Britain's motoring history took to the streets of London on Sunday, 1 November, as veteran cars took part in the annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. The 97km journey from Hyde Park to the south coast saw some vehicles travelling at just 12 to 20 mph. The event marked 140 years since Karl Benz introduced his Patent-Motorwagen, widely regarded as the first production car.
One vehicle even broke down on The Mall, highlighting the mechanical challenges of driving these early models. For participants, the run is as much about the experience as the destination. Driving a car from the early days of motoring requires patience and a good understanding of its mechanics.
Shaun Harborne, at the wheel of a 1901 Renault Type D, described the vehicles as fragile, with their suspension, brakes, clutch and gearbox all requiring careful handling. Karl-Heinz Jungbeck, who travelled from Munich in a 1903 Lacoste & Battmann, said the event offers a taste of the adventure motorists would have experienced more than a century ago.
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