Classic delights at the 2024 Revival Car Show | Axon’s Automotive Anorak

In particular, there was an amazing collection of fascinating classic vehicles at the dedicated pre-1966 Revival Car Show and classic tax-free parking areas.  Although initially slightly depleted due to the soggy conditions, a large roll call of already committed and devoted enthusiasts dutifully arrived at Goodwood in their suitably loved period cars.

Away from the ‘lovely to see but somewhat inevitable’ row of mud-splattered pre-66 Jaguar E-Types, Mark 2s and XKs, Austin Healeys, Porsche 356 and 911s, Mini Coopers, Lotus Cortinas and aged Rolls-Royces that are regular sights at Goodwood, a variety of rarely seen and less obvious classics braved the elements to make for a fascinating and rewarding stroll around the dedicated historic parking areas over the road each day. This was like viewing the Paddocks for regular road-going classic cars, with at least 2,500 slightly muddy vehicles parked up to admire on each of the Revival’s three days.

Personal highlights included a host of coachbuilt Italian lovelies, such as a Bertone-bodied Arnolt MG TD Coupé and Vignale Triumph TR4 Italia, plus an impressive variety of older American cars, many originally destined for the UK market with RHD steering, these being built within the Commonwealth in Canada for export to Britain.

A top-spec, low-mileage RHD 1963 Rambler Ambassador 990 was a particularly scarce sight, as was a RHD mid-60s Chevrolet Impala, plus a pre-war UK market Plymouth and a pair of wild whale-sized 1952 Cadillac Series 62 two-door sedans, one dressed in all of its Le Mans racing fineries.

In addition to countless ‘best of British’ classic Aston Martins, Jaguars, Rolls-Royces, ACs and Jensens, sporting behemoths from Blighty included some beautiful Bentleys – such as an imposing Hooper-bodied Empress and pre-war Blowers – plus a wealth of Bristols of virtually every model type which made the walk across the bridge to Over the Road worth it alone for me! 

Already committed to coming afar in their period and beloved pre-1966 classic cars long before the weather took a turn for the worse, the turnout of so many Continental cars from mainland European spectators was impressive. A handful with intriguing personalised registration plates, such as an appropriate GT 330 GT on an immaculate (if slightly muddy) Belgian-registered Ferrari 330 GT and the ‘JAG MK 2’ licence plate on a suitable Jaguar saloon from the same country being an exotic sighting.

Among the pleasingly large overseas contingent that made it along to the Revival (judging by the high number of European period cars in the Revival Car Show), the greatest number of overseas driving spectators had come over from France, followed by the Benelux, then Germany, Switzerland, Ireland and Sweden, with a handful of classics also making the long trip to Goodwood in their older classics from Italy, Spain, Denmark and Norway.

Ironically, examples of Britain’s best-selling car in the 1960s, the BMC ADO16 (Austin-Morris 1100), were very thin on the ground, with only a single UK registered example spotted, but immaculate specimens of this once prolific and advanced front-wheel-drive Issigonis creation making it all the way across from France, Germany and the Netherlands, where it would seem this fine and underrated mid-range family saloon is perhaps more appreciated than it is in its homeland, as is often the way.

The busy further fields full of post-‘66 tax free classic cars included an early (pre-66) Japanese classic in the form of the Toyota Corona 1500, plus a later Celica ST Liftback, as well as younger tax-free examples of a Honda S800 Coupé (just like the one I passed my driving test in) and an early Civic, plus a Datsun 1200 Coupé, numerous 240Zs and a now ultra-rare rotary Mazda RX-4 Coupé like the one my father drove when I was a kid. 

The German contingent included a Bitter SC joining its older CD sibling that also attended last year’s Revival, plus a purposeful but very sinister-looking all-matt black late-50s Mercedes-Benz 180, possibly fitted with a 6.3-litre AMG engine. A frightening prospect, and potentially a scary nostalgia trip back in time!

Photography by Nick Wilkinson.