Goodwood Revival 2015 Round-up

Who says nostalgia’s a thing of the past?

Classic connoisseurs’ passion for olden-day motors and fashion was stronger than ever at the 18th edition of last weekend’s three-day Goodwood Revival (September 11-13).

The West Sussex event attracted an all-time high 149,000-strong crowd - that’s enough to fill Lord’s cricket ground more than 5 times over.

Evans’ classics fall short

Chris Evans experienced mixed fortunes at the festival after trying to auction some of his prized classic cars.

The new Top Gear presenter walked away from the Chichester venue a post-deduction £1,312,115 better off - after half of his 12 lots failed to sell.

The 49-year-old radio host had hoped to make £8 million from cars going under the Bonhams hammer. 

Among the lots that failed to attract interest included his:

• famous 1936-built Chitty Chitty Bang Bang multicolour-winged replica (valued at £250,000)
• Ferrari GTB/C (£2.6 million)
• Ferrari 365 Daytona Spyder (£2.3 million)
• Ferrari 250 GT Lusso (£1.4 million)

Evans’ Ferrari 250 SWB Recreation accounted for nearly half of his overall incomings - selling for £606,000.

He was also cheered by raising over £50,000 towards Children In Need in a special motor memorabilia auction.

Evans recently announced that Lisa Clark, the former producer of The Big Breakfast, will be teaming back up with him when Top Gear returns to the BBC next year.

Meanwhile, in the same sale, rocker Keith Richards pocketed £763,000 from the sale of a prized Bentley. The Rolling Stones legend waved goodbye to his “Blue Lena”.

Our top Goodwood picks

• the inaugural assembly of every first-edition Shelby Daytona Coupe, half a century after the group took the World Sportscar crown
• one of the planet’s most expensive gatherings of Ferrari classics down the years
• a retrospective honouring the life of racing all-rounder Bruce McLaren, who carved indelible niches as a constructor, team boss and driver
• teenager Peter de la Roche marking his Goodwood debut by winning the post-1945 500cc single-seater Earl of March Trophy. The 17-year-old secured victory with a daring overtaking manoeuvre on the last bend

Best of the rest

• Shell UK chairman Erik Bonino chauffeuring John Surtees, the 1964 F1 world Grand Prix champion, in one of his company’s distinctive vintage models.
• A 12-strong Spitfire flypast marking the Battle of Britain’s 75th anniversary. One of its participants, Wing Commander Tom Neil, now 94 years young, was on hand to see the tribute.
• Various track displays included over 25 American “Gassers” and more than 50 “Series” Land Rovers.
• 1950s Ferrari classics battling it out in the Lavant Cup race.
• Period stores on the Revival event’s High Street evoking memories of the past, re-creating old Bendicks, Kenwood and Tesco stores among others.
• MINI, BMW and Rolls-Royce exhibiting coach-built specials.