The World’s Rarest Cars Roll into Hampton Court Palace for Day One of Concours of Elegance 2026
The Concours of Elegance 2026, presented by A. Lange & Söhne, got underway in spectacular fashion, as 80 of the world’s rarest automotive masterpieces rolled into the grounds of Hampton Court Palace.
Guests attending Friday’s VIP Preview Day were treated to a memorable first look at this year’s extraordinary collection, witnessing each of the Concours entrants make its Grand Arrival and cruise around the gardens’ central fountain for its moment on the main stage.
With everything from pioneering pre-war machinery and Art Deco specials to legendary competition cars and limited-run hypercars, the arrival of all 80 Concours entrants provided a remarkable journey through automotive history.
The first awards of the weekend were also presented, recognising two particularly exceptional cars among this year’s collection.
The Gooding Christie’s Award was presented to the striking 1966 Aston Martin DBSC prototype, one of just two examples created by Carrozzeria Touring.
Developed in 1966 as a proposed fast, two-seat successor to the DB6, the DBSC was created under Aston Martin’s MP226 project and offered a fascinating alternative vision for the future of the marque. Its distinctive Touring-designed Superleggera body, sharply defined roofline and long tail gave it a dramatically different character from Aston Martin’s existing DB range.
Beneath the bodywork, the prototype featured Aston Martin’s 3,995cc twin-cam straight-six producing 325bhp, alongside a five-speed manual gearbox and experimental de Dion rear suspension. The car was displayed at major international motor shows before Aston Martin ultimately focused its attention on the production-bound DBS, leaving the two DBSC prototypes as unique survivors of a remarkable chapter in the company’s history.
Elsewhere, the Art of Bespoke Award was presented to a stunningly original 1952 Jaguar C-Type, owned by Michael Dacre, The Collector.
One of just 53 C-Types built, the car has an extraordinary competition history, having raced in the United States throughout the 1950s, including appearances at the 12 Hours of Sebring and the Watkins Glen Grand Prix.
Today, it is regarded as one of the finest and most original examples of Jaguar’s legendary competition car, retaining its period patina and many of its original components. Its remarkable preservation was recognised at Pebble Beach in 2025, where it won the Preservation Class.
With the full Concours collection now assembled at Hampton Court Palace, Friday’s opening day has set the stage for an extraordinary weekend celebrating the world’s finest automobiles.
There is still plenty to discover at Concours of Elegance 2026, with all 80 Concours cars now in place alongside an exceptional programme of automotive displays and experiences.
Tickets are still available, so join us this weekend at Hampton Court Palace and experience Concours of Elegance 2026 for yourself.