Finest Aston Martin.
1970s: 1971 Monteverdi 375 L High Speed
This particularly rare matching-numbers example is presented in its original colour and benefits from a continuous, well documented history from new. Just 66 examples of the 375 L were built, including only nine in right-hand-drive form, with chassis 2037R believed to be the only roadworthy RHD example and the sole car officially delivered new to Australia by the factory. After remaining in Australia for many years, the Monteverdi underwent an extensive eight-year restoration, completed in 2018, before appearing at major international concours events.
1980s: 1980 Lamborghini Countach LP 400 S
One of just 105 Series II examples of the ‘low-body’ Countach, chassis 1121168 was finished from new in Argento Metallizzato with Nero leather. Its first owner collected the car directly from the Lamborghini factory before driving it home across the Alps. Bought by its current custodian in late 2025, it was subsequently brought to the UK and mechanically refreshed, ready to take its place among the Concours of Elegance field at Hampton Court Palace.
Future Classics: 2012 Aston Martin One-77
The One-77 combines a carbon-fibre structure with hand-formed aluminium bodywork and a 750bhp naturally aspirated V12. Just 77 examples were produced. Car number 26 is rarer still as one of only nine built in right-hand-drive form. Shipped to Australia in 2012, where it became known as ‘Gotham’, it remained there for 13 years before returning to the UK in August 2025 and undergoing comprehensive recommissioning by Aston Martin Works.
Other awards at the Concours of Elegance Hampton Court 2026 included the Chairman’s Award, which went to the 1930 Bentley Speed Six All-Weather Tourer by Gill, while the Prince Michael of Kent Award was presented to the 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental by Hooper.
The Thirty Under 30 award, for cars owned by the under-30s, was won this year by a 1972 Lamborghini Espada. The 1960 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato 1 VEV added Finest Aston Martin to its 1960s decade award, while the 1927 Bentley 3 Litre Le Mans Team Car was named Finest Bentley. The 1953 Siata 208 CS took Finest Italian Berlinetta, and the award for Finest Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera went to the 1960 Aston Martin DB4 GT.
Neil Gaisford, managing director of the Hampton Court Concours, said after the event: “There are few places in the world where you can experience cars of this significance in such a magnificent setting. For the 1928 Mercedes-Benz SSK, making its first appearance at a UK event, to be crowned Best in Show was a fitting conclusion to another very special Concours of Elegance.”
The Concours of Elegance Hampton Court will return on September 3-5, 2027. More details here.
Full list of winners
Best in Show
1928 Mercedes-Benz 710 SSK Rennwagen
Decade Award – Pre-1920s
Winner: 1914 Humber TT
Decade Award – 1920s
Winner: 1927 Bentley 3 Litre Le Mans Team Car
2nd: 1923 Rolls-Royce 20hp Barrel Sided Open Tourer
3rd: 1925 Amilcar CGS by Charles Duval
Decade Award – 1930s
Winner: 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B
2nd: 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante
3rd: 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C-1750 GS Zagato
Decade Award – 1940s
Winner: 1947 Delahaye 135 MS
2nd: 1949 Jaguar XK120 Roadster Aluminium
3rd: 1949 Simca 8 Sport
Decade Award – 1950s
Winner: 1953 Siata 208 CS
2nd: 1958 BMW 507 Series II
3rd: 1955 Aston Martin DB3 S
Decade Award – 1960s
Winner: 1960 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato
2nd: 1967 AC 428 Frua
3rd: 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4
Decade Award – 1970s
Winner: 1971 Monteverdi 375 L High Speed
2nd: 1976 Lamborghini Countach LP 400
3rd: 1970 Lamborghini Miura P400 S
Decade Award – 1980s
Winner: 1980 Lamborghini Countach LP 400 S
2nd: 1984 Lamborghini Jalpa
Art of Bespoke Award
1966 Aston Martin DBSC Prototype
Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority Award
1939 Voisin C30 Saloon
Bentley Trophy
1929 Bentley 4½ Litre Saloon
Best Car Club Award by Classic & Sports Car – Saturday
1983 Aston Martin Lagonda
Best Club Car Award by Classic & Sports Car – Sunday
1924 Vauxhall 30-98 Bodied by Wensum
Chairman’s Award
1930 Bentley Speed Six All-Weather Tourer by Gill
Club Trophy
1969 Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV Coupé
Finest Aston Martin
Winner: 1960 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato
2nd: 1955 Aston Martin DB3 S
3rd: 1960 Aston Martin DB4 GT
Finest Bentley
Winner: 1927 Bentley 3 Litre Le Mans Team Car
2nd: 1961 Bentley S2 Continental Two-Door by Mulliner
3rd: 1935 Bentley 3.5 Litre by Vesters & Neirinck
Finest Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera
Winner: 1960 Aston Martin DB4 GT
2nd: 1966 Aston Martin DBSC Prototype
3rd: 1968 Lamborghini 400 GT
Finest Italian Berlinetta
Winner: 1953 Siata 208 CS
2nd: 1964 ATS 2500 GTS
3rd: 1970 Lamborghini Miura P400 S
Future Classics
Winner: 2012 Aston Martin One-77
2nd: 2010 Bugatti Veyron 16.4
3rd: 2025 GMA T.50
Gooding Christie’s Award
1952 Jaguar C-type
Jaguar Award
Jaguar E-type S1 3.8
Prince Michael of Kent Award
1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental by Hooper
Royal Bahrain Concours Award
1933 Aston Martin Le Mans
Specialist Dealer Trophy
1953 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso
Thirty Under 30
Winner: 1972 Lamborghini Espada
Highly Commended: 1985 Alpina C1 2.3
Highly Commended: 1991 Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC
Highly Commended: 1981 BMW 316
