10 amazing cars to see at the 2019 Revival

1961 Jaguar E-type – Kinrara Trophy

Of the first 16 E-types ever built, in 1961, a number were gifted to racing teams as part of a grand marketing exercise by Jaguar. While two went to John Coombs, two to Peter Berry and two to Tommy Sopwith, this particular E-Type was entrusted to Sir Gawaine Baillie.

Only four of these ever competed, and this was one of them, raced throughout 1961 and 1962 by Baillie, who came second in the 1961 Tour de France before crashing 30 metres down a hillside in the following year’s event. Nowadays, this is one of only two models to remain in its original configuration.

1959 Austin A40 – St Mary’s Trophy

Once owned by the British racing driver George ‘Doc’ Shepherd, it was driven to a second-place finish in Shepherd's second ever British Saloon Car Championship in 1959. The following year, he returned for the Don Moore Racing Team, this time pushing the A40 to victory. The model was also known to race at Goodwood in period.

1933 Bentley ‘Barnato Hassan’ – Goodwood Trophy

This Bentley special was built by former Birkin riding mechanic Walter Hassan to the order of Woolf Barnato in 1933. Originally, it featured a 4.5-litre engine from 'Old Number One' in a new single-seater chassis, however it was later converted to an 8.0-litre engine with central steering. Notably, the ‘Barnato Hassan’ lapped Brooklands at 143.11mph.

1936 Bentley ‘Pacey Hassan’ – Goodwood Trophy

Another Walter Hassan Bentley special completing in this year’s Goodwood Trophy was that built for racer Bill Pacey. This car finished second in the BRDC 500 Miles, after lapping Brooklands at 129.03mph. Designer Hassan later went on to become co-creator of the Jaguar XK and V12 engines, plus the World Championship-winning Climax four- and eight-cylinder engines.

1964 BRP-BRM – Glover Trophy

Taking part in Saturday’s Glover Trophy is this 1964 BRP-BRM, a car which was heavily inspired by the Lotus 24. The mint green single-seater will be raced by owner Kurt Del Bene in the Glover Trophy.

1960 Aston Martin DB4 GT – Kinrara Trophy

This magnificent DB4 GT was built by the factory in 1960 with a Zagato-spec engine and an uprated drivetrain, designed specifically to be raced. It was then shipped to the USA, where drivers Duncan Black, Innes Ireland and Bob Grossman raced it with factory support at circuits including Sebring, Watkins Glen, Bridgehampton Grand prix and Lime Rock. It competed throughout the 60s and 70s with factory support and was looked after by Rex Woodgate, who later bought it. The model eventually returned to the UK in 2002 and will compete in Friday’s Kinrara Trophy.

1959 Cooper-Climax T49 ‘Monaco’ – Sussex Trophy

This Cooper-Climax boasts an illustrious history. In 1959 it was bought new by Jack Brabham and raced by him and Roy Salvadori under the banner of the John Coombs racing team. During a busy domestic season that year, Jack Brabham and Bruce McLaren raced it in the celebrated Goodwood Tourist Trophy, an eventful race which will be recreated at the Revival this year.

Venturing further afield, Brabham then took the car to Nassau for the Nassau Trophy and to Cuba for the Cuban GP, before selling it to a US buyer. 

1963 AC Cobra – RAC TT Celebration

This AC Cobra was a 1963 works Le Mans entry, driven by Ninian Sanderson and Peter Bolton and managed by Stirling Moss. Such was the illustrious team’s strength, the car won the over 4.0-litre class and finished seventh overall, averaging 108mph for the 24 hours and with a top speed of 161mph on the Mulsanne Straight.

It was later sold to John Willment Racing and campaigned by ‘Gentleman’ Jack Sears, who drove it to a fourth-place finish in the 1964 Goodwood TT. He also pulled off a remarkable win in the Ilford Trophy race at the 1964 British GP meeting at Brands Hatch, in which he was black flagged to the pits for starting from the wrong grid position. His subsequent charge to victory, ahead of Jackie Stewart's lightweight E-type is an all-time classic.

In 1973, the Cobra was bought by Nigel Hulme and restored to 66 Willment spec. It has since raced in Japan, competed in two Le Mans retros and also in an all-Cobra race at Donington in 1989. 

1966 Bizzarrini 5300GT – RAC TT Celebration

This beautiful Bizzarrini Lightweight Coupe is the only ever right-hand-drive model to come out of the Italian factory. It first competed at the 1,000kms of Monza, where it received a DNF, before taking on the Targa Florio. After competing in the 1966 Le Mans, it was uprated to a 7.0-litre engine for the following year’s race.

1960 Lotus-Climax 18 – Richmond & Gordon Trophies

Finally, completing our top ten is the 1960 Lotus-Climax 18 in which Sir Stirling Moss' took victory at both the 1961 Monaco and German GPs. Chassis '912' will be competing in Sunday’s Richmond and Gordon Trophies.

Photography courtesy of Jochen Van Cauwenberg, Jayson Fong, Drew Gibson and Motorsport Images.