The Concours of Elegance has revealed that 2023’s eagerly anticipated Le Mans Centenary celebration will feature two of the race’s most significant cars: Bentley Speed Six ‘Old Number One’ – which triumphed in both 1929 and 1930, and the Mercedes-Benz 300SL W194, which took first place in 1952.
These highly significant models and many more will line up in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace from the 1st to 3rd September, at what is set to be a most impressive display – the perfect way to celebrate the centenary of the world’s most famous race.
Bentley Speed Six ‘Old Number One’, which emerged victorious in 1929 and 1930 – the first car to win the race back-to-back – is widely considered to be among the most significant Le Mans winners of all. ‘Old Number One’ was one of five cars entered by Bentley in ’29, despite the marque being in a precarious financial position. ‘Old Number One’, with its tweaked large-capacity motor made 190bhp in race trim, enabling the substantial machine to hit 115mph flat out down the Mulsanne straight.
Piloted by Woolf Barnato – Bentley chairman and majority shareholder – and Tim Birkin at La Sarthe in 1929, ‘Old Number One’ vanquished American entrants from the likes of Stutz, Du Pont and Chrysler, as well as British entrants from Invicta, Lea-Francis and Lagonda. The Bentley took victory with relative ease after a dominant display and returned the following year to triumph again, staging a formation finish once more.
Also on show this September will be the legendary Mercedes-Benz 300SL W194, which won Le Mans in 1952 – the first victory for a German manufacturer, and the first for a closed body car. One of just 10 racing cars produced, this very machine was part of a one-two victory for the marque, with Hermann Lang and Fritz Reiss at
the wheel.
2023’s Le Mans Centenary celebration will complement the display of 70 rare and spectacular Concours Cars at next September’s glamourous event. Outside the main display of vehicles, the Concours of Elegance will assemble around 1,000 further cars in a series of special features and displays.
Words by Mark Slack
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