From a cricket team’s transport to a cherished family treasure, Gladys the Gladiator’s remarkable journey through time continues—with a fifth generation ready to join the 2025 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.
For an astounding 75 years and five generations, Gladys the Gladiator has been more than just a vintage car to the Timmis family—she is a cherished thread weaving together decades of motoring heritage, family stories, and shared triumphs on one of Britain’s most iconic automotive journeys.
Gladys’ story began long before her family discovered her in 1950. Built in 1903, this Gladiator had lived a colourful life, serving as everything from a milk float to transport for a Gloucestershire cricket team. When Howard Timmis, a Rolls-Royce-trained engineer with a passion for cars, found Gladys in a near-forgotten state near Bristol, he saw potential beyond the faded frame.
Alongside trusted craftsmen, Howard restored her with meticulous care—fitting new wood, sourcing missing parts, and fabricating a third gear. With a new registration of RYC700, Gladys took to the road once more.
That same year, she made her debut in the famed London to Brighton Veteran Car Run—a special event steeped in history and tradition.
The Run traces its roots back to the 1896 Emancipation Run, a spirited celebration marking the liberation of motorists under the Locomotives on Highways Act. Each November, the Run is a rolling parade of veteran cars, all built before 1905, journeying over 54 miles from London’s Hyde Park to Brighton’s seafront, united not in speed but in honour of motoring’s earliest pioneers.
Howard and his son Richard kept the tradition alive, competing in numerous runs through the years amid the challenges of fragile tyres and homemade trailers. Stories abound: loose tyres launching down the track, early starts from Yeovil in the wee hours, and secretive toasts in Chinese restaurants to mark the day. With time, more family members joined the adventure, each generation adding their own chapter to Gladys’ storied life.
A discovery of Gladys’ original registration plate—AD448—rekindled her true identity, deepening the family’s pride. Over 60 runs have seen her start 54 times and successfully complete 50, with the fifth generation preparing to take their place in 2025. Two-year-old Aiden, great-grandson of Richard Timmis, will ride along, continuing an extraordinary family journey.
The London to Brighton Run itself is more than a rally; it’s a living testament to Britain’s motoring heritage, bringing history to life against a backdrop of autumnal countryside and coastal vistas. Alongside the thrill of the Run, the week-long London Motor Week offers exhibitions, spectacles, and auctions that celebrate the timeless allure of vintage automobiles.
“Gladys has been far more than a vehicle—we see her as the heart of our family’s motoring heritage,” reflects Nigel Timmis. “She connects us not only across the generations but to the remarkable history of early motoring in Britain. We hope to keep this tradition alive for many years to come.”
As Gladys prepares for her next journey from London to Brighton, she carries with her not just the legacy of motoring past, but the warmth, dedication, and memories of five generations—onward, together, down the road.
For more information about the 2025 RM Sotheby’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, which takes place on Sunday 2 November, and entries and route details, visit www.veterancarrun.com.
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