The Authenticity of Historic Cars

Join the National Motor Museum Trust team for a specialist Transport Torques evening lecture on Saturday 11 October 2025 with author Paul Griffin.

Location: Terrace Room, Brabazon Restaurant, Beaulieu
Date: 11 October 2025
Time: 7pm - 9pm

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Society of Automotive Historians member and distinguished lawyer Paul Griffin will lead a Transport Torque, based on the themes of his latest book, exploring one of the great conundrums for motoring historians: what is the truth?

From Aristotle to Bentley Old Number One, Paul examines how questions of identity, provenance, originality and authenticity have shaped both the history and the value of cars. He’ll take us inside landmark legal cases, explain how judges have grappled with these disputes, and reveal the tests used to establish a car’s true story – from 'VIN' numbers and factory records to human memory and modern replicas.

This promises to be a fascinating journey through law, history, and the quirks of motoring culture – essential for anyone interested in how the “truth” about cars is decided.

After a first career as a City lawyer, Paul has moved to marry interests and enthusiasms in his writings as an author. His work as an academic, and in litigation and arbitration, have come together with his long-time participation in the world of historic cars and their racing. And the disputes, differences and developments of the historic car business over recent years have fuelled his most recent book ‘The Past and The Spurious – The Case of Legitimacy in Historic Cars.'