The Concours of Elegance will once again bring together a selection of 60 of the rarest and most significant cars from around the world including Bugatti, Ferrari and Lamborghini – many of which will never have been seen before in the UK.

In all, around 1000 classics will park up in the palace grounds over the course of the weekend, for an automotive extravaganza like no other.

Other highlights include live discussions, special features and luxury retail displays

Many of the Concours cars will also take part in a 2 day driving tour in the days running up to the main Concours event.

Uniquely, the Concours of Elegance winner isn’t selected by a panel of judges but by the Owners of the cars themselves.

Each participant is asked to vote on the other models on display to decide which car is considered to be the ‘Best of Show’.

Complementing the Concours of Elegance will be displays of hundreds of other fine motor cars, including entrants to The Club Trophy.

Now in its eighth year, The Club Trophy sees some of the UK’s most prestigious car clubs offering up their finest examples to an independent panel of judges. The winning Club Trophy car will secure a place in the following year’s main Concours of Elegance event.

For the car enthusiasts here are some of the highlights:

1956 Maserati A6G/54 Zagato Berlinetta One of the most exclusive and alluring cars of the post-war era, the Maserati A6G/54 Zagato is visceral blend of coachbuilding excellence and racing pedigree. Only 20 of the 60 A6G/54s were coachbuilt by Zagato, and this particular hand-crafted example was put through its paces in the 1956 Mille Miglia, and then various European races throughout the rest of the decade.

1953 Siata 208 CS Balbo Nicknamed by the great Steve McQueen as his ‘little Ferrari’, the Siata 208 CS Balbo is a rare gem that epitomises Italian elegance. With only nine ever produced, this particular example boasts a remarkable history of single-family ownership since 1959 and is sure to be a showstopper.

1973 Porsche 911 Turbo Concept – ‘The First Turbo’ The genesis of an icon, this particular 911 was the first of its kind to wear the ‘Turbo’ badge. The very car that starred at the 1973 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show, this turbo prototype was created by Porsche to showcase what a ‘super’ 911 would look like, combining supreme performance with grand touring luxury. A genuine piece of automotive history.

1937 Talbot-Lago T150C SS ‘Teardrop’ An example of impeccable French coachbuilding, with fewer than 30 ever built, the Talbot-Lago T150C SS ‘Teardrop’ immediately became one of the most elegant and fastest cars on the road when it was unveiled in 1937. This particular example was first owned by a maverick by the name of ‘Suicide Freddie’, a keen racer who split his time between the glitz of Paris and the glamour of the French Riviera.

Many of the cars on show will never have been seen in public before. The full sweep of automotive history will be represented, early automotive pioneers to 1930s art deco masterpieces, 1950s sportscar racing heroes, bespoke prototypes of the 60s and 70s,