The London Concours has announced the latest class for its upcoming event in June, which is presented by Montres Breguet.
The category is called Grand Tourisme and will showcase the finest examples of France’s unique and inventive automobiles throughout the years. The selection will include cars that are known for their individualistic style and a touch of eccentricity. The Grand Tourisme display will be part of a larger event featuring nearly 100 privately owned cars at the Honourable Artillery Company’s immaculate grounds from June 6th to 8th.
One of the featured cars in the Grand Tourisme category will be the Facel Vega Facel II, which is considered one of the most elegant French GT cars ever made. This grand coupé was introduced at the Paris Motor Show in 1961 and was powered by a Chrysler V8 engine. The car was billed as the fastest four-seater coupé in the world with a top speed of 150mph for the 390bhp, four-speed manual-equipped car. Despite its high price tag, the Facel II was popular among the elite, and it remains one of the last significant French coupés. Owners of the car included famous names such as Pablo Picasso, Christian Dior, and Sir Stirling Moss.
Another car in the Grand Tourisme category will be the Citroen SM, which is considered one of the most stylish vehicles ever produced. The car is particularly desirable in its 5-speed manual, 2.7 injection form and is powered by a soulful V6 engine sourced from Maserati, which Citroen had bought in 1968. The SM was designed to offer a supremely smooth ride, making it perfect for long-distance cruising across Europe, thanks to its innovative hydro-pneumatic suspension. The car’s striking design made it popular among many famous people, including Johan Cruyff, Leonid Brezhnev, Carlos Santana, and the Shah of Iran. Even Ugandan dictator Idi Amin reportedly owned seven of the sleek French machines.
In June, the upcoming event at the Honourable Artillery Company will showcase some of France’s most remarkable and sporty coupé offerings, including the Alpine A110. The A110 was in production from 1963 to 1977, and it was known for its exceptional performance on the road and rally special stages due to its lightweight construction and small dimensions. The 1600S variant of the A110, launched in 1969, featured a powerful twin-Weber carb-equipped 4-cylinder engine that delivered 138bhp to the rear wheels via a 5-speed manual transmission, achieving a top speed of over 130mph and 0-60mph in under 7 seconds. This was an impressive example of French engineering ingenuity.
The event will also feature the latest version of the A110, the ultimate ‘Légende GT’ model. Introduced in 2017, the A110 has impressed driving enthusiasts with its lightness and fluid handling. The GT Légende is regarded as the ideal model in the range, combining the standard A110’s softer suspension with the more powerful ‘S’ spec, 296bhp version of the 1.8-liter turbocharged four. With a weight of only 1,134kg, the performance is impressive, with a 0-60mph time of 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 155mph. This is a perfect opportunity to examine this modern Alpine and compare it with its predecessor.
The French icon display will also include the Renault 5 Turbo, a contender for the coolest ’80s car of all. Introduced in 1980, the wild, mid-engined rear-wheel-drive machine was designed specifically for Group B rallying. With a strengthened and widened shell, aluminum roof and doors, and a 1.4-liter boosted engine producing 160bhp, the Turbo was a homologation special with a cartoonish stance. With just 900kg to move, the hatch could achieve 0-60mph in only 6.6 seconds, while the Golf GTI, a conventionally fast car, took 9 seconds.
Joining the 5 Turbo is its mad spiritual successor, the Clio V6, which was introduced in 2001. Based on the standard Clio supermini, the V6 had a widened shell, rear-wheel drive, and a mid-mounted 227bhp 3.0-liter V6 engine. The first cars were built in Britain by Tom Walkinshaw Racing, while the later Phase 2 cars were assembled by Renault Sport in Dieppe. The V6 stands out as another example of French automotive independent thinking and one of the many flashes of madness that many believe elevated the car industry in the early 2000s.
Tickets are on sale now at londonconcours.co.uk/tickets, from £35
