[Image credit: Charlie Brenninkmeijer / London Concours]
Few automotive events capture the breadth of the collector car world quite like the London Concours. Set within the historic grounds of the Honourable Artillery Company, hidden away in the heart of the City of London, this year’s event once again brought together an extraordinary collection of vehicles spanning motorsport legends, iconic classics, restomods, modern hypercars and bespoke coachbuilt machinery.
The event offers a fascinating snapshot of the current collector car market and perhaps its future direction. It is also one of the smaller, more accessible yet still high class events, popular with Windrush clients, many of whom work locally to the Honourable Artillery Company.
Here are some of the categories that most caught the Windrush team’s attention at the show:
Group A Rally Cars
[Image credit: Charlie Brenninkmeijer / London Concours]
One standout display celebrated the golden era of Group A rallying. These cars represent a period when manufacturers built road-going homologation specials to qualify for competition. Today they are among the most sought-after performance cars of the 1980s and 1990s, valued not only for their rarity but also for their motorsport pedigree.
For collectors, these cars demonstrate how racing provenance and originality continue to drive desirability in some market sectors.
Porsche Sonderwunsch
[Image credit: Robyn Halliday / London Concours]
Porsche remains one of the brands we see most regularly at Windrush and Porsche’s Sonderwunsch (“Special Wishes”) programme has long been responsible for some of the most exclusive and personalised cars ever to leave Stuttgart.
The display showcased the growing appeal of bespoke specifications and individuality, for modern Porsches, as well as a selection of older cars created through the Special Wishes programme over the years. A particular highlight was the last Spyder RS ever produced, which was specified with an extensive range of Sonderwunsch options.
As collectors increasingly seek unique examples, factory provenance and documented history become ever more important.
Alfa Romeo
[Image credit: Charlie Brenninkmeijer / London Concours]
A real highlight for the Windrush team, the Alfa Romeo class reminded visitors why the marque remains one of the most romantic names in motoring.
From elegant grand tourers, such as the 1933 8C Tourer to sporting icons like the RZ and modern-day Giulia Quadrifoglio, the display highlighted the combination of design, engineering and heritage that continues to make classic Alfas highly collectible.
Hypercars
[Image credit: Charlie Brenninkmeijer / London Concours]
At the opposite end of the spectrum sat the hypercars. These machines represent the pinnacle of modern automotive engineering, combining extreme performance with limited production numbers.
Particular highlights for us included the Bugatti Veyron, a car that seems to finally be finding its place with collectors; the Aston Martin Valhalla, the display example being very similar to a car recently taken into storage at Windrush London; and the Gordon Murray Automotive T.50, again a car with which Windrush has extensive experience.
Many of the cars displayed will undoubtedly become tomorrow’s collector cars, making preservation, maintenance and careful ownership increasingly important from day one.
Icons Remastered
Perhaps the most interesting trend on display was the growing popularity of restomods and reimagined classics. Examples include Guntherworks and Singer restomod Porsches – two brands we’ve been fortunate enough to store at Windrush London, as well as cars from well-known firms such as Alfaholics and Tuthills.
These vehicles blend classic styling with modern engineering, demonstrating how enthusiast tastes are evolving. Rather than preserving only originality, many owners now seek enhanced usability while retaining the character of the original design, as character is often seen as lacking in many modern cars.
American Muscle
[Image credit: Charlie Brenninkmeijer / London Concours]
The American Muscle category delivered plenty of theatre, showcasing some of the most charismatic performance cars ever built. Large-capacity V8 engines, bold styling and cultural significance continue to attract collectors on both sides of the Atlantic.
Given the attention received by the Ring Brothers Dodge Charger that we featured recently on Windrush’s social media feeds, the team was interested to view some comparable cars on show at the HAC, including an unmodified Dodge Charger, a Plymouth Superbird and a Chevvy El Camino.
Wildcards and The Unexpected
[Image credit: Charlie Brenninkmeijer / London Concours]
Some of the most talked-about cars defied categorisation altogether, making for a very interesting category. Highlights included the stunning Morgan Midsummer, Lancia Delta S4 and the BMW 2002 Turbo, but we were extremely pleased to see the win awarded to the beautiful, one-of-one, Tour De France blue Ferrari F355, owned by a long-standing Windrush client.
The Wildcards class demonstrated that rarity and individuality (rather than outright value) remain powerful forces within the collector market. These are often the cars that generate the biggest crowds and the longest conversations.
What London Concours Tells Us About Collecting Today
Walking around the event, one theme became clear: the collector car world has never been more diverse. Alongside traditional classics sat rally heroes, hypercars, bespoke commissions and modern reinterpretations of all vehicle types. Yet despite their differences, all share one common requirement: careful preservation.
Whether it is a concours-winning classic, a low-mileage supercar or a future collectible, condition and provenance remain fundamental to long-term value. Events such as the London Concours remind us that we are not simply owners of these remarkable machines; we are custodians of automotive history. This role is all the more important given the industry’s changes and the move to EVs.
At Windrush Car Storage, that philosophy is at the heart of everything we do. If you would like to discuss storing a vehicle at our Central London or Cotswolds facility, we would be glad to hear from you.
