19. Derek Drinkwater – 1961 Chevrolet Impala

It’s fair to say this is by far the largest car on this year’s display, but it’s not just the imposing looks that make it so fascinating. Keen-eyed visitors might also recognise it as a recreation of the car Dan Gurney drove at Silverstone in 1961.

“My wife, Pat, loves the Impala so when we were planning this project her search unearthed this one in the US state of Maine. It was in pretty poor condition, but that made it the perfect starting point.”

That was the beginning of a process that would take the couple four years, the nut-and-bolt restoration focusing on every detail. There was certainly plenty to do, including attention to the bodywork that involved replacing the floors and some of the floor rail sections, some of which required fabricating from scratch.

Derek adds that sourcing parts wasn’t easy, and that items such as the new/old stock front wings were a real find. Even establishing the correct colour took time, but the effort has certainly paid off.

The huge 6.7-litre V8 was new, too, and built by Jack Gibbs who had been involved with its original development. There’s plenty of power, naturally, but you can be certain that it also sounds amazing.

The owners were clear that getting the details right was a vital part of this build, and that quest for perfection extended to the vast interior. The correct material that would once have been for used for the Chevy’s original bench seats was sourced and applied to the racing items now installed.

The final stage was gaining FIA approval, a detailed process that took nine months. It was the perfect end to the project and we can’t wait to see this incredible American racer on track later in the year.