The world’s longest running and greatest motoring event, the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run has helped unearth many fascinating stories behind the wonderful vehicles that heralded the birth of motoring innovation.

This 1904 Fiat 24/32 HP is a prime example. Journeying from its birth land in Italy to Cape Cod and across the United States of America before settling in Northern Europe. This remarkable model was originally owned by Mrs George Agassiz, who had such a sentimental attachment to the car following its purchase while she and her husband were on honeymoon in Italy. When no collectors were available to buy the 28 year-old car in 1932 she saved it from an ignominious end and had it interred in the grounds of her Cape Cod estate.

The legend of the ‘buried car’ grew and in 1942 Ted Robertson, co-founder of the US Vintage Sports Car Club, was given permission to exhume the Fiat. Remarkably, despite lying on its back with the wheels removed and folded across its ‘chest’, it had survived its decade underground quite well.

A deal was done to buy the car for US$50 and although unrestored it was exchanged between enthusiasts before being stored by a Milwaukee owner for 40 years. Restoration finally started in the early 1990s and in 2007 it passed to its current owner in the Netherlands, Jan Bruijn, who returns the car to the famous Royal Automobile Club’s event which this year celebrates its 115th anniversary.

In a sight to behold, a staggering 500 veteran cars from across the globe will join the 1904 Fiat in setting off from London’s Hyde Park to journey the 60-mile route to Madeira Drive, Brighton, giving the vehicles that formed the foundations of today’s motoring industry the chance to shine once again. Now Britain’s biggest free-to-spectate motoring event, the 2011 run will deliver three days of motoring excellence, starting with Friday’s Veteran Car Run Auction of eligible vehicles and automobilia by auctioneers Bonhams at New Bond Street, London.

The Fiat will be one of the 100 veteran vehicles taking centre stage in the Concours d’Elegance on the Saturday in Regent Street offering the public the first opportunity to admire some of the fascinating pioneering machines that will participate in the historic Run on Sunday.

The 115th anniversary run will start when the first car leaves Hyde Park at official sunrise, 7.02am on Sunday. In order to be classified as a finisher, the cars must arrive in Brighton’s Preston Park before 4.15pm and then gather along Madeira Drive for the traditional ceremonial finish.