The third Audrain Veteran Car Tour flooded picturesque Newport, Rhode Island, USA with brass-era cars on 28 April. When the cars were parked up on the town’s historic Bellevue Avenue it was almost like a vintage photograph had come to life. Shame about the cones!
Cars on the tour included an incredibly well-preserved 1898 Mors, a superb 1903 De Dion Bouton and a powerful 1905 Fiat 60 hp ex-race car. The star attraction, however, was the return to Newport of a racer with string local connections, a 12 horsepower 4-cylinder Panhard et Levassor Type B1. This rare beast ran in the first ever race to be held in Newport in 1901 and later that year won the New York to Buffalo endurance race.
Organised by Audrain Motorsport and presented by Bonhams|Cars, the Audrain Veteran Car Newport-Bristol-Newport Tour is an event that celebrates the city and region’s rich history of veteran automobiles.
‘The spirits of the participants and their love for these automobiles, each astonishing examples of rolling history, is a true testament to our hobby,’ said Donald Osborne, who drove a 1907 Ford Model S from the Audrain Collection in the Tour. ‘They navigated the streets of Aquidneck Island up to Bristol and back with grace, grit, and determination. Their passion and enthusiasm resonated with everyone who lined the streets to greet us along the route.’
