Who are we?
The Veteran Car Club of Great Britain is here to encourage the use and assist in the acquisition, restoration, preservation, exhibition and maintenance of Veteran and Edwardian motor vehicles – cars built before 1919.
Our Patron (the highest honour the Club can bestow) is held by HRH Prince Michael of Kent.
Veteran
Vehicles built up to and including December 1904
Edwardian
Vehicles built from January 1905 to December 1918
The Club was founded in 1930 after the London to Brighton Run of that year. Three participants, S.C.H. (Sammy) Davis, J.A.(Jackie) Masters and Capt. J.H. Wylie gathered in the Courties Bar, Old Ship Hotel, Brighton and decided to form a Club for veteran cars, and so The Veteran Car Club of Great Britain was born.
Our History
A Club office was set up in London and finally settled in Fitzhardinge Street, W1. During the mid ’70s, the Club purchased its own building. Find us at Jessamine House, in Ashwell, Hertfordshire, close to the Cambridgeshire borders.
From 1976, the Club ran from Jessamine House. The growth of the archive information made the premises very cramped. In the grounds of Jessamine House is a large tithe barn, which we converted into our current Headquarters in 1991. From the time of the move to the new building, Jessamine House was leased to a local College. The College left in 2006, and the building was sold in 2007.
In 2002, we formed a limited company. The purpose of which was to control/run the events and dating. The name of the company was Veteran Car Services Limited. In 2010, we changed the name to Veteran Car Company Limited.
Veteran Cars
The Club, up to the ’50s, accepted only veteran cars, i.e. up to the end of 1904. At some point in the 1950s, the closing date moved to 1916. In the 60s or 70s, the date was again changed, to the one we have now (up to and inc. 1918).
Only a few national motoring Clubs, like the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain, cover cars built before 1919. During those early times of the Club, cars built from our closing dates to 1919 were being broken up for spares. Their parts used for models that continued after the First World War. Rolls-Royce’s Silver Ghosts and Ford’s Model Ts, to name only two, or sent for scrap.
We are pleased to accept all cars manufactured before 1919 into the Club (conditions apply).
Membership
The Club has seven Membership types
- Full (any age)
- Associate (36+)
- Young Full (17-25)
- Junior (17 and under)
- Junior (17 and under) no gazette
- Family
- Bearer (Corporate)
Only Full, Family, Bearer (Corporate) Members can enter a car in a Club’s event, but they can be driven by an Associate Member. You do not have to own a Veteran and Edwardian car to become a member; almost half our Members are Associates and have a vital part to play in the smooth running of the events.
At present, the membership is running around 1400. Membership is worldwide in the Club. For more information on membership types, subscription rates and the application form, click here.
The Clubhouse
The Clubhouse or Headquarters, known as Jessamine Court, houses the Office and the Meeting room. It also houses the Library and the Shop, for members only.
Exhibition and Shows
The Club has an exhibition stand that can be seen at many of the Veteran/Vintage Car Auctions, the larger car shows and at the autumn Beaulieu Autojumble.
The Club's Car
The Club's Car is a 1902 Wolseley with twin cylinders, rated at 10hp and fitted with a Tonneau-type body.
It is driven by members in many events throughout the year, including the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.
It was entered and completed in the 2007 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, driven by our President, at the time, Mr Roy Brown.
Veteran Car Gazette
The Club Gazette VETERAN CAR is a pocket-sized, bimonthly magazine.
Each excellent issue contains reports of past events, normally with photographs, a calendar of forthcoming events, service and repair hints, readers’ letters, quizzes and members’ car sales and wants and for all those period motoring-related items.
Articles include the reports of motoring experiences taken from period diaries, letters and news reports. With the odd pieces of information that are of interest to all enthusiasts of early motoring. It makes a very good read.