One-off Ferrari

The former home of Henry VIII, Hampton Court Palace, will play host to a selection of some of the rarest Ferraris ever built as Concours of Elegance gets underway from 31 August to 2 September. Ferraris from 1950 to the present day will appear in the Main Concours event, spearheaded by the unique and beautiful one-off Ferrari 166MM/ 212 Export ‘Uovo’.

The ‘Uovo’ is a one-off Ferrari for Count Giannino Marzotto, as the ultimate sports racing car of its day. The design is not only aerodynamic but also lightweight, inspired by the aeronautical training of the car’s designer, Franco Reggiani. Shedding around 150kg compared with similar Ferraris of the time. The one-off Ferrari’s bespoke design, complete with a reflection-free windscreen made of crystal, worked wonders on the car’s performance, granting it a number of race wins, including the 1951 Giro della Toscana. Sold very recently by RM Sotheby’s, the one-off Ferrari ‘Uovo’ is rarely seen in public. This makes the Concours of Elegance a special opportunity to see one of the world’s most special Ferraris.

Ferrari 500 TRC

Joining the one-off Ferrari, ‘Uovo’, is the Ferrari 500 TRC by Scaglietti. Named after the FIA ‘C’ racing regulations, this 500 TRC, is one of the most beautiful Ferraris ever built. This particular example is the final TRC, and the last ever four-cylinder car Ferrari. It also comes complete with an impressive race history. This includes class wins at both the 1957 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Other Ferraris

Then there’s the extraordinary 365 California Spyder. One of only fourteen by Pininfarina as a direct successor to the 500 Superfast Coupe. Named “California” after its 250 predecessors, the 365 Spyder comes with a 4.4-litre V12 engine.

Also on display at the Concours is a 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Scaglietti – one of 165 built. Featuring a 3-litre V12 engine, they were a shortened version of the long-wheelbase TDF (Tour de France) cars.

Any Ferrari 275 GTB is special, but the alloy-bodied Long Nose appearing at Hampton Court Palace between 31 August – 2 September deserves extra attention. One of just 80 examples, this car has the lighter alloy body, the Long Nose design and the earlier two-cam powertrain. The 275 was designed by Pininfarina, built by Scaglietti, and was the first Ferrari to feature fully independent transaxle suspension, pioneered on-track by Ferrari.

The Dino has gone on to become one of the most sought-after Ferraris of its era. Featuring a six-cylinder mid-mounted 2.4-litre engine, which produces 195bhp, the Dino is capable of 146mph. This year marks the 50th anniversary since the first built Dino, in 1968.

Ferrari GTO

No line-up of Ferraris would be complete without an appearance from the brand’s legendary GTO badge. Concours of Elegance will be bringing perhaps the rarest GTO of them all. The 1983 Ferrari 288 GTO Prototype, is one of only six, and one of three that remain.

And finally, a 2018 Ferrari GTC4Lusso ‘Tailor Made’ will also be present in the Main Concours. In its bespoke Arancia paint, this car is made to the owner’s exacting specifications. Released earlier this year, the car features a 6.3-litre V12 engine, capable of reaching speeds in excess of 200mph.

This year’s event is the largest and most diverse yet, not only featuring one of the most incredible collections of vehicles ever seen in the Main Concours display but also a number of other special motoring features. The Aston Martin Owners Club, for example, will be gathering an example of every DB4 variant ever produced, in celebration of 60 years of the first Aston Martin DB4 model.

Concours of Elegance Director

Concours of Elegance Director, Andrew Evans, said: “The Concours of Elegance is all about bringing together the rarest and most exceptional cars in the world in one of the UK’s most beautiful settings. Clearly, Ferrari and its long lineage of icons will always hold a place in the Concours, but I’m absolutely ecstatic by the quality we’ll have on display. For Ferrari fans, it’s absolutely unmissable, but we’ll also have plenty of other things to see and do over the weekend: luxury watches from A. Lange & Sohne, jewellery from Augustine Jewels, champagne from Taittinger and luxury attire from Henry Poole & Co.”

Concours of Elegance is working in conjunction with a number of organisations to offer bespoke experiences for visitors. This includes the Octane Tour, held on Sunday. To join the Octane Tour contact iain@thoroughevents.co.uk.

The Concours has also partnered with Tom’s Kitchen – founded by Tom Aikens –  to offer new deli picnics for visitors. The picnics will include a chicken or vegetarian main course plus salads with a cheese and fruit box. There’ll also be a delicious strawberry and white chocolate dessert.

Tickets to the Concours of Elegance are on sale now, available from: www.concoursofelegance.co.uk/tickets

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