Spectacular McLaren showcase on opening day
- 50 of McLaren’s finest models to be assembled in the heart of the City for one day only
- London Concours will pay homage to one of the most supreme performance lineages in automotive history
- Spectacular selection on display Tuesday 4th June
- Eighth annual London Concours to run from the 4th to 6th of June at the Honourable Artillery Company
London, UK (12th March 2024): The London Concours, the capital’s leading automotive summer garden party, has announced an exciting addition to the festivities for 2024. For the first time in its illustrious history, June’s event – which brings the very finest cars to the heart of the City – will welcome a stunning fleet of 50 McLarens, honouring the iconic marque’s rich heritage.
This brand-new feature, scheduled for the opening day, marks a notable expansion of the event’s offerings. Traditionally reserved for the latter two days, this year’s supercar showcase on Tuesday 4th June builds on the success of previous London Concours celebrations on the grounds of the Honourable Artillery Company.
As a partner to the London Concours event, McLaren London will showcase the latest models from the British marque, providing a captivating exploration of the brand. From the pioneering McLaren F1 to the cutting-edge 750S, attendees will have the opportunity to witness the evolution of McLaren’s design and engineering prowess.
Founded by Bruce McLaren in 1963, the eponymous brand swiftly made its mark in motorsports, introducing the McLaren M1A in the first year. Years of racing success followed both under the stewardship of the founder and of Teddy Mayer, with the brand clinching its first World Constructor’s championship in 1974.
A fundamental moment for the company came when McLaren merged with Project 4 Racing Team in 1984, before introducing groundbreaking carbon fibre composite technology to racing for the first time with the MP4/1. Between 1984 and 1991, McLaren dominated Formula 1, winning seven world driver’s championships.
In 1992, McLaren launched the legendary McLaren F1. At the time it was the only road-legal vehicle capable of achieving over 200 miles per hour.
A shift in focus to road cars began in 2010 with the establishment of McLaren Automotive. A year later, the McLaren MP4-12C was uncovered. Boasting a 592-horsepower twin-turbo V8 that would propel it from 0 to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds, the MP4-12C was the start of an outstanding period for the brand.
Subsequent models, including the hybrid-powered McLaren P1, showcased McLaren’s commitment to innovation. Pushing the boundaries with the track-focused McLaren Senna, open-top McLaren Elva, and the zenith of drag-reduction; the McLaren Speedtail.
McLaren’s Sport Series debuted a line-up of more accessible sports cars, with the 540C, 570S, and 570GT developed with more creature comforts in mind. Over time, new models joined the ranks starting with the McLaren 600LT in 2018, followed by the 620R in 2019. However, by 2021 the McLaren Artura had become the standard bearer for the Sports Series segment.
The McLaren 720S, introduced in 2017, exemplified the pinnacle of their Super Series until it was replaced in December by the 750S.
This is a mere glimpse into the upcoming event, where a stunning array of machinery will take centre stage. Stay tuned for further class announcements in the weeks and months ahead as we approach the anticipated 8th edition of London Concours.
London Concours 2024 to Celebrate an American Icon: the Chevrolet Corvette
- Half a dozen Corvettes to convene at in the heart of the City this June
- Display to chart history of this iconic model, from ‘50s to present day
- Selection presented in partnership with the Classic Corvette Club UK and Classic & Sports Car
- Eighth annual London Concours to run from the 4th to 6th of June at the Honourable Artillery Company near Old Street
London, UK (21 February 2024): The London Concours is excited to announce that this June’s show will celebrate the past 70 years of one of the most significant and iconic automotive creations of all: the Chevrolet Corvette. Running from the 4th to 6th June at the Honourable Artillery Company in the heart of the city, the event will gather ten models from throughout the Corvette’s illustrious history – from the seminal C1 of the 1950s right through to the cutting-edge, mid-engined C8 supercar of today. Presented in partnership with the Classic Corvette Club UK and Classic and Sports Car, the display will chart the progression of this defining model over the decades, offering fascinating snapshots of America and its automotive industry in the process.
The display will kick-off with the first-generation of Corvette, introduced in 1953, which was devised by General Motors to tap into America’s enthusiasm for European sports cars in the post-war years. Known as the ‘C1’, it featured a sleek body designed by Harvey Earl; it was the archetypal two-seater sports car, embodying ‘50s American optimism. The C1 was offered with a range of engines over the course of its nine-year production run, from a straight-six in the base car, up to a 5.4-litre 300+bhp V8. The motors could be mated either to a 2-speed ‘Powerglide’ auto, or a 3 or 4-speed manual box. As the first mass-produced American sports car, the C1 set the foundations for the enduring Corvette legacy and remains a landmark piece of industrial design.
The second-generation Corvette, more widely known as the ‘Sting Ray’, arrived on the scene in 1963. Designed by Larry Shinoda, who was also responsible for the Ford Mustang ‘Boss’ 302, the C2 became an instant classic. With its futuristic lines and split-rear window, it was an American sports car for the space age. Quite literally, in fact; from the ‘60s to ‘70s GM had an arrangement with NASA which saw legendary astronauts – the likes of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin – run top of the range, fire-breathing ‘vettes as company cars.
Under the long bonnet, the Sting Ray housed a variety of V8 engines, from the iconic small-block 327 to the mighty, 7.0-litre, 427 cubic inch monster – ideal for astronauts accustomed to rocket thrusters. Available as a convertible and a coupe, it also became a force to be reckoned with on the racetrack, with the rumbling, often side-piped Sting Ray taking the fight to European machines like the Jaguar E-Type at circuits around the world.
Also on show will be the equally distinctive C3 Corvette, which was introduced in 1968. While the C2 reflected the automotive and design landscape of the ‘60s, the C3, with its more curvaceous body and dramatic pop-up headlights, vibrantly reflected the more extravagant style of the 1970s. Over its 14-year production run, the C3 underwent various refinements; remarkably 21 different powerplants had been offered by the time production ceased in 1982, from more refined small block V8s to the decidedly less civilised, thunderous big-blocks versions. A customer in the early ‘70s could spec their C3 to have 450bhp, nearly 100bhp more than a contemporary Ferrari 512BB; a blue-collar American performance hero.
If the C3 embodied the ‘70s, then the C4, unveiled in 1984, was very much a machine of the 1980s. It embraced cutting-edge technology and aerodynamic design of the time, with a futuristic, digital dashboard, and an all-new chassis, using composite body panels to keep weight down. Under the skin the C4 was a marked step on from its predecessors, ditching the dated body-on-frame construction, while a six-speed manual gearbox was offered for the first time.
June’s show will also feature the C5, introduced in 1997, which modernised things further and became a great hit with performance car fans. The C5 featured the 345bhp LS1 5.7-litre V8 at its core, and, thanks to a lightweight structure, and a much more refined suspension system, it took all-round performance and handling to a new level. With high-tech magnetorheological dampers and a top speed of over 175mph, the driving experience was now comparable to much more expensive European competitors.
Arriving in 2005, the C6 Corvette – an evolution of the C5’s design – elevated performance to supercar levels. Motorsport inspired variants like the 505bhp, 7.0-litre Z06 and wild, supercharged 6.2-litre, 638bhp ZR1 packed immense straight-line performance, with the latter capable of over 200mph flat out. Evo dubbed the Z06 a “genuine all-American supercar”; these variants remain visceral, thrilling machines with real visual presence.
The C7, introduced in 2014, further evolved the Corvette, bringing sharper lines, more advanced materials, and yet more powerful engines. Generally, it stuck to the familiar recipe that had served the Corvette well for over 60 years – a large engine at the front nestled under a long bonnet, sending power to the rear wheels. Thanks to sophisticated technology, including the option of a swift-shifting 8-speed automatic ‘box, the C7 could go toe to toe with more exotic machinery; even in base form it was capable of hitting 60mph from rest in just 3.7 seconds, while at the top of the tree, the supercharged 755hp ZR1 could reach a hypercar troubling 215mph.
The Corvette retrospective will be rounded off by the latest-generation C8, introduced in 2020. The current ‘vette represented a revolution for the model chiefly on account of its shift to a mid-engined layout. This move enhanced both balance and agility – deploying the multi-cylinder, mid-engined recipe that has for so long been the preserve of blue-blooded European exotica, marking the start of an exciting new chapter in the history of this true automotive icon.
This is just one part of this summer’s event, which will assemble some 80 machines – from classics to modern hypercars – in an oasis of green in the heart of the city of London. Stay tuned for further class announcements in the weeks and months ahead as we approach the anticipated 8th edition of London Concours.
London Concours and Apollo Capital Join Forces for 2024
- Apollo Capital Becomes Official Finance Partner to the London Concours 2024
- Leading supercar financing business also presents the main stage and becomes sponsor of The Hypercars class
- The eighth annual London Concours will feature more than 200 cars, gathered in bespoke classes, including a celebration of the V12 engine
- Each day of the event welcomes 50 ‘feature’ cars; McLarens on day one, E-Types on day two and supercars on day three
- Tickets can be purchased from londonconcours.co.uk/tickets
London, 2024: The London Concours, one of the UK’s most prestigious collector car events, welcomes Apollo Capital as its Official Finance Partner. The partnership marks a significant collaboration between two entities dedicated to celebrating the pinnacle of automotive design and performance. The London Concours 2024 takes place from 4th-6th June 2024.
Apollo Capital is a leader in the financing of supercars and hypercars, operated by a team with decades of experience in funding high-value car manufacturers, with transactions totalling well over £1 billion. Its services cater to both private clients and businesses, offering a selection of car finance products, equity release, and re-financing, enabling enthusiasts and collectors alike to invest in the car passion. Apollo Capital’s expert understanding of the high-end car finance market aligns seamlessly with the ethos of the London Concours.
At the heart of the London Concours this year will be a collection of rare and beautiful privately owned cars, curated into features that celebrate different aspects of automotive culture. British Racing will highlight some of the most beautiful motorsport creations of Great Britain from the likes of Jaguar and McLaren, while The Legendary V12 pays homage to some of the greatest ever creations fitted with arguably the automotive world’s most emotive powertrain. One class is entirely dedicated to The Hypercars, the very latest innovations in automotive performance and design, this year sponsored by Apollo Capital. It’s creations exactly like these that Apollo specialises in, having recently secured funding for four very special Pagani hypercars worth more than £20m.
Apollo Capital’s knowledge of the luxury & supercar market makes it the perfect partner to present the London Concours’ live stage, which hosts insightful talks on automotive design, history, investment and more over the course of the three days. The Apollo Capital team will work with organisers to curate content for the live stage that appropriately celebrates the automotive world, including expert knowledge on car financing products, rates and terms.
About Thorough Events and the London Concours:
The London Concours is organised by Thorough Events, the team behind the Concours of Elegance. First hosted in 2012 at Windsor Castle, the Concours of Elegance set a new global benchmark for a classic car concours, winning prestigious awards in the process; unheard of for a ‘start-up’ event in its first year. Thorough Events created the London Concours in June 2017 as an automotive garden party in the heart of the City of London, gathering a collection of rare and exceptional performance cars into one of London’s most incredible venues. In 2018, the Concours of Elegance was named as Best Consumer Show and in 2019 it was named Motoring Spectacle of the Year by the Royal Automobile Club. London Concours was named Best Brand Expansion by Exhibition News at the Indy Awards.