Compared to today, car designs were simpler and cheaper back in 1928. This led to a wide range of car makers, coachbuilders, and car types and prices at the Olympia. In fact, it was almost overwhelming.

In our guide for readers attending the event, we listed a total of 157 car brands. Yes, you read that right, 157! Today, excluding specialized brands, there are only approximately 60 car brands available on the market.

It’s interesting to note that out of those 157 brands, only about 20 still exist today. It’s amusing to think about how we could have been amazed by Bugatti, Chevrolet, Fiat, and Renault, while growing up with Delaunay-Belleville, Moon, Schneider, and Whippet.

Many companies used to sell cars as bare chassis, which meant there were another 149 firms at the Olympia providing coachbuilding services.

Instead of metal, the Weymann method of using fabric on a wooden frame was becoming more popular among coachbuilders. This method was cheaper, lighter, quieter, and almost as aesthetically pleasing as metal.

Alongside the increasing variety of body types, there was a lot of discussion about using cellulose to improve paint quality and chromium to decorate metal. However, the future popularity of these materials was uncertain at that time.

Any last advice? “Buying the first nice car you see at Olympia is as silly as a man proposing to his first partner at his first dance.” Well, that makes sense. There were also some cautious words about the “young apes,” some of whom were “dangerous,” who called themselves salesmen!