Vehicles from legendary brands including Bentley, Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce, Jaguar, and McLaren will be on display during the 11th annual Concours of Elegance.

The wide variety shows how Great Britain has led the world in automotive technology and style on both the road and the track throughout automotive history, from early Bentley Le Mans classics to the most fierce road vehicle ever constructed, Aston Martin's brand-new, Formula 1-inspired Valkyrie. Here are just a few of the vehicles that will be flying the Union Jack during the celebration in September.

1928 Bentley 4.5 Litre

This 4.5-litre Bentley not only finished fourth in the classic Bentley 1-2-3-4 team sweep at the 1929 Le Mans 24 Hours, but it also continues to be the most successful original-bodied racing vehicle from the manufacturer still in existence. In addition, it participated in all of the major racing competitions of the day, including the Irish TT and the first Irish International Grand Prix, as well as the Brooklands 500 Miles, Double Twelve, and Six Hours. With an average speed of 107.32 mph, it won the last one, the first British Racing Drivers' Club competition, making the long-distance race the fastest in the world at the time.

After the dissolution of Bentley Motors in 1931, YW 5758 continued its competitive career; visitors to the Concours of Elegance may see the racing history inscribed on its radiator. It garnered notoriety in other contexts as well after appearing in a 1960s Shell Oil marketing campaign and a 1990 motion picture starring Jason Connery, Sean Connery's son. Bentley used it for advertising purposes in 2019 to mark the marque's 100th birthday and has made numerous appearances at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

1929 Bentley Speed Six ‘Old Number One’

One of the most famous Le Mans 24 Hour monuments is the Bentley Speed Six Old Number One. Why? In 1929 and 1930, it became the first automobile to ever win the illustrious French endurance event twice. Its modified engine, which was based on the Speed Six sporty version of the 612-litre tourer, produced 190 horsepower and allowed for a peak speed of 115 mph. Woolf Barnato and Tim Birkin led the Bentley team to a podium sweep in the lead vehicle of the five that the manufacturer entered in 1929.

Despite fierce competition from Le Mans rookies Mercedes-Benz and Alfa Romeo, it replicated its winning performance in 1930, this time with Glen Kidston and Barnato sharing the driving duties. This was a significant accomplishment for Bentley, which wouldn't triumph at Le Mans again until its Speed 8 won in 2003. As a result, Old Number One is perhaps the most important vehicle in the history of British motorsport.

1956 Aston Martin DB3S

The DB3S failed to accomplish David Brown's ultimate ambition, which was to win the Le Mans 24 Hours. The most successful of the kind, DBS3/9, has a racing history that can be viewed at the Concours of Elegance that is as thrilling as they come. The car, one of the final DB3Ss constructed and raced, improved upon the speed and technology of the original DB3 and reflected rule modifications implemented following the horrifying disaster at the 1955 24 Hours.

When Peter Collins and Stirling Moss drove it in 1956 at La Sarthe, they famously battled for the lead with Ninian Sanderson and Ron Flockhart's Works Jaguar D-type. The Aston finished a commendable second despite encountering inclement conditions and lost second gear in the closing hours. Following its success at Le Mans, DBS3/9 put on more excellent displays at Oulton Park and Goodwood, with drivers Moss, Roy Salvadori, and Tony Brooks switching off. Australian David McKay, who drove the vehicle to triumph on its Bathurst debut and eight further victories, capped out its career in period competitions.

1964 Aston Martin DB5

At the Concours of Elegance, Swiss vintage automobile enthusiast Fritz Burkard will display a variety of vehicles from his Pearl Collection. A Silver Birch Aston Martin DB5 is the collection's crowning achievement for aficionados of popular culture since it is a design that is closely tied to 007 himself. One of the two automobiles made in 1965 with all the equipment for use in the Thunderball promotion is this one. Due to the popularity of Goldfinger, the automobile had to return in the subsequent film.

The iconic James Bond DB5 has proven to be so durable that it has appeared in later films featuring the super-spy, including Skyfall, Spectre, and No Time To Die. It is known for having a number of Q-Branch upgrades, including bulletproof panels, retractable machine guns, rotating number plates, telescoping tyre slashers, on-demand oil-slick and smoke-screen devices, and most notably, a passenger ejector seat. Fans of the James Bond series will enjoy the chance to examine such a cinematic classic up close on the Hampton Court Palace lawns.

2003 Bentley Speed 8

Following a seven-decade hiatus from the Le Mans 24 Hours, Bentley turned its attention back to winning the illustrious endurance event in the new century. The No. 7 Speed 8's long-awaited triumph in 2003 was the culmination of a deliberate effort to reclaim competitive form in top-tier motorsport.

Tom Kristensen, Guy Smith, and Rinaldo Capello, the Bentley Boys of the twenty-first century, drove the closed-cockpit vehicle to victories in the LMGTP class and the overall Le Mans competition. Johnny Herbert, David Brabham, and Mark Blundell raced the No. 8 Speed 8 to a tight second place in what was a successful year for the Crewe marque.

2008 McLaren MP4-22/A

During the 2007 Formula One World Championship, Lewis Hamilton won his first two races and earned his first two pole positions in this McLaren MP4/22A. At the Canadian Grand Prix and the season-ending Indianapolis 500, Lewis Hamilton scored a victory in the vehicle. In Italy, he came in second as well.

The vehicle was used by Fernando Alonso a few times, and he used it to win the Malaysian Grand Prix. Traction control was last installed in a McLaren vehicle, the MP4/22, as it was outlawed following the 2007 racing season. Many people believe it to be the most stunning and powerful McLaren since the storied MP4/5 and it hasn't been topped since.

2023 Aston Martin Valkyrie

The limited-production Valkyrie hybrid sports vehicle, which marries one of the world's most revered marques with what many consider to be the greatest Formula 1 designer of all time, is the spectacular outcome of a meeting of the best brains in the automotive and motor sport sectors. Red Bull's Christian Horner and Adrian Newey were hired by Aston Martin to help create one of the most powerful road cars ever.

This collaborative process was far from straightforward due to dramatic flips and turns, but the incredible outcome was well worth the wait. The Valkyrie has a 6.5-liter Aston Martin-Cosworth V12 mated to an electric motor, delivering a monstrous 1139 horsepower (1160 horsepower with the addition of the F1 KERS-style boost system), and an aerodynamics package that can generate 1814 kg of downforce. With a total weight of 1030 kg, the car weighs more than even the predicted 1:1 power-to-weight ratio. As a result, the Valkyrie can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in only 2.6 seconds and reach peak speeds of well over 200 mph. It is hailed as the quickest street-legal vehicle in the whole globe. One of the 150 conventional Valkyries made is being displayed at the Concours of Elegance, and it is number 54 and has unique stylistic elements from the Q request.

The Concours of Elegance in September will feature a variety of exceptional and rare concours vehicles as well as special features like the Levitt Concours, which is exclusively for women, the Junior Concours, more displays from the Swiss Pearl Collection, and Thirty Under 30. Around 1000 more cars will be assembled for the glitzy event's unique attractions and exhibits outside the main displays.

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