The informal concours event run by Octane Magazine happened again this year. This is a small get-together in the grounds of Blenheim palace which has accompanied the Coys auction, held on the same day, for the last few years. There is usually a wide range of cars, from the run of the mill classics, right the way up to the most exotic historic specials. This year there were a couple that caught my eye; a freshly restored 1950 Ferrari 166 Inter-Touring Berlinetta (1 of 8 built) in dark blue that had some beautiful detailing, and what looked to me like a Hispano-Suiza special running a V8 (aero?) engine and straight through exhausts, it was exquisite (but I stand to be corrected on what it was!).
Also of interest was a very special hot rodded XK120 coupe, and, the eventual winner of the Octane prize for car of the event, a very shiny 1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 that is currently for sale at Cars International.
It's worth turning up in an old car as all entrants to the concours get free entry to the auction and a reduced rate on the catalogue (£15 rather than £25). The number of cars was down this year, I think people must have been put off by the bad weather forecast, but overall a highly recommended way of seeing some very exotic machinery.
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