The best of motoring past, present and future in Pall Mall

On Saturday 1st November 2025, the prestigious Pall Mall in Westminster, London, was closed to traffic and filled with a carefully curated display of 150 exceptional vehicles celebrating the very best of motoring past, present and future, on the eve of RM Sotheby’s London to Brighton Veteran car run.

This motoring spectacle was organised and brilliantly run by the Royal Automobile Club in which the Coachmakers were kindly invited to increase awareness of our work with young people in STEM and aerospace and automotive industries.

The St James’s Motoring Spectacle is part of the Royal Automobile Club’s busy London Motor Week, which traditionally includes anniversary dinners, awards presentations, the Art of Motoring Exhibition and RM Sotheby’s prestigious London Sale that takes place in The Peninsula London.

A small team of Assistants Nick Lyford and Roger Woodbridge, Aerospace Alumni Laila Fadli Dokkali and Liveryman Eddie Cole manned the stand with support from Honorary Assistant Richard Robinson, many visiting Liverymen, and Past Master Sarah Adams-Diffey, all helping to pass our message to young budding engineers, parents, and passers-by alike. We may have also captured some new Livery members.

All forms of transport were represented – from venerable Victorian pedal bikes to the latest electrically-propelled city cars and supercars.

Taking pole position on Pall Mall was a special display marking the 75th anniversary of the Formula 1 World Championship. It was The Royal Automobile Club itself that organised the first-ever points-scoring F1 race at Silverstone in 1950, and to pay tribute to its key role in motorsport history, a Ferrari and Williams models wowed the crowds on Pall Mall.

Visitors also had the unique opportunity to have their photo taken with the famous gold British Grand Prix trophy – most recently presented to championship leader Lando Norris in July. Fittingly, the first to be photographed with the coveted trophy were Paul Dimoldenberg, Lord Mayor of Westminster, and Duncan Wiltshire, a Coachmaker Liveryman and Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club. The pair also officially opened the Spectacle by cutting the ceremonial ribbon.

Among the many thousands of onlookers enjoying the dazzling array of cars on Pall Mall were Rowan Atkinson, who arrived driving the 1893 Salvesen steam car – believed to be the only coal (now e-coal) fired car still running – and tennis stars Katie Boulter and Alex de Minaur.

The Spectacle featured more than 70 extraordinary pre-1905 vehicles set to depart Hyde Park at dawn on Sunday for the Sussex coast. These pioneering machines participated in the St James’s Concours, the world’s most prestigious beauty parade for vehicles of that era. Adding to the atmosphere, many participants dressed in period costume.

An expert judging panel – including TV personalities Edd China and Alan Titchmarsh CBE – presented a series of awards, along with magnums of Piper-Heidsieck Champagne, to the winning entrants.

The overall winner was the recently restored 1901 Georges Richard owned by Tim Summers, a tiny but stunning veteran car.

At the other end of Pall Mall, the Modern Design Zone drew notable younger crowds with a stunning collection of state-of-the-art hypercars. Shining a spotlight on cutting-edge innovation and low-carbon technology, standout displays included a Koenigsegg Jesko and a Ferrari SP3.

Further underlining the evolution of motoring, the latest electric versions of two iconic city cars – the Renault 4 and Renault 5 – were displayed alongside their classic predecessors. Lotus also showcased its newest electric models, the Emeya and Evija, for visitors to admire.

Two additional displays paid tribute to 50 years of the Volkswagen Polo and the Lotus Esprit, both launched in 1975.

London – one of the world’s most bicycle-friendly cities – also celebrated the full history of pedal power on Pall Mall. The collection spanned from veteran bicycles and early motorcycles to cutting-edge Cooler King eBikes, complemented by a dazzling selection of MotoGP and TT racing machines.

For visitors inspired by the incredible vehicles on show, an educational zone focused on sustainable technologies and the future of motoring offered interactive exhibits and career guidance. Opportunities across a range of disciplines – from restoration and heritage skills to battery technology – were showcased by participants including Imperial College, Oxford Brookes University, the Association of Heritage Engineers, the National Transport Trust, and of course us, the Coachmakers.

Many thanks go to the Royal Automobile Club for the invitation to this hugely successful event and if invited next year, please come and join us to spread the word on the work of our wonderful Livery.

BBC and ITV reporting in this event is available in this YouTube clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aw_8F1D57I0