The classic car world continues to defy economic trends, as evidenced by events like the International Historic Motoring Awards, held at the Peninsula London hotel on November 14th. There were nearly 400 guests at the sold-out ceremony, which was hosted by broadcaster Amanda Stretton.
David Lillywhite, Editorial Director of International Historic Motoring Awards organisers Hothouse Media, said: “The classic car world continues to defy economic trends. The events get bigger and better every year, the restoration companies and specialists set the quality of work higher and higher, and the owners themselves continue to indulge in their passions for the driving and ownership of these remarkable cars. The industry is thriving, and the record attendance of the International Historic Motoring Awards from all around the world is further proof of that.”
More than £20,000 was raised at the event for Sir Jackie Stewart’s Race Against Dementia charity, whilst dotted around the room and foyer were displayed over £7 million worth of vehicles, including the one-off 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT Jet and Eagle E-type’s latest model.
Eagle’s Lightweight GTR E-Type scooped the award for Bespoke Car of the Year at the International Historic Motoring Awards held at The Peninsula, London. The category recognises the most significant one-off or low-volume new car that has been launched since October 2024, whether fully coach-built, created from scratch or adapted into a tasteful restomod. The Lightweight GTR was up against some incredibly impressive competition, including entries from Bentley Mulliner, Touring Superleggera, Pininfarina and Callum – so you can imagine the Eagle team’s delight at the win. Present at the awards were Henry Pearman (Founder/CEO), Paul Brace (Managing Director) and Dan Lawson – Marketing, sales, admin and all three headed up to accept the accolade on stage.
Henry Pearman said, “On top of the wonderful press reception for the car, this further confirms that our ‘zero compromise’ approach honed over the last four decades produces some of the most exceptional classic cars in the world.“
Jaguar Enthusiast Magazine editor Wayne Scott attended the event as guest of Paddy Copinger from TORQUEfreely on a table that included David Brabham (Le Mans and International Sports Car Series Champion), Guy Lachlan (Motor Spirit), Michael Ballard (XK Model Section coordinator, JEC) and freelance journalist and broadcaster Charlotte Vowden, amongst others.
Legendary and prolific designer Giorgetto Giugiaro was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award, for his seven decades as one of the most influential automotive designers of all time, and attendees were treated to a star appearance and humorous acceptance speech from the great man himself. Giugiaro was responsible for the likes of the original VW Golf, Fiat Panda, Maserati Ghibli, and Lotus Esprit. At the awards, he was reunited with the one-off Aston Martin DB4 GT Jet, which he said he last saw when it was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961.
Other highlights included the presentation of the Industry Supporter of the Year to the Heritage Skills Academy, supported by the Heritage Skills Trust, which trains young people in traditional car restoration skills.
Geoff Love, Managing Director of IHMA organisers Hothouse Media, said: “The IHMA’s near-400 crowd and our winners from across the world made one thing clear: historic motoring is in very good hands. Yes, we celebrate the past, but it’s the fresh thinking, the new generations coming through and the incredible craft on display that give this world its real momentum.”
2025 IHMA winners
Lifetime Achievement
Giorgetto Giugiaro
Giorgetto Giugiaro is one of the all-time greats of design, responsible not just for many of the most iconic cars of the last 70 years but also for motorcycles, watches, furniture, cameras, and even pasta and a cathedral organ. His best known car designs include the original VW Golf and Fiat Panda, the Maserati Ghibli, the Lotus Esprit and the Aston Martin DB4 GT Jet.
Car of the Year
Shortlist
Sunbeam 350hp ‘Blue Bird’
Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo 158
Hispano-Suiza H6C Nieuport-Astra Torpedo
Mercedes-Benz W196R Stromlinienwagen
Boreham Motorworks Alan Mann 68 Edition
Alfa Romeo Tipo B (P3)
BRM P5781 ‘Old Faithful’
Winner
Ford Escort Alan Mann 68 Edition by Boreham Motorworks
This perfect recreation of one of the greatest British Saloon Car racers of all time is fully backed by the Ford Motor Company and approved for historic racing by the FIA. Unlike the other awards, it was chosen by the public, attracting a record 6000 votes.
Bespoke Car of the Year sponsored by Octane magazine
Shortlist
R33 Stradale by Automotive Artisans
Alan Mann 68 Edition by Boreham Motorworks
Rolls-Royce Corniche ‘Henry II’ by Niels van Roij Design
Wood & Pickett Mini by CALLUM
Lightweight GTR by Eagle
Veloce12 Barchetta by Touring Superleggera
Battista Novantacinque by Pininfarina
Batur Convertible ‘One-Plus-One’ by Bentley Mulliner
Winner
Eagle Lightweight GTR
Eagle’s three decades of restoring and developing Jaguar E-types, and its obsessive attention to detail, resulted in the stunning sub-1000kg high-performance Lightweight GTR.
Restoration of the Year sponsored by the Classic Car Register
Shortlist
Jaguar C-type by Tony Purnell / Pendine / CKL Developments
Aston Martin Two Litre Sports by RS Williams
Hispano-Suiza H6C Type Sport Torpedo by RM Auto Restoration
Ferrari 410 Superamerica by Paul Russell & Company
Hispano-Suiza H6C ‘Boulogne’ by Jonathan Wood
Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Alloy by Tom Hartley Jnr
Siata 208 CS Balbo by RX Autoworks
Winner
Hispano-Suiza H6C ‘Boulogne’ by Jonathan Wood
Owner Simon Kidston’s very personal quest to restore the car his uncle once owned and restorer Jonathan Wood’s dedication to the task saw the H6C Boulogne take the prize.
Motoring Event of the Year sponsored by Nyetimber
Shortlist
The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering
The Amelia Concours
The Bridge
Salon Privé
ModaMiami
The Aurora
Audrain Newport Concours & Motor Week
Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este
Winner
Audrain Newport Concours & Motor Week
The judges were impressed not just by the quality of the world-class concours but also by the wide breadth of events that Audrain organises throughout its Motoring Week.
Motorsport Event of the Year sponsored by Revs Institute
Shortlist
Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix
Le Mans Classic
Silverstone Festival (including the World Champions Collection)
Winner
Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
The way that this long-running event has upped its game caught the attention of the judges, with this year’s IROC reunion and 75th anniversary of the Formula 1 championship adding to the appeal for 2025.
Breakthrough Event of the Year
Shortlist
The Royal Automobile Club Concours
Concours of Slovakia
Pearl of India Rally
The Ayrburn Classic
Icons Mallorca
Winner
The Royal Automobile Club Concours
The quality of the Royal Automobile Club’s first ever concours at its Woodcote House headquarters in Surrey won over the IHMA judges.
Race Series of the Year
Shortlist
Super Sprint (Equipe Classic Racing)
Alfa Revival Cup (Canossa Events)
Endurance Racing Legends (Peter Auto)
GT & Sports Car Cup (Automobiles Historique)
IROC (IROC Holdings)
Silverline (Formula Junior Historic Racing Association)
Winner
Endurance Racing Legends
Peter Auto’s Endurance Racing Legends has successfully opened up historic racing to a new generation of drivers, owners and spectators with the crowd-pleasing GTs and prototypes from the 1990s and 2000s.
Rally or Tour of the Year
Shortlist
Tour de Corse Historique (Modus Vivendi)
Terre di Canossa Rally (Canossa Events)
Flying Scotsman (HERO-ERA)
Rallye des Princesses (Peter Auto)
Oman Classics 2025 (HK-Engineering)
Winner
Tour de Corse Historique (Modus Vivendi)
This year’s 25th Tour de Corse Historique saw a record 420 cars attacking a record 22 special stages across five legs, with entries including several former works drivers and cars – an amazing eight-day celebration of Corsica’s illustrious rallying history.
Museum or Collection of the Year sponsored by Magneto magazine
Shortlist
Silverstone Museum
Petersen Automotive Museum
National Motor Museum (Beaulieu)
Autoworld (Brussels)
Museo Alfa Romeo
Nationales Automuseum The Loh Collection
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
Winner
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
With a complete refit, adding a new mezzanine area and opening up the basement for extra galleries, plus state-of-the-art interactive features, 2025 was the revamped Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum’s year.
Specialist of the Year sponsored by Castrol Classic Oils
Shortlist
Tom Hartley Jnr
HK-Engineering
RM Sotheby’s
Rally Preparation Services
Aston Martin Works
Lamborghini Polo Storico
Winner
Tom Hartley Jnr
Having sold the Bernie Ecclestone collection of Formula 1 cars followed by Mansour Ojjeh’s impressive supercar collection, while also building an impressive new base in the Cotswold’s, this was a year like no other for specialist dealer Tom Hartley Jnr.
Club of the Year sponsored by Lockton Performance
Shortlist
Aston Martin Owners Club
Vintage Sports-Car Club
MG Car Club
Porsche Club GB
Winner
Aston Martin Owners Club
The Aston Martin Owners Club has worked hard this year to bring in a new generation of members and increase its overseas membership, along with creating spectacular 90th anniversary celebrations.
Book of the Year
Shortlist
Spy Octane: The Vehicles of James Bond, by Matthew Field and Ajay Chowdhury (Porter Press International)
Joseph Figoni: Le Grand Couturier de la Carrosserie Automobile Vol. II-IV: Bugatti, by Peter M Larsen and Ben Erickson (Moteurs!)
Power Unleashed: Trailblazers who Energised Engines with Supercharging and Turbocharging, by Karl Ludvigsen (Evro)
Twice Around the Clock – The Yanks at Le Mans Vol IV-V, by Tim Considine (David Bull)
The Aston Martin ‘Project’ GT Racing Cars, by Stephen Archer and David Tremayne (Palawan Press)
Winner
Power Unleashed: Trailblazers who Energised Engines with Supercharging and Turbocharging, by Karl Ludvigsen (Evro)
This life’s work by Karl Ludvigsen on the history and impact of supercharging and turbocharging was rewarded for its depth of information and high quality of presentation.
Personal Achievement of the Year sponsored by Petersen Automotive Museum
Shortlist
Guy Moerenhout for establishing the SQUADRA Abarth & Rally Collection museum
Luigi Orlandini for the success and expansion of Canossa Events
Tomas de Vargas Machuca for driving the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge solo
Fritz Burkhard for driving a Bugatti Atalante 4000 miles to display it at Pebble Beach
Winner
Tomas de Vargas Machuca
Tomas’s record-breaking 37-day, 14,899km drive through 12 countries from Paris to Peking in a 1925 Bentley was undoubtedly one of the most heroic drives of all time.
Rising Star of the Year
Shortlist
Ethan Blake-Jones (Paddock Speedshop)
William Garrett (Hilton & Moss)
Alex Hearnden (96 Engineering)
Will Marsh (VSCC)
Winner
Ethan Blake-Jones, Paddock Speedshop
Ethan Blake-Jones’s dedication to creating a youthful perspective on classic cars with Paddock Speedshop TV stood out for the judges, even in this inspirational shortlist of young achievers.
Digital Media of the Year
Shortlist
The Late Brake Show (Jonny Smith)
Richard Hammond’s Workshop (Richard Hammond / Chimp Television)
Harry’s Garage (Harry Metcalfe)
Jay Leno’s Garage (Jay Leno)
Petersen Automotive Museum, video and social media
Vintage Velocity podcast (VSCC)
Hagerty Media, multi-media platform
Winner
Petersen Automotive Museum
The judges chose the Petersen Automotive Museum for its wide breadth of contents across several channels and the in-depth knowledge it’s sharing on a very limited budget.
Industry Supporter of the Year
Shortlist
BMW Group Classic
Heritage Skills Academy
Historic & Classic Vehicles Alliance
Association of Heritage Engineers
Motul
Piston Foundation
Mercedes-Benz Heritage
Winner
Heritage Skills Academy
Heritage Skills Academy has worked extra hard this year not just to train its students in all aspects of classic car restoration and maintenance, but also to publicise its work with – among others – an inspirational display of skills at the 2025 Goodwood Revival.
