There are some in the Classic Driver office who claim that the real British motor show is held at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Certainly, West Sussex saw the public debut of many prestige models in July, before they reached the more mundane halls of ExCeL two weeks later.

But this is something different: visitors to September’s Goodwood Revival will see a fabulous recreation of the spectular Art Deco frontage of the Earls Court Motor Show, just as it was when re-opened after the War – exactly 60 years ago. It’s also the 60th anniversary of the Goodwood Motor Circuit itself, which opened its gates to the public in September 1948. And it’s the 10th Goodwood Revival, too. Lots to celebrate, then.

The Goodwood Earls Court Motor Show exhibition area will suggest how motoring of the future might look from a pre-1966 perspective, with a display of ‘futuristic’ 21st Century cars. It’s a tradition at the Revival that no post-1966 vehicles are allowed on site but the Earls Court Motor Show will be an exception. “The effect will be like walking into a Tardis,” say the organisers, “offering other-worldly futuristic new cars to see, right up to and including manufacturers’ latest products.”



Car manufacturers already confirmed for this ‘motor show of the future’ include Maserati, Jaguar, BMW, Ford and Rolls-Royce. There will also be display commemorating the ‘Fastest Car in the World’, featuring some 25 performance cars from the 1920s, right through to the present day, all of which were the most rapid cars in production at the time.

It’s highly appropriate for Goodwood to be celebrating the history of Earls Court, as the ‘Earl’ in the name of the London venue refers to the Earl of March, from whom the present 10th Duke of Richmond, and his son Lord March, are directly descended.

The 2008 Goodwood Revival runs from 19 September to 21 September. Entry is by advance ticket only. For bookings, call the Ticket Hotline on +44 1243 755055; email [email protected]; or see www.goodwood.co.uk.