The best of 2024 according to the PWC team

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Another year over, and a fine year it's been. With so many excellent opportunities for vintage motoring, who could say what the best part of it was? Very possibly, it might have been the Montlhéry centenary celebrations at the Vintage Revival in May—sunny skies, dozens of vintage racers and a sea of obscure machinery certainly takes some beating. We're very much looking forward to what 2025 has in store.

Before then, however, would like to reflect on the highlights in the online magazine of the past year so far as PreWarCar.com has been concerned. To that end, we've asked each member of the PreWarCar team to say a little about their favourite article of the last twelve months.

Laurens Klein, Managing Director
In recent years, we have shared many wonderful stories, and this year is no exception. From reporting on impressive events to unravelling motoring mysteries, and from romantic tales to informative articles, every month has brought something special.

One of my personal highlights was reporting on my summer visit to the picturesque town of Uzès in southern France. It was here that the prestigious Bugatti exhibition by François Melcion took place. The exhibition was a thing of beauty in itself, with the three great artists of the Bugatti family—furniture-maker Carlo, engineer Ettore and sculptor Rembrandt—represented in the breath-taking setting of a historic venue. The elegance and finesse of each work of art, combined with the atmosphere of Uzès, made it an experience I will not forget.

Every time I think of that visit, a smile appears on my face. The beauty of the Bugattis, the special stories behind these cars and art and the magic of the surroundings created a treasured memory.

It is a perfect example of how certain experiences stick with you and provide lasting inspiration. For me, this year proved once again that the power of a good story is not only in what it reveals, but how it reveals it—the way it touches the soul.

Morris Klein-Laarman, Marketing Manager
My favourite article which I have written this year was about the Mille Miglia. Besides, it was an amazing week, and I am so privileged to have participated with my dad. I really enjoyed keeping the diary and sharing my experiences. Because I tried to give you all a real insight into participating in the rally (with some points of criticism), comments from various people came in sharing their experiences and view on the event. I really liked that – and it showed PreWarCar.com is all about connecting car enthusiasts around the world!

Zack Stiling, Editor
The article which gave me the most enjoyment to write was The titan of tricycle racing returns. Having appreciated first-hand the thrills of tricycle racing, I know a 2¾hp De Dion-engined machine can be exciting enough, so the 5hp, water-cooled Renaux really fascinated me when I saw it fire up at Brooklands in 2021. The huge engine and chunky frame made it stand out distinctly from the other trikes, and it sounded like Pandæmonium when it was demonstrated. To learn about Prosper Alexandre Renaux and his formidable three-wheelers, and to share some insights into the forgotten constructor, was a very great pleasure.

Jeroen Booij, Contributor
February’s article about the cars in the film The Crowded Day has it all for me. Cars in films have an attraction to me anyway, and it only adds to the allure when they are unfamiliar cars, especially in unfamiliar pictures. The protagonist of this 1954 flick, set around a London department store during Christmastime, drives a Bentley 6½-Litre with "wonderful rustic coachwork," as Zack describes it. He found that the car was a factory demonstrator, rebodied in shooting brake and roadster fashion later and “predictably, XV 1430 is now a Le Mans replica.” Oh, and there’s another gem parked casually along the streets of London…

Jos van Genugten, Technical Specialist
I've done some digging through all last year's articles and I must say the one that gave me most joy  was 'M' for Mystery: the unsolved puzzle of De Dion-Bouton's proprietary engines. The reason is that as a technician, I'm intrigued that the De Dion-Bouton company apparently thought this "M" was important enough for them to make special casting moulds for these engines, but it is apparently not important enough for its story to have survived the times. As far as I know, the meaning of the "M" is still unsolved, so maybe reminding readers of this article will help with that cause.

These are our favorites, but more importantly, what was your favorite article you read on our website in 2024? We’d love to hear from you!

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