Platinum Jubilee – Classic Car Fans Flock to Windsor

If you follow us on social media you will no doubt have already seen just how busy the Platinum Jubilee Picnic in the Park was on Saturday. With around 25,000 people showing up (that’s arena numbers!) to walk the Royal Mile and admire the selection of classic British machinery that Car & Classic was able to assemble, the day was a roaring success and a fitting tribute to Her Royal Highness’ 70 years on the throne.

With a car for each year of her majesty’s reign procured and proudly presented we felt an intense sense of patriotic pride at being reminded just how varied and distinguished the British automotive world has been over the years. Taking pride of place lining the Long Walk that leads to Windsor Castle it was an undeniably special parade showcasing the UK’s esteemed motoring history, honouring not only the cars produced during that era but also the monarchy itself, and all at the Queen’s weekend gaff! It was a truly felicitous Platinum Jubilee celebration.

Photo by Nick Warner

As you might expect from such an event the atmosphere was electric and the day was awash with full-on festival vibes. With big screens, picnic areas and literally tons of classic British machinery to pore over celebrations were in full swing from the off. The cars arrived early and it was quite the spectacle witnessing this convoy of some of the best classics that this country has ever produced making its way up the three-mile avenue towards one of our most recognisable historical landmarks. There were definitely some lumps in throats as this pleasing procession sashayed towards the castle before parking up in formation, each car ready for its much deserved day in the spotlight.

Photo by Nick Warner

Although the day started off a little ‘moist’, shall we say (it is the UK after all), the sun soon appeared, bathing the cars in its warm glow and serendipitously allowing for all of that beautiful chrome and polished paintwork to shine. From Jaguars to Jensens, Bentleys to Bristols and everything in between each individual car had a dedicated space and featured a plaque displaying all of the various details, history and specifications, giving people a sense of the story and legacy involved with each vehicle.

It was pure, unadulterated joy for any classic car fan to see such a diverse mix of vehicles all in one place and every single one featured truly deserved its spot in the sun. From rare and exotic beasts to more commonplace fare, every facet and niche of our classic motoring heritage was represented, showcasing just how varied and special the output of the UK’s illustrious automotive industry has been over the past 70 years under Liz’s watchful eye.

The unmistakable Jaguar XJ220 was a particular highlight, due in part because of the scarcity of these cars nowadays. When was the last time you saw one in the flesh? This particular prime example from ’93 has been signed by John Nielsen, one of the drivers of the victorious XJ220 at the 1990 Le Mans 24 Hour.

The oldest car displayed was this 1952 Land Rover. A numbers matching Series 1 with its original 2000cc engine and number plate it has been treated to a recent, full restoration and looked gorgeous. It was great to see a military-based example on display, reminding us of the importance of such vehicles within the sphere of the country’s motoring history.

Another stand-out track was this genuine 1975 Ford Escort Mexico. A late-model example built at Ford’s Advanced Vehicle Operations factory it features a 1690 X-flow engine that has been lightened and balanced.

As we mentioned earlier, it wasn’t just the extraordinary that featured on the day. We wanted a real assortment of cars, spanning every genre of the industry and this 1980 Vanden-Plas 1500 is a prime example of that intention. As much as British Leyland can be the butt of many an motoring-based joke they nevertheless played an incredibly important role in the UK’s automotive landscape and should be revered accordingly. Featuring in the same show as Bentley’s, Aston Martins and Jaguars is a fitting tribute we think.

Car & Classic’s senior auction consigner Charlie Howarth chatting with HRH Prince Michael of Kent. Photo by Gill Heppell.

Members of the Car & Classic team were present to greet fans and answer any questions and by the end of the day we felt like we had talked to every single person there, including HRH Prince Michael of Kent. The Windsor Jubilee Committee was headed by Sir James Perowne, Governor & Constable of Windsor Castle, alongside other members, including our Charlie. His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent is very involved with old cars. As a vintage car enthusiast he was part of the team in 1992 that broke the 1,000 mile record for cars over 5,000cc in a 1929 Bentley Special so it’s safe to say he knows his onions when it comes to classics. To all of you that came to say hello and have a chat, thank you and we hope you enjoyed the day, the cars on display and the Platinum Jubilee celebrations as much as we did.

Photo by Nick Warner

It was a huge, once-in-a-lifetime event, not just because of the Platinum Jubilee but also because of the cars, and Car & Classic is honoured and proud to have been part of such a wonderful day. We live and breathe classic cars here and to see such a plethora gathered in celebration was truly a sight to behold and an experience that we will forever cherish. We have many more classic car events planned for the future so watch this space – this is just the beginning – but what a way to kick things off! For those that missed it (and shame on you) you can see our video coverage of the day on the Car & Classic YouTube channel here. We’ll see you all at the next one.