The Earls Court display at the Goodwood Revival is a car show within a motorsport event. Of course, Revival celebrates the period of 1948-1966, but when you walk through the doors into Earl’s Court you are teleported to the future. Well, to 2024, where manufacturers display their current wares alongside heritage cars that are more in keeping with the Revival era.
The first thing you see on entry is the BMW Arcade, the setting complete with games among the German firm’s new and old machinery. The highlight here is the CSL ‘Batmobile’. Next door is the related Mini brand. The setting here is Issi’s Launderette, the name a nod to the designer of the original Mini, Alec Issigonis. One of his miniature masterpieces is sandwiched between two towering Acemans, the new electric crossover from the modern era.
Continuing around the outskirts of the show hall is Jaguar. An XK120 and C-Type are period correct, while Revival-goers get their glimpse of the ‘future’ with the Silk Cut-liveried XJR-9 and a current Formula E car. Completing the outer loop of the exhibition hall is the Alpine stand. The foursquare Renault 5-based A290 EV is lined up alongside a dainty rear engined A106. Of all the cars on show here, it’s this pairing that perhaps illustrates most starkly the development in performance cars. There’s a huge contrast between the skinny-tyred, composite bodied classic and the new electric hot hatch.
Finally, taking centre stage at Earls Court is Meyers Manx. The stand is set among a beach scene that encapsulates the 1960s original alongside the brand's new 2.0 EV. The electric version is the new-for-2024 edition of the evergreen classic, and is making its European debut here at the Goodwood Revival. It coincides with the daily parade of beach buggies that opens each day of the Revival to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Bruce Meyers’ original.
Photography by Toby Whales.
Revival
Revival 2024
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Earls Court Motor Show