This year's RIAC National Classic Car Show will play host to a very rare and historic car, which returns to Ireland's shores for the first time since the sixties - the 100-year old Hispano-Suiza Alfonso XIII.
The car in question is said to be one of only three left in existence; and it featured in a shooting during the 1916 Rising. The Alfonso XIII's original steering wheel still bears the scars of the incident, where a sniper is believed to have shot the driver from behind. After ricocheting off the steering wheel, the bullet is said to have left the car through the windscreen.
As well as being famous historically, the Alfonso XIII was one of the fastest cars of its time; clocking up an unofficial speed of 90mph (145km/h) in North County Dublin in 1919. After a full restoration that was finished by the early fifties, the Alfonso XIII left Ireland to reside at the British National Motor Museum in Beaulieu; where the car has sat ever since.
"It is very exciting to have a car of this calibre at the show," comments Bob Montgomery, Event Co-ordinator. "It is the first time since it was bought by the British National Motor Museum at Beaulieu in England that it has been displayed elsewhere."
Sitting alongside the Alfonso XIII at this year's show will be a custom-built 1913 Daimler that was previously owned by an Indian Maharajah. The custom work was carried out by Salmons and Sons of Newport Pagnell and features a rare full-cabriolet body style, very similar to convertibles of today. After being delivered to the Maharajah in India, the Daimler then went on to become the very last veteran car to be exported from India before a law was passed in 1980 that prevented any more repatriation of historic vehicles. Upon its return, the Daimler went to car collector, Jim Boland of Naas, Co. Kildare.
The Royal Irish Automobile Club National Classic Car Show is open on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th February 2013, 10am - 6pm.