Britain’s 'oldest cars' hit the road for annual London to Brighton run

Loading the video No Comment Video. Britain’s 'oldest cars' hit the road for annual London to Brighton run Copy/paste the link below: Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Updated: 2 November 2026 - 19:40 GMT+1 The UK celebrates 140 years of the motor car as pre-1905 vehicles parade through London's historic streets before heading to Brighton. Britain's motoring history took to the streets of London on Sunday, 1 November, as veteran cars took part in the annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The 97km journey from Hyde Park to the south coast saw some vehicles travelling at just 12 to 20 mph. The event marked 140 years since Karl Benz introduced his Patent-Motorwagen, widely regarded as the first production car. One vehicle even broke down on The Mall, highlighting the mechanical challenges of driving these early models. For participants, the run is as much about the experience as the destination. Driving a car from the early days of motoring requires patience and a good understanding of its mechanics. Shaun Harborne, at the wheel of a 1901 Renault Type D, described the vehicles as fragile, with their suspension, brakes, clutch and gearbox all requiring careful handling. Karl-Heinz Jungbeck, who travelled from Munich in a 1903 Lacoste & Battmann, said the event offers a taste of the adventure motorists would have experienced more than a century ago. London History United Kingdom Cars no comment Rally Top stories Now playing Next Britain’s 'oldest cars' hit the road for annual London to Brighton run Now playing Next Ukraine’s ‘Stargate’ drone carries wounded troops from frontline Now playing Next Fridges stand empty in Belgian supermarkets after cyberattack Now playing Next Latest news bulletin | November 2nd, 2026 – Evening Now playing Next Drones and robots on show at Milipol Qatar In partnership with Media City Now playing Next Humanoid robots climb China’s Mount Tai in unusual challenge Now playing Next US midterm elections 2026: What are they and when will we know the results? Now playing Next Dashcam captures deadly private jet crash in Florida Now playing Next Heidi Klum turns herself into a giant severed hand for Halloween Now playing Next Heidi Klum's much-anticipated 2026 Halloween party costume Now playing Next France's Le Pen condemns Poland's Constitutional Tribunal crisis Now playing Next Tusk v Nawrocki: Poland's Constitutional Tribunal crisis explodes Now playing Next What did people eat and drink 4,000 years ago? New finds shed light on life in Mesopotamia Now playing Next Brussels still 'traumatised' by Brexit, EU foreign policy chief warns Now playing Next Skeleton puppets and zombies fill New York’s Halloween parade Now playing Next Ukraine needs help this winter, says UN goodwill ambassador and actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT No Comment Serbia remembers 16 victims of Novi Sad railway station collapse No Comment Londoners revive medieval jousting on electric bikes in Halloween spectacle No Comment Looted shops, burning barricades as riots erupt in Frankfurt No Comment Heidi Klum turns herself into a giant severed hand for Halloween Tech News Cyberattacks hit supermarket fridges and freezers in Europe, Belgium launches investigation Business Ryanair eyes cost cuts as it faces a €2 billion rise in its fuel bill next year World News Mbappé’s ‘Chinese dictator’ comment: How do Chinese people react? Europe News Paris riots: France investigates after petrol bomb sets officer on fire Water 'Now, thank God, we have water': Uzbekistan’s tap water reaches 83% of people, but gaps remain Health news France recalls 7 million condoms across EU over STI and unintended pregnancy concerns Business Europe seeks Central Asia's critical minerals as producers push for local processing Europe Today Poland's president has 'no competence' to appoint judges, says EPP MEP ADVERTISEMENT Europe Today 'Absolutely no legal basis' for chaotic scenes in Poland's top court, says Polish secretary of state Europe Today Europe doesn't 'care enough' about Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, says Mary Robinson Europe News One Czech national and four US citizens among Spain train crash dead, officials say Europe News Belgium's king considering PM Bart De Wever's resignation after budget talks fail, palace says USA All nine on board Learjet killed in Florida plane crash near Trump's resort home USA Dashcam captures deadly private jet crash in Florida Europe Today Europe Today: Tusk v Nawrocki: Poland's Constitutional Tribunal crisis explodes Europe News Le Pen condemns Poland's Constitutional Tribunal crisis, Sikorski tells her not to interfere ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT