R.M.Sotheby’s2026 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run Sunday, November 1

Perth collector Alan Tribe’s 1901 24 HP Panhard Levassor three-seater, entry 101 in this year’s London to Brighton Rally.

The world-famous London to Brighton Veteran Car Run gets under way on Sunday November 2, the world’s longest running car rally for vehicles manufactured before the 31st. December 1904. This special automotive event celebrates its 130th. anniversary this year although its was suspended during the war years, in 1947 due to petrol rationing and again in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The annual pilgrimage for veteran cars from London to Brighton commemorates the introduction of the Locomotives on the Highway Act of 14 November 1896, when British motoring began in earnest. Before the Act, cars were limited to 4 mph and had to have someone walking ahead of them to warn pedestrians.

Entries for the event must have been dated by the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain as having been built as 1904 or earlier. The entry list is also open to 25 motorcycles and bicycles. For veteran car enthusiasts the world over the London to Brighton Run is seen as the ultimate event for early cars.

This year more than 400 cars will take part with three notable entries from Australia. My good friend Alan Tribe from Perth is taking his 1901 24HP four-cylinder Panhard et Levassor roadster for the first time – this rare car discovered in Melbourne in derelict form some 15 years ago proved to be an incredible find – the personal car of Charles Stewart Rolls of Rolls-Royce fame that somehow made its way later in life to Australia. Rolls prior to meeting Henry Royce in 1904 was a prominent car dealer with the London agency for Panhard Levassor and put the French marque on the map with various early motor sport events.

 Charles Stewart Rolls on the 24HP Panhard in 1901.

Also entered this year from Australia, two cars from the Palmer Motorama collection, entry 377 a U.S. built 1904 two-cylinder 14/18HP Brennan rear-entrance tonneau and entry 392, a 1904 French built four-cylinder 24/32 HP Mors tourer. All part of the wonderful collection of early Brighton cars now assembled by Clive Palmer for his forthcoming museum complex at Lake Wivenhoe west of Brisbane.

Entry 377- 1904 14/18HP Brennan rear-entrance Tonneau entered by Palmer Motorama.

Entry 392 – Fabulous and rare 1904 24/32HP four-cylinder chain-drive five-litre Roi des Belges capable of seating 7 purchased at Bonhams auction by Clive Palmer for 460,000 pounds.

Entry 259 – my old 1903 two-cylinder 16HP Maxim rear-entrance Tonneau now owned by Ian Strang from Guernsey. We competed in the Brighton Run with this car in 1996 and 1997 after ten years of restoration – the only known example of the marque built in London between 1902 and 1905. Found derelict in Mudgee in 1978 on a property tip. Built in London by Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim of machine gun fame. One of the few Americans knighted by Queen Victoria. My family crest is thankfully still on the front seat.

On Westminster Bridge in the 1903 Maxim in 1997 – after 8 hours of sitting in the rain on the way to Brighton the year before, Diana was well equipped for the weather.

The early morning start in Hyde Park with 400 pre-1905 cars is always exciting.

You will note the total loss lubrication system had left its mark on the park road.

Daughter Jane in the rear with an English friend.

The Somerset Hoard of Veteran Cars.

The 1904 Swift in the foreground powered by a single cylinder De Dion Bouton engine features a detachable “Grooms” seat at the rear – looks like the ladies ruled.

As a curtain raiser to the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run each year Bonhams holds The Golden Age of Motoring Sale at its New Bond Street headquarters in London. As well as a delectable range of pre-1905 restored cars on offer on October 30 is a collection of seven rare veteran cars from a single family that have remained hidden away in the English countryside since the outbreak of war in 1939.

What a barn find – every enthusiasts dream!

An amazing find this group of veterans is known as the “Somerset Hoard” and includes a 1905 Humber 8/10HP two-seater, 1903 Baker Electric, a 1902 Progress two-seater, 1905 Rover 8HP, 1903 Swift two-seater, a 1904 Darracq two-cylinder 12HP rear-entrance Tonneau, considered the gem in the group, and the youngest car, a 1913 Belsize 10/12HP roadster. All of English manufacture, the Darracq carries the biggest estimate between 55,000 and 75,000 pounds.

Fabulous French-built 1904 Rochet Schneider 16/22hp four-cylinder chain-drive side entrance Tonneau in the Bonhams Sale on Oct 30. One of two known survivors and reflecting the desirability of big capacity early veterans it carries a 380,000 to 530,000 pounds estimate.