British Car Day is hosted annually by the Toronto Triumph Club and this year its scheduled for next Sunday, Sept. 15. 2024. This will be the 39th year that it’s been held and it now draws more than 1,000 British cars and over 9,000 spectators.
British Car Day is open to vintage, classic and current British-manufactured vehicles, including motorcycles. In 2023 about 75 per cent of the cars entered were built before 1980 the oldest being a 1898 Beeston Quadricycle.
The venue for British Car Day is Bronte Creek Provincial Park in Oakville, about 25 miles west of downtown Toronto, conveniently located at the Burloak Drive exit off the Queen Elizabeth Way. The south entrance is for non-British cars & spectators, while the north entrance is reserved for British car exhibitors and vendors.
BCD comprises 56 classes of cars and motorcycles running the whole range of British automobile marques from Austin to Westfield with model names from Anglia to Zephyr and everything in between. The organizers encourage everyone to bring along their British cars whether they be current model cars, daily drivers, partially restored cars or projects-in-progress, to line up with the many classic and concours-class cars in the appropriate marque and model class.
British Car Day is the opportunity everyone anticipates to chat, to scrutinize, and to plan for next year. It’s a car show but it is also a big, end of season, social event.
Notable British car anniversaries in 2024 include:
- 70 years; Jensen 541, MG Magnette.
- 60 Years; Sunbeam Tiger, Mini Moke, Ford Corsair.
- 50 Years; Caterham Super 7
Examples of these fine British makes will be located on Sponsor Street.
If you want to enter a British car into the show the cost is $20 for pre-registration and $25 at the gate. Spectators pay the park admission fee which is $18 per car. Walk-ins and bicycles are no charge. Cars are scheduled to enter the park from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and spectators arrive from 9 a.m. onward. The show goes until 3 p.m. and awards are handed out from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
There are three awards given in each of the 56 car classes as voted by participants as well as Best of Show awards - selected by our judges - and Long-Distance awards for those cars driven (not trailered) from afar. This year we are expecting at least one car to be driven all the way from California.
In addition to viewing the fantastic array of cars there are about 50 vendors selling car-related stuff and lots of places to eat. Our DJ will play songs dating back to the 60s and 70s to get, and keep you, in the mood.
People who attend the show for the first time are in awe of the number of cars present and their owners look forward to telling visitors all about their hobby. So come on down on Sunday, Sept. 15 to take in British Car Day. For more information, click here.