The 18th running of the annual British Classic Car Meeting (BCCM) in St. Moritz takes place from 8-10 July this year, with no fewer than six of the 37 original Austin-Healey 100Ss among the many British classics enjoying the breathtaking Engadine Alpine scenery.

The Austin-Healeys include the 100S in which George Abecassis finished 11th in the fastest ever Mille Miglia race, in 1955. This, of course, was the year when Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson set a new record by covering the distance of 1600km in 10 hours, 7 minutes and 48 seconds. Meanwhile, Abecassis's 100S was the fastest British vehicle in the race, covering the route at an average speed of 92mph.

Jaguar’s E-type – always a BCCM favourite – will, unsurprisingly, also be in particularly strong evidence this year, with 2011 being the model’s 50th anniversary and Jaguar (Switzerland) confirmed as the event’s new main sponsor.

Since 1994, around 150 British classics from Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Aston Martin and Lagonda, Jaguar and Daimler, Austin-Healey and Healey have met in St. Moritz in July to take part in the tours, reliability tests and concours d'elégance that make up the British Classic Car Meeting, St. Moritz. Selected pre-1960 British cars from other marques are also invited, in limited numbers, to take part in the Open Class.

Last year saw a record number of participants, large crowds of spectators along the route and at the concours d’elégance, and perfect sunny weather for the entire weekend. This year, the St. Moritz event is fully booked, with around 200 vehicles.

For more details about the meeting, see www.bccm-stmoritz.ch.

Text: Charis Whitcombe
Photos: www.bccm-stmoritz.ch