The British Are Coming!

When it came to super-cool cars in motion pictures, nobody did it better. The fictional British spy James Bond was first introduced to his silver Aston Martin DB5 in the 1964 blockbuster “Goldfinger.” With Sean Connery behind the wheel, the DB5 caused quite a stir, not only because of its timeless beauty but also all its lethal gadgets. Dubbed the most famous car in the world, the DB5 was almost as big a star as Connery. It has appeared in a half-dozen 007 movies. 

For this year’s Motor Car Exhibition at McKee Botanical Garden, Aston Martins will be well represented along with Jaguars, MGs, Austin-Healeys, Triumphs, Rolls Royces, Bentleys and a host of other intriguing British cars on Feb. 10. 

The weather is typically gorgeous, the cars stunning. Elaborately dressed entrants picnic alongside their vintage cars with blankets and wicker baskets. The car aficionados come together to show off their prized treasures — perhaps a family heirloom or just a reminder of high school glory days when cars were made of steel, leather and wood. There’s nothing quite like the joy of owning these delightful driving machines.  

Now in its ninth year, the McKee Motor Car Exhibition remains an invitation-only event, acquiring a reputation for bringing in some of the most rare and exotic cars in the southeast. Each year the show’s car theme changes. Recent ones included “Rods and Customs,” “American Muscle Cars” and “Extinct Motorcars.” More than 3,000 visitors are expected to turn up from the Treasure Coast and across the state to enjoy an afternoon in a casual garden setting.