During the events season, there are numerous events of the type that I just attended, where all is that is needed is a nice spacious venue and a lot of interesting cars. Knebworth Hall, located just off junction 7 of the A1M is one such location and the annual “Cars in the Park” is just that: an event where anyone can bring along their “interesting” car, and the event attendees can choose to confine their visit to the cars, or explore the house, or the grounds or all three. This event has been running for a few years and I went along to have a look. There was a secondary billing to this one, of “classic Japanese cars”, though if you had seen that and thought that you would get to see cars that have long since disappeared from our roads, you would have been sorely disappointed. Instead, an eclectic mix of cars turned up, some co-ordinated by Owners Clubs, there were than a few autojumble and trade stands, and an effort was made for a series of “concours” and other rather arbitrary contests to define class winners. It was all very informal, and made for an interesting day out, though not perhaps one that would be worth a long journey. Among the highlights were these:ARMSTRONG-SIDDELEY
One of the last cars made by this British manufacturer was this, the Star Sapphire from 1960.
ALFA-ROMEOLone Alfa was this Spider
AUDIA real rarity, an Audi 200 5T.
AUSTINAn interesting vehicle, this recovery truck.
AUSTIN-HEALEY
BMWOldest BMW on show was this Isetta bubble car.
This rather nice 2002 Touring comes from relatively late in the models life.
An E12 model M535i.
Black Z1, not unlike a car well known in these parts.
BUICKAn early 1960s Skylark, from a period when GM had a “downsizing” period, before even the compact cars such as this one got sizeable again.
CADILLACThere were two 1959 cars on show. This was the year when the fins reached their absolute zenith, and these cars are now highly prized for their styling excess.
CHEVROLET1956 Bel Air
Two 1957 Bel Airs, showing the styling changes that were an annual tradition in the 1950s. These “Tri-star” models are the most highly prized of the three years during which the same basic style was sold, and the Bel Air is the most valuable of the different models offered.
This PickUp was a class winner for commercial vehicles at the event. 
CITROENOne of the last Dyanes made before production ceased in 1981.
DAIMLERDart SP250 sports car
DODGEPlenty of Rams, from this moderately sized edition to the current “full fat” models.
This Polara was Dodge’s compact car offering from 1962 to 1964.
Later in the 1960s and Polara had grown somewhat.
FIATOnly Fiats at the event were X1/9s, all of them the later 1500 models.
FORDA strong showing of Capris, as it seemed that there was a presence from the Capri Owners Club, who had separated out the Mark 1s from the later model cars.
When Ford launched the Anglia with the reverse sloped rear screen in 1959, the old model Anglia and Prefect body style was relaunched as the Popular, to provide a cheap entry level car in the Ford UK range. This is a well preserved example of the genre.
Mark 111 Zephyr, a popular large family saloon of the day, brought even more to fame by the starring role in “Z Cars”.
There were a couple of Mark 1 Cortinas present.
This Crayford Cortina is one of very few survivors.
Escorts were represented by a very rare Mark 1 1100 in 4 door form (most of these cars were sold as 2 doors), a Mexico and a second generation RS2000 car, as well as an Escort Cosworth.
From the Ford US range were a number of Mustangs, of all model types from the first generation cars, through the generally unliked Mark 2 cars, to the long running third series cars and even a couple of the latest models.
This Shelby GTH is car number 250 of the 500 convertible models that served in the Hertz fleet in 2006/7. This particular car started life in Phoenix, and came to the UK after it was auctioned off at the end of rental car duty. It is believed to be the only such convertible model in the UK.
Not to be outdone in the commercial vehicle stakes there was a Ford Pickup, too., This is an F100.
GOGGOMOBIL
HILLMANThe Husky was a cheap estate car created by adding windows and a rear seat to the Commer van of the period.
JAGUARAn early 2.4 litre car
E Types a plenty, as you might expect.
There were also a number of XK models, including this XK140
JENSEN-HEALEYTwo of these sports cars, both in the same yellow hue.
LANCIAThis is a rare survivor of the 2000 Berlina range, a facelift to the front wheel drive Flavia that first saw the light of day in 1960.
A late model HPE, in supercharged Volumex guise.
LINCOLNContinental
LOTUSSurprisingly few Lotus, but there were a couple of Plus 2s.
From the wedge era, it is the Elite that is the rarest of the cars these days. This is a 503 Series 1 model.
MAZDAIt is now 20 years since the MX3 coupe was launched, and these cars are accordingly quite rare now.
MGTC
MGA
MGB GT LE, one of the last cars made, in limited edition format.
MININumerous classic Minis, most of them from the first few years of production, and several of which were early Coopers.
MITSUBISHIThe FTO was never officially imported to the UK, but a lot seemed to make it to these shores as grey imports
MORGANPlus 8
MORRISSeveral examples of the much loved Minor, ranging from early Series 2 cars to the late build Traveller.
This Series VI Oxford Traveller was a late arrival at the event.
NISSAN/DATSUNThe Cedric and Gloria Club had three cars on display, representing all that was kitsch in high end Japanese cars in the 1980s.
There were a few Z cars, from the first 240Z models through the ever bigger and heavier 260Z and 280ZXs to the mid 1980s 300ZX cars.
PACKARDA very imposing 1940 model.
PONTIACDeclared the winner of the US Cars class, this is a GTO.
PORSCHE Early 911
ROVERSeveral P4 models
And several P5 models.
Several P6 models, as well.
SINGER1930s le Mans roadster.
By the mid 1950s, Singer was little more than a posher badged Hillman. This Gazelle, one of two such cars at the show, both in the same colour scheme, dates from the mid 1960s, not long before the Audax based models were replaced by the Arrow series cars.
TOYOTAThere were a few of the more sporting Toyotas from the 1980s, and a rather less than sporting Camry.
TRIUMPHThere were several of the popular Herald at the event, along with its six cylinder relative, the Vitesse.
The big Triumph, the 2000/.2500 was also well represented.
Of course there were a number of Stags in attendance
TVRSurprisingly few TVRs at the event, but there was this Tuscan.
VAUXHALLThis Velox Friary Estate would have been rare even when new, as this was an after market conversion to the popular Velox/Cresta saloons from a time when “estate” was generally synonymous with “utility”. This car was one of the most popular of the whole event
The Victor was a popular family car in its day, but paper thin steel ill-designed to withstanding rust means that the majority had a short life. One of the first generation F Series and two of the FB models were an interesting sight, evoking plenty of nostalgic reminisences from the older attendees. 
VOLKSWAGENYes, really. That’s what the tax disc said. Based on a 1969 Beetle, this kit car is one of many such designs that were popular in the 1970s.
First generation Golf Cabrio.
WOLSELEYHornet
A diverting event, for sure. Not worth crossing half the country to attend, perhaps, but as I could combine a visit with the need to be in London later in the day, it worked for my diary, and as such I am glad I made the effort to leave home early and pop along.2011-06-21 20:10:10
