Every July the grounds of Goodwood House host the world's greatest celebration of car culture. The Festival of Speed sends supercars, muscle cars and hot rods roaring up the legendary hillclimb.
| When? | 9–12 July 2026 |
|---|---|
| Where? | Chichester (Goodwood) — West Sussex |
| Organiser | Goodwood Road Racing Company Ltd |
| Attendance | 200,000 visitors |
| Since | 1993 |
First held in 1993 by the Goodwood Road Racing Company, the Festival of Speed draws around 200,000 visitors over four days. The centrepiece is the 1.16-mile hillclimb, where machines from every era of motoring are driven in anger past the crowds.
Set in the West Sussex parkland around Goodwood House, the event blends a garden-party atmosphere with serious motorsport. The Cartier Style et Luxe lawn class showcases concours-level cars, while the paddocks put drivers and machines within arm's reach.
Alongside Formula 1 cars and hypercars, American muscle is a recurring feature: big-block V8s, hot rods and classic Detroit iron take their turn up the climb, giving US-car fans a rare chance to hear them at full song.
With 200,000 visitors expected, Goodwood Festival of Speed offers an exceptional cross-section of American car culture. The field brings together vehicles from every era, from concours restorations to personal builds, around the "supercars, muscle cars and hot rods" theme.
What you can expect on the estate:
Mark the window — 9–12 July 2026 — and plan to arrive early: the finest American cars are usually in place by mid-morning, and a crowd of 200,000 visitors makes parking easier at the start of the day.
The event is held at Chichester (Goodwood), in West Sussex. Check access, any shuttle services and parking on the official website, and consider car-sharing on the busiest days.
Bring sun or rain protection, comfortable shoes for walking the field, and a budget for food and trade stands. Photographers: the morning light does wonders for the chrome.
Enthusiasm for American vehicles keeps growing in the UK. Meets, clubs and shows multiply year after year, driven by a community that loves the style as much as the V8 mechanicals. Buyers today look for everything from 1960s and 70s muscle to modern pickups and imported youngtimers. Goodwood Festival of Speed (supercars, muscle cars and hot rods) sits squarely within this movement and has, since 1993, drawn a loyal crowd that comes to admire, talk shop and sometimes leave with a new project in mind.
The UK has no minimum age rule for importing a car, and left-hand-drive vehicles are legal on British roads. A vehicle over forty years old can move to the historic vehicle tax class and is MOT-exempt, while newer imports may need an IVA test before DVLA registration. Always confirm the current requirements with DVLA and DVSA before you buy.
Events like Goodwood Festival of Speed are surrounded by marque clubs and regional communities. They share tips, spare parts and hands-on help, organise drive-outs and make it easier to source original components — an invaluable ecosystem when you own an American car and want to keep it on the road around Chichester (Goodwood).
Dreaming of joining Goodwood Festival of Speed in your own American car? Americars & Trucks sources, imports and registers US vehicles to order. We start from your brief — model, year, budget, condition — then find the car in the States and handle shipping, customs and registration.
We locate a vehicle matching your criteria on the American market, with inspection and photos, before any commitment.
Shipping, customs, testing and registration: we coordinate every step until you get the keys, in line with local rules.
Service, tyres and detailing: we prepare your American car so it shines on the field at Goodwood Festival of Speed.
| Step | Typical time | Order of magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| US sourcing | 5–10 days | per brief |
| Ocean shipping | 3–4 weeks | £1,300–2,200 |
| Customs (duty + VAT) | 3–5 days | by value |
| Testing & registration | 1–3 weeks | by provider |
Going from spectator to owner is simpler than it looks. From France and from the UK alike, Americars & Trucks supports enthusiasts who want an American car sourced, imported and registered with no nasty surprises. We know the US market, the buying channels, the auctions and the trustworthy sellers, and we filter for you the vehicles — supercars, muscle cars and hot rods — worth the journey to a gathering like the one in Chichester (Goodwood).
Dreaming of a specific model seen on the field? We start from your criteria and hunt down the right car, with a detailed inspection report before any financial commitment.
Some collectible American cars appreciate over time. We steer you towards sought-after models, with the right mileage and condition, for a purchase that holds up over the years.
A reliable American pickup or SUV to drive all year? We target sound, well-maintained vehicles ready for local roads with no compromise on safety.
Every case is handled by a single point of contact, from the first search to the handover of the keys, via ocean shipping, customs clearance and registration. The goal is simple: that your next visit to Goodwood Festival of Speed is behind the wheel of your own American car, with complete peace of mind.