The Sydney Harbour Concours began in style for 2026 with entrants lining up on Bennelong Lawn in Circular Quay for a public preview display ahead of the February 27 to March 1 event, with onlookers also able to see the vehicles in action on a convoy drive across Sydney Harbour towards Hunters Hill.
From there, the cars made their way across the water by barge to Cockatoo Island, the venue for the main event this weekend, and Retro Rides was invited along for the ride.
To say the mix of cars in the 2026 event is eclectic would be an understatement. Entrants range from a 2023 Ford GT to a 1936 Delage D6-70 Milord Cabriolet by Figoni et Falaschi.
Viewing cars at a concours event like this is a rare opportunity to appreciate just how diverse the world of classic motoring can be. Where else would you see a 1960 Aston Martin DB4 GT parked next to a 1983 Toyota Trueno?
Modern concours events pull together icons from every corner of the retro car diaspora and bring together owners and fans in a way that they never used to. Gone are the days when concours events appealed only to a certain type of person and car owner; modern classics and retro cars have widened the appeal and mean that events such as these are now open to and enjoyed by everyone.
The weather remained onside as 33 retro and classic cars lined up to meet the public and cross the start-line on their drive across the city. The convoy was organised to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the iconic Ampol Trial, the famed long-distance rally that has circled Australia many times since 1956.
A large crowd gathered to enjoy the cars and meet the drivers, in the shadow of the Opera house and some rather ominous looking rain clouds. But as the first cars were flagged off from the Royal Botanic Gardens the rain held off and the journey got underway.
Sydney was busy with sightseers and the general public going about their day as usual, but virtually everyone in Circular Quay stopped in their tracks to watch as the convoy of rare and exotic cars made its way past the Opera House and northwards over the Harbour Bridge.
Cars such as the 1958 Chevrolet Corvette C1 and 1952 Porsche 356 Split Window showed themselves to be quite as capable of drawing attention as the more modern stars, including the 2011 Lexus LFA and 2020 McLaren Senna XP, who were drawing much of the limelight.
We were given a ride in an absolutely immaculate 1971 Toyota Celica GT TA 22, which has a fantastic story of its own and may well be the inspiration for an upcoming Retro Rides ‘Rear View’ article.
Arriving into Hunters Hill Sailing Club the cars made quite a sight, it is not every day one sees a 1924 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost being reversed onto a barge. Entrants and their guests were treated to a champagne reception at the waterside as cars were taken in groups across the water, to find their home for the weekend among the historic buildings that make up the UNESCO World Heritage Site on Cockatoo Island.
Several thousand motoring enthusiasts are expected to visit the island over the coming days, as the eighth edition of the event gets underway. Ford fans will be on the lookout for the iconic 1971 XY Falcon GTHO and the 1973 XA Falcon GT RPO83 Hardtop which will both be on display. Aston Martin are also well represented with four cars appearing in the concours.
Alfa Romeo aficionados will see three of the marque’s most iconic models, with examples of the 1957 1900 CSS, 1962 2600 Spider, and the always divisive and enigmatic 1989 Zagato each on display.
But arguably the heroes of the show will be the unusual and perhaps unexpected appearances. Look out for the 1974 Bond Bug, 1969 Citroen Mehari, and 1972 Maserati Bora, each of which deserves its place as much as the next car on the stage.
In addition to the concours itself, other highlights will include daily parades by the entrant cars, a car unveiling by McLaren, and a photography exhibition, “Women and Motors? Just Joy” laid on by Italy’s Fratelli Cozzi Museum, which we’re told is well worth checking out.
The Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance is open to ticket-holding guests all of this weekend from February 27 to March 1. Tickets and further details about the Ampol and La Trobe Financial-sponsored event can be found on the Sydney Harbour Concours website.
