ROOTES GROUP
In fact, these were the first cars that I saw on crossing the bridge from the car park areas. Much was made of the competition department of Rootes Group, with pride of place given to 3 Hillman Hunters from the victorious 1968 London to Sydney Marathon event, which this car so memorably won.
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture029.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture033.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture027.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture028.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture068.jpg)
Rootes had been successful in motor sport before this, of course, notching up much silverware with the Sunbeam Talbots in the 1950s, with cars such as these:
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture032.jpg)
Successor to this car was the Rapier, launched in 1955, as a sporting version of the more prosaic Minx
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture030.jpg)
A true sports car came with the 1959 launch of the Sunbeam Alpine.
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture026.jpg)
By the 1970s, motor sport was less of a priority, but the Avenger was entered in the Touring Car championship and enjoyed some success.
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture025.jpg)
The Talbot Sunbeam Lotus needs little introduction, and this immaculate car was one of the last of the road cars made, in 1981.
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture024.jpg)
Stretching the point a bit, I suppose, was this, a distant relative, the racing Peugeot 206
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture069.jpg)
On the Sunday, an ordinary Hillman Minx joined the display. Very nostalgic indeed for me, as my father had 4 of these cars: 2 saloons and then 2 Hunter Estates. He would never had such a bold colour as this Sea Green example, though!
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture349.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture350.jpg)
The coupe version of this car was sold as the Rapier, and a cheaper version was the Alpine, and here is a rare survivor:
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture071.jpg)
The Rapier had been offered since 1955, in coupe and convertible form, like this:
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture347.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture348.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture354.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture356.jpg)
A much earlier Minx was this Series 2 model from the late 1930s.
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture031.jpg)
The Super Minx was launched in 1961, and a short-lived Convertible version came soon after:
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture087.jpg)
The "posh" version of this car was the Singer Vogue, and here is the estate car:
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture355.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture357.jpg)
Based on the Imp was this, the Clan Crusader, made in the early 1970s, as a kit car:
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture070.jpg)
Another rare car now was this, the Talbot Horizon. This Series 2 car was one of the last made, in 1986, and had only covered 47,000 miles. Not exactly a classic, but a slice of all but vanished history, for sure
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture351.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture352.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture353.jpg)
Elsewhere in the event, there was a separate, and sizeable gathering of Alpine and Tiger cars
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture062.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture072.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture175.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture176.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture177.jpg)
JAGUAR
This 3.5 litre car, from the 1930s was lurking in the paddock:
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture267.jpg)
A very large central area was given over to Jaguar, with many cars here to remind attendees of a glorious past, and a foretaste of treats to come at the upcoming XK60 event, which will celebrate 60 years of the XK engine and the XK120.
XK150:
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture034.jpg)
The Mark 2:
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture223.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture235.jpg)
The rather large Mark X
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture036.jpg)
The first generation XJ6. This was the rare 2.8 litre model
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture035.jpg)
The iconic "E" type:
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture037.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture398.jpg)
The XJS Convertible - now maturing into a rather elegant design, in my opinion
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture222.jpg)
On Sunday, the display included an XJ220:
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture297.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture298.jpg)
This XJR9 was road registered!
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture401.jpg)
MG
Displayed in various areas around the event, a few were collected together in one location:
MGA
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture038.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture040.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture247.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture300.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture306.jpg)
and an MGA with an MG TD in the background
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture039.jpg)
Here is the MG TD
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture041.jpg)
An MG Magnette - a sort of 3 series BMW of its day, I suppose.
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture048.jpg)
TURNER
A little known English sports car manufacturer from the late 1950s and early 1960s
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture042.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture301.jpg)
MARCOS
Better known, for sure, is the Marcos. A big display of cars from the make's 40 year history, including a couple of real rarities:
The Mini Marcos:
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture073.jpg)
The better-known 3-litre cars from the late 1960s:
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture074.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture221.jpg)
Very rare indeed was this, the Mantis. Launched at the 1970 Motor Show, only 32 were ever made. I can't remember when I last saw one
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture215.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture216.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture217.jpg)
This TSO5000 was one of the last ditch efforts to relaunch the brand in the 21st Century
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture345.jpg)
TVR
The "S" - a revival in TVR's fortunes after the wedge-shaped Tasmin era:
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture302.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture303.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture399.jpg)
Chimaera
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture077.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture304.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture305.jpg)
AC
Several gatherings of Cobras, of various provenances:
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture184.jpg)
There was also an official AC Car Club area, just where it was last year, where we spotted the less than successful Ace:
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture126.jpg)
There were several of the previous Ace model, too, along with a few Acecas:
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture127.jpg)
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture128.jpg)
Nice "streak" of Tigers.
(http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r139/colinrear/Historic%20Silverstone%202008/Picture177.jpg)
I had a '67 Mk.II 289 K-code (aka HiPo) BRG that was rally prepped. Too much power for that chassis but not much could catch it in a straight line.