For the lover of vintage and veteran cars, there can be little more enticing than one of the many events organised by the VSCC. And of those events, the annual meeting at Prescott held over the first weekend of August takes some beating. Of the two days, it is the Sunday when the greater number of cars can be seen, with the entire Orchard area given over to cars dating from the pre-war and immediate post war period. In excess of 250 cars were to be found in a paddock comprising a wide variety of sports cars from the dawn of motoring to 1939, all of which were then to be seen in action making a couple of sorties each on the famous ascent, adding further interest. Plenty more of the attendees arrive in something automotively noteworthy, meaning that a tour around the public parking areas is also well worth more than a few minutes. I’ve attended this event several times in the past, and always enjoyed it, so did not hesitate to pay my money for a ticket to see what would be on offer in 2011. Acknowledging that pre-war British sports cars are not quite my specialist subject, it was enormously helpful to have the expert knowledge of Mr Roadrunner to provide further insight into what was on display and hopefully to help me avoid perpetrating too many unintended errors when compiling this report. Along with his father, who also attended, the pleasure of his company greatly enhanced a fabulous day out.

ALFA ROMEOThis 1929 6C 1750 Zagato, belonging to Mike Hurst is a familiar car, as it appears at many events in the South West.

There were plenty of other classic Alfas to enjoy, too. Most of them were 6C 1750s, with a variety of different body styles, including a couple of saloons. There was also an 8C 2300 which was to be seen in action on the hill. Marvellous!ALVISThese days, many tend to think of Alvis as the manufacturer who produced the rather elegant TD – TF coupes and convertibles from the late 1950s and 1960s, but they have far more than in their product portfolio, and numerically, tend to be among the best represented brand at a VSCC event. This meeting was no exception with an array of sports cars complemented by the costly luxury sports touring 4.3 models that were produced before the second world war.

1936 TA14I have seen this car at Prescott a couple of times before and thanks to a helpful post by its owner can now correctly identify it as a SB 12/70ASTON-MARTIN

There were a surprisingly large number of pre-war Aston Martins at the event. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many at once.

AUSTINThere were a lot of Seven models, showing the evolution of the model from 1922 until its eventual demise late in the 1930s. Additionally, a number of sports bodied cars were both in the Orchard and to be found in the Paddocks, ready for action on the hill

There were a number of Ten models, too.This majestic Six model probably dates from the late 1930s, as evidenced by the body colour surround to the radiator grille. A veritable limousine, for those who could not afford Rolls-Royce prices, this is quite a contrast from the affordable Seven and Ten models that Austin also produced at the same time. It was beautifully finished inside.This is a rare Kempton model, of which it is thought only 5 survive from an admittedly small production run..BENTLEYNumerous 3 litre Bentleys were in attendance, with a wide variety of body styles

From the post war period was this Mark VI, a rare survivor from a range that was notorious for rusting away to nothingBMW326

327328This was one of a pair of 319s that are both regular attendees at Prescott eventsBRISTOL400

BROUGHSuperior

BUGATTIPrescott is the UK home of Bugatti, of course, but this is one event where they do not dominate the classic machinery in the way that can occur at other times of the year. Nonetheless, there were several of these lovely cars in the Paddock and a couple more parked up in the Orchard.

BUICKCHENARD et WALKERCITROENDELAGEDELAHAYEDUESENBURGThis splendid Model SJ was on offer for sale. There were would be several zeros on the price tag!

ERAA couple of these British sports-racers from the 1930s were competing for honours on the hill.

FIATThe Balilla, dating from the mid 1930s.

FORDModel A

Anglia TourerV8 PilotJAGUARTechnically, neither of these count as what appeared like SS100 cars both sported a tax disc indicating that they were from after the payment exemption applies, so I would guess that they are Suffolk replicas. They both looked very close to the real thing, though.

This XK120 most definitely was the “real thing”, though. Very nice.This XK140 was for sale.LAGONDABadged simply Rapier, this was a much smaller car than Lagondas that preceded it, and to try to emphasise the difference, the Lagonda name was conspicuous by its absence from the car. It was not a sales success.This pair of 3 litre models from the post war period represented a brave attempt that failed in the showroom.LANCHESTERI was not sure what to make of this car when I saw it, as the lights suggested it was not authentic. It turned out that it is indeed based on the chassis of a genuine mid 1950s Lanchester but the rather dumpy body has been replaced with something that harks back to the touring style. Interesting, though not quite right, with Morris Minor indicators and garish blue paint, in my humble opinion.

LANCIAThere were several of the iconic Lambda models at the event. Two of them – both Prescott regulars – were in use as course cars.There were a couple of Aurelia GTs and an Aurelia Spider from the post war period.LEA-FRANCISMASERATIMERCEDES-BENZ300SL

MGThis is one of the very first ever MGs, and still sports the Morris Oxford badging as well.

The 18/80Plenty of small sports cars, for which MG is particularly well knownThis SA was just splendid. When I saw it, early in the morning, I knew that it would be a real hit with Mr Roadrunner, and so it proved to be. He advised me that a car – almost certainly this particular car – had recently been sold following a fastidious restoration, and the asking price was around £60,000. Looking at it, it was easy to see why.VA TourerMORGANMORRISA couple of early models, sporting the distinctive “bullnose” by which the cars have ever since been affectionately known.

Minor vanTen Six with an unusual drophead body.PEUGEOTBebe Peugeot, a car designed by Ettore Bugatti before he created cars bearing his own name.RENAULTNN Tourer.

RILEYAs ever at VSCC events, Riley count as one of the most well represented brands, with a diverse arrange of these sporting machines covering both everyday road cars and machines more overtly designed for competitive action.

MonacoFalconKestrelFrom the post war era, there were a couple of RM Drophead models.ROLLS-ROYCEROVERAs far as I could tell, there were only 2 Rovers at the event. This is a P2 model Rover 14. The other Rover, undepicted, was a Light Twenty, which had received a new body in the 1950s, allegedly the work of one Trevor Wilkinson before he founded TVR Cars.

SANDFORDSINGERTALBOTThese apple green coloured cars were successful in motor sport in the late 1920s.

There was a good showing of road going cars from Talbot of London, as well.TRIUMPHA quartet of late 1930s Triumphs were grouped together in the Orchard, with a brace of Gloria joined by the Dolomite and a stunningly attractive Vitesse.

A second Dolomite was competing for honours on the Hill.VAUXHALLHard to imagine now, but before GM bought the Luton-based brand, Vauxhall made costly sports cars that were rivals to the early Bentleys, with the 30/98 being perhaps the best known product. We counted a dozen parked up next to each other in the Upper Paddock, and there were a fair few more at the event as well.

WOLSELEYMISCOk, I admit it, I cannot recall what these are!

IN THE CAR PARKSBugatti Owners Club members – the brave ones at least – could park up on the slopes up above the Paddocks, which, given the long wet grass, was clearly likely to present something of a traction challenge, so the more astute settle for parking in the adjacent field. That meant there were 2 separate car parks to peruse, and there was plenty of interesting machinery in each. These are just a sub-set of the highlights:

ALFA-ROMEO

Mid 1950s Giulietta. These cars were very expensive in the UK when new, and so few were sold here, and of those that do remain, most have been converted into a historic race car, making this car very rare.

Other rare Alfas included a Montreal, a 164 Super and a facelifted 166 in the rare colour of burgundyALVISTE21

ASTON-MARTINA DB2 with rare Tickford fixed head coupe bodywork.

The early DBS car are relatively rare compared to the V8 models that superceded them.AUSTIN-HEALEYBMW

M3BRISTOLAmong the Bristols in the car parks were this 411 and a 406 along with a particularly rare 400 Drophead. I was not aware that such a model existed and had certainly not seen one before. A little research has revealed that only 2 of these Pininfarina designed cars were ever made, and they date from 1946.

CITROENDS21

FERRARI612 Scaglietti

Dino 246 GTHUMBERA rare survivor of the Arrow-bodied Sceptre

JAGUARXK120

A number of E Types were parked up. We had just spotted that the Series 2 car, sporting a “for sale” sticker in the windscreen, was an American spec car when the owner arrived. He said that the car had been converted to right hand drive in the 1980s, though a few small details had not been changed over, such as the wipers which actually sweep the way you would want as a consequence! there is little difference in value between a properly converted car and an original UK market car, and the latter represent quite a small percentage of the total E Type population. In the background of the pictures of the 2+2 model, you can see a recent addition to the Forum fleet.JOWETTJupiter

LANCIAFlaminia Convertible and Fulvia Coupe

LEA-FRANCISA pair of cars, parked next to each other.

LOTUSElan

MGSeveral classic MGs in the car park, ranging from the YB saloon, a nice ZA Magnette through the MGA to the last of the MGB GTs in LE trim.

PACKARDPORSCHE911 RS

RENAULTA late model R4 GTL Clan

RONARTSAABThis Sonnet has to be one of the rarest of the more recent vehicles of the day.

SUNBEAMTiger and Alpine sports cars

TRIUMPHThere were a fair number of TR models parked up, amongst which were a couple of TR3s and a TR5

Despite the rather menacing weather, we were lucky only to have to go and grab umbrellas from the cars at lunchtime, and to dive for cover in a veritable downpour which arrived minutes after the last car had gone up the hill. An excellent event, as ever, and one which is sure to feature in my 2012 diary.2011-08-12 15:09:10