At the end of our first impressions on Prewar Days 2024, we promised you our favourite cars from the show. Yet this list turned out to be somewhat unusual. The specialised nature of the event might narrow down the epochs, but the offering was still quite diverse. From cyclecars to high-end mastodons, every category and nation was represented. Therefore, we abandoned the idea of ranking them and just listed them in an order we found diverse and interesting. Do not expect strict guidelines for this list either. The variety of these exotics is so diverse that it’s more of an impulse buyers list than a top list.
The 1901 De Dion Bouton Quadricycle is the need for speed car of the 19th century.
The vehicle is equipped with a 327cc engine, producing a whopping 2.75 hp. This led to previously unimaginable speeds thanks to the two-speed Bozier gearbox. This car was fitted with a water-cooled head as well as a radiator to assist with cooling. The car is still in great shape, as it participated more than twenty times in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.
The 1907 Lorraine-Dietrich EM 24/32 is an unmolested gem
We saw this car at the stage of the Mahy Museum. So far, we missed this site, but we saw remarkable cars at their special exhibition at Autoworld.
The 1939 Bentley 4¼-Litre Convertible by Vanvooren is an Art Deco masterpiece.
This convertible four-seater was the last Bentley delivered to continental Europe before World War II. The bodywork was finished by Parisian coachbuilder Vanvooren and delivered new to Baron Robert Gendebien of Brussels.
Later, it belonged to Ferrari factory driver and four-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Olivier Gendebien. He used it for many years as his personal transport to races.
The red De Dietrich is an elegant prewar speedster.
The Avion Voisine C24 is pretty in pink, though it could use some lovin’.
This was another automotive legend in unmolested condition.
The red 1932 Cadillac 355 B2/4 is a pinnacle of Art Deco
The Cadillac 355-B 2/4 Passenger Coupé symbolises luxury and refinement from the early ’30s. This model combines timeless elegance with technological innovation of the era and set new standards in style, comfort, and performance.
The 1929 Minerva is a Belgian royalty.
The 1936 Lagonda Special is a retrofuturistic 330HP monster.
The 1911 Hansa Race Car is a prewar hypercar.
The 1925 Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix is the poster boy of Bonhams’ Paris 2025 auction.
The 1936 Auburn 852 Convertible Coupe is a pinnacle of Art Deco.
The 1904 Charron, Girardot and Voigt Model Fl 20HP Coupe is nothing like what we know today as an automobile.
