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I was lucky enough to go to the Goodwood Festival of Speed last friday, which is one of my favourite annual events, held at Goodwood House in West Sussex.

It's a pretty famous event, but for those who don't know, it's a proper car enthusiasts paradise, where you get to see cars from all forms of motorsport on display and in action, both old and new. Also on display are classic cars that you just don't see anywhere else, as well as a good variety of new cars displayed on manufacturer's stands, as well as supercars that only the mega-rich can afford. Something for everyone really.

The themed sculpture infront of Goodwood House this year was in honour of Lotus and its Grand Prix cars:




The Cartier themed display of classic cars this year was cars used by the Queen and the royal family (being the diamond jubilee year). Some were official state limousines and parade cars, some were the Queen's personal cars that she actually drove - some of which she still owns. There were also cars on display that were used by heads of state elsewhere in the world, that the Queen rode in on state visits...

Ford V8 Pilot woody:

^ Still part of the Queen's collection, and in the early '50s was used transport people to and from stations (yep, where the term 'station wagon' comes from), and was used to transport royalty around vast country estates (hence the British term 'estate car'). The Queen also favoured estate cars for transporting her corgi dogs.

The V8 Pilot was replaced in 1956 by this Ford Zephyr wagon with unique custom-made bodywork:


then came this 1961 Vauxhall Cresta - which apparently was a personal favourite of the Queen, and she still owns it:


1952 Land Rover Series 1 parade car - used by the Queen at the time of the coronation:


a 1974 Range Rover that did the same job in the '70s:


1954 Rolls-Royce Phantom IV - a former official state limousine:


1961 Rolls-Royce Phantom V - this was the official state limo up until 2002:


1991 Daimler Double Six - the Queen actually drove this one around when off duty!:


1925 Rolls-Royce 20:

^ This one has a story behind it. It was originally ordered by the Maharaj of India as a dowry for his daugher's wedding. It has a custom-made body that is so heavy for the chassis that Rolls-Royce refused to offer a warranty on the car. The daughter never used it, so the Maharaj instead used it for tiger hunting!

1950 Lincoln Cosmopolitan bubble-top limo - commissioned by President Truman and was also used by Eisenhower, who had the glass roof fitted:



Australian prime Minister's 1954 Humber Super Snipe:


1965 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman - German state limo:


Citroen SM Opera - French state limo:


Some of the other classic cars on display around the site...

1936 Alvis Firebird:


AC Shelby Cobra 289:


1979 AMC Spirit:


1976 Le Mans Chevrolet Corvette:


Citroen Ami 8 - as seen on Top Gear:


Ford Model A rod:


1965 Ford Mustang:


1967 Ford Mustang:


1975 Honda Civic:


Honda S800:


Lancia Stratos:


Opel Manta:


Peugeot 405 Turbo 16 - check out that wing!:


1925 Salmson Gran Sport:


Sunbeam Alpine:


Toyota 2000GT - converted to electric power:


Toyota Corolla AE86:


Audi RS2:


Some new stuff now....

Audi RS4:


BMW M6:


Chevrolet Camaro:


Chevrolet Cruze station wagon:


Chevrolet Orlando:


Chevrolet Volt:


Citroen DS5:


Dacia Duster:


Infiniti FX50S Sebastian Vettel Edition:


Lotus Elise:


Peugeot 208:


Renault Twizy electric runabout:


Toyota GT86:



A few concept cars now...

Peugeot HX1 concept:


Mazda Takeri concept:


Jaguar C-X75 concept:


Infiniti Emerg-E concept:


Audi Urban Concept:


Now for some supercars...

AC 378GT Zagato:


Altran AEDC (All Electric Drift Car):


Arash AF-10 LM:


Bentley Speed 8 Le Mans racer:


Corvette 60th Anniversary:


Corvette Grand Sport:


DeMacross Epique GT1:


Jaguar XJ220:


Koenigsegg CCR:


Lamborghini Aventador:


Lexus LFA:


Maserati MC12 GT1:


McLaren F1:


Pagani Huayra:


Pagani Zonda R:


Spyker C8 Aileron:


Savage Rivale GTR:


Wiesmann GT MF5:


Toyota Camry NASCAR:


Finally, here's a few things I saw in the public car park...

Reliant Scimitar Coupe:


Pontiac Trans Am Turbo:


Radical SR3:


Lotus Esprit:


1972 Ford Mustang:


Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano next to a 250 California:


Ferrari Testarossa:


Citroen SM:


Chevrolet Lumina cop car:


a couple of Corvettes:



Aston Martin DB5:


That's your lot.

Thanks for the awesome pics! I love the vintage race cars and the Citroen from Top Gear!

Thanks for always posting pictures from the shows you attend. It's awesome to look through. Love all those Government Limos. Also, C5 Vettes look so awkward with those amber turn signals in the tail lights. The XJ220 is a beautiful car as well. The wheels on the 60th Anniversary Vettes make the cars look so mean!

C5s look a little awkward anyway, in my opinion. I love Corvettes, but the C5 is my least favourite generation. To me it looks bloated, bulky, bulbous, over-wide, and the overhangs front and rear are massive. The C6 was a huge improvement in my opinion - much leaner and more athletic-looking. I jumped for joy when the C6 came out. The C4 was much neater looking than the C5 too - it's a great looking car with very clean lines and is one of the best car designs of the '80s, to me.

I love the wheels on that 60th Anniversary model too.