Cars of the Stars of Music and Film.
'Carnaby Street' class exhibits have been unveiled at the London Concours, the summer's most anticipated event. Here, on the historic grounds of the Honourable Artillery Company, we may relive the thrill and optimism of the 'Swinging Sixties' in Britain through a display of the automobiles that the era's glitterati—from movie stars and royals to rock stars and royalty—favoured.
Once again, the London Concours will bring a breathtaking assortment of rare vehicles to The City for three days of automotive bliss from June 4–6. Celebrities from the legendary '60s are the focus of the Carnaby Street class, which honours vintage vehicles driven or owned by these famous people.
In particular, the Meyers Manx, which was built on a Volkswagen Beetle chassis and was the first of its kind, encapsulates the essence of the era's dune buggy vehicles. The one in the Carnaby Street collection is the exact one that Steve McQueen raced across sand dunes and splashed through waves in the film The Thomas Crown Affair, which starred Faye Dunaway and McQueen. While designing the movie car, McQueen—who was also an avid racer—had a 'flat-six' Chevrolet Corvair engine installed, which was three times as powerful as the VW engine. Other features included a wraparound windscreen reminiscent of a speedboat, headlights that were faired into the bonnet, and American Racing wheels.
Notable on the Sixties soundtrack was the music of Eric Clapton, a guitarist, vocalist, and composer who was a member of the Yardbirds and, subsequently, Cream. The exhibit will showcase the 1969 Ferrari 365 GTC Berlinetta that he purchased following his crush on George Harrison's (Beatles') ride. “I’d never seen one in the flesh before, and my heart melted,” he said, likening the experience to seeing “the most beautiful woman on earth." The 4.4-litre V12 engine, with 320 horsepower and 150 miles per hour, was designed by the renowned Italian designer Pininfarina. That is, until Clapton couldn't operate a motor vehicle back then, but he quickly became an expert with the Ferrari's clutch.
While the DB5 was the iconic sports car of James Bond films, the two-door DB6 coupé was the ride of choice for the British A-list in the '60s. Paul McCartney of the Beatles, Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, Twiggy, Peter Sellers, and actor/comedian Paul McCartney all had one. As a present for Prince Charles's 21st birthday, the late Queen gave him the DB6, which he still owns. The 282bhp DB6 was a high-speed cruiser that could comfortably accommodate four people, had better aerodynamics, such as a racing-style 'Kamm' tail, and was powered by a 4.0-litre, twin-overhead-cam, six-cylinder engine.
A Givenchy gown or a Saville Row suit would be more appropriate attire for the glamorous and sophisticated Mercedes 190 SL roadster, thanks to its low-slung profile and unique "eyebrows" above the wheelarches. The immaculate 1961 model in the Carnaby Street collection has recently undergone a thorough restoration. Dame Shirley Bassey of Wales drove it while recording her studio album I Am What I Am in 1984 at London's Olympic Studios. Tim Hauser, a founding member of the band Manhattan Transfer, once owned it. With a 1.9-litre four-cylinder engine and a manual transmission, this one-of-a-kind right-hand-drive variant is one of just around 1,000 produced. Its roof can be removed for easy storage.
Jackie Collins was an ardent automobile enthusiast, and her silver Ford Mustang fastback was her favourite. Supposedly, she drove it to see her kids at the school from which she was expelled, looking as defiant as ever in her orange mink coat, jeans, and sunglasses. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the 1964 debut of the Mustang, a four-door sports vehicle that exemplified Ford's goal of appealing to a younger demographic with an inexpensive, sporty design. Customers could select from a variety of body styles, including a two-door hardtop, fastback, or convertible, and from a selection of engines that included either a manual or automatic gearbox, with displacements varying from 2.8 to 4.7 litres. Whatever the details, the Mustang was a hit with America's youth. Wilson Pickett and Chuck Berry both performed covers of it. That 22,000 Mustangs were sold on the first day is hardly surprising.
Prestige marques like the 1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, which would have been at home on the HAC's well-kept lawns back in the day (though it may have sailed Carnaby Street or the Kings Road), showed that the Sixties weren't just about ostentation and speed. The rakish triple headlamps could have surprised purists even if they weren't as stunning as John Lennon's psychedelic makeover of the Phantom V. Leather, sophistication, and an air of antiquity persisted, nevertheless, on the inside. The Silver Cloud could reach speeds of almost 100 mph, but only managed 13 mpg thanks to its 6.2-litre V8 engine and automatic transmission, which were concealed beneath a radiator that took design cues from Rome's Pantheon temple.
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