Veteran Cars on Regent Street

Genevieve, the car made famous by the 1953 film with a doppelganger title, is just one of 485 veteran cars (made between 1892 - 1904) that made the ceremonial, yet on-competitive, journey from London's Hyde Park to Brighton seafront on Sunday 6th November. The epic journey was in commemoration of the 'emancipation' of motoring, celebrating the repeal of the 'Red Fag Act,’ allowing cars to drive at up to 14 miles an hour. No need for speed cameras in the good old days!

The celebrations commenced on Regent Street this year, with a special preview of 120 of the cars gathered on London’s famous heritage street for the Christmas lights Switch-On extravaganza, the day prior, on Saturday 5th November.

This itself followed an auction of veteran cars and motoring memorabilia that took place at Bonhams in nearby New Bond Street on the preceeding Friday.

Earlier in the week, the famous Genevieve car made a special journey from its home in the Louwman Museum in Holland to Regent Steet’s Langham Hotel for the official launch of the 2005 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, now in its 72nd year.

The launch included a glamorous presentation at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall - the powerhouse of the annual event and the motoring lobby for over a century - with Genevieve joined by other veteran cars outside for short trips around the West End. Sponsors made presentations from the motoring and media industries including tyre-makers Michelin - themselves celebrating their centenary. Among The guests was the Lord Mayor of Westminster and Cllr. Tim Joiner, himself owner of a 75 year old Rover car.

If you fancy yourself as a modern-day Kenneth Moore, then  Regent Street was surely the place to visit to marvel in the opulence and heritage of the beautiful veteran cars, which like a good vintage wine, only improve further with age.