This year the Pre ’50 AAC were celebrating their 25th Anniversary ROG at Knebworth, though the event itself has been running much longer. The first ROG took place at Shottesbrooke near Maidenhead, Berks, then it moved to Dyrham Park, near Bath, followed by the Cotswold Wildlife Park at Burford, Oxon, Quainton Railway Centre, Bucks, Cosgrove Park, Bucks and latterly Knebworth Park. Indeed, it’s one of the longest running club events in the UK.

For enthusiasts of older American cars, the ROG is a simply ‘must do’ event, in order to enjoy viewing the cream of the UKs Stateside classics that ranged from 1920s Hupmobiles through to the flamboyant fifties fins ‘n’ chrome that reach its zenith with the 1959 Cadillac. One of the earliest cars taking part was a 1923 Hupmobile Model R City to City racer owned by Martin ‘Monty’ Males. The  car originally took part in the race between  Capetown and Jo,Burg 9th-10th October 1924 completing the trip in 38 hours and 28 minutes. Martin has also taken his rebuilt Model R  around the Montlhery circuit and the Nurburgring, not to mention all around the UK coast on a charity run, as well as a run to the arctic circle!

Pre ’50 AAC stalwart Alan Murphy was displaying his latest acquisition, a 1941 Cadillac Fleetwood 60 Special. The Cadillac was found in Ohio, USA, in the spring of 2010, with the engine and other ancillaries in the boot! The car was imported into the UK, recommissioned for the road again, and was making almost its first time out since the work has been completed.  It was a good day for enthusiasts of early Cadillac models with Steve Taylor’s gorgeous 1941 convertible,  Saunders Cowie’s 1949 Sedanette, and arguably the choice of the day, was a 1936 V16 powered model.

The car was originally sold new in Jacksonville, Florida, and became part of a Cadillac V16 collection between 1965-2009. Minor refurbishment was completed in 2010 and it was definitely one of the rarest models of Cadillac at Knebworth.

Another period gem was Bernie Hulks’ 1938 Lincoln-Zephyr V12 convertible coupe. This car made its post restoration show debut at the ROG in 2005 after a mammoth 12 year restoration to perfection. It was found in the 1970s rusting away in a yard in Barking, Essex. The moribund remains, sans engine, floors, upholstery and a chassis broken in two, were saved and used in the epic rebuild that includes a Columbia two-speed axle. Pick of the 1950s  cars was a 1956 Chrysler New Yorker St Regis two-door hardtop, owned by Simon Jagger and Beth Webber.

Powered by a 354ci Hemi engine, the St Regis sported a Tri-tone paint job and for ’56 Chrysler christened this model year “Powerstyle”, and it was one of the Forward Look design works of Virgil Exner. This New Yorker was imported to the UK from California in January 2010. Last but not least, especially in stature was a 1942 Chevrolet Gillig School Bus, originally finished in the de rigueur yellow paintwork and operated in  California. More recently it appeared in a feature film Captain America’s The New Adventures, where it acquired its current Lady Liberty livery