This year’s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run will feature the first-ever appearance of a 1904-built Premier motor car.

Founded in Indianapolis in 1903, the Premier Motor Manufacturing Co quickly earned itself a reputation for producing technically advanced cars, and the oak leaf on its radiator badge is said to be the first use of an emblem as an automotive trademark.

Despite the company producing more than 10,000 cars before being taken over in 1926, very few of them have survived.

Indeed, just a couple of pre-1905 models eligible for the Veteran Car Run are known to be in existence.

One of these is in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum; the other has recently been restored and is coming to London for the Regent Street Motor Show on 3 November, before taking part in the following day’s trip to Brighton.

This four-cylinder Model F was found in nearly complete order during the late 1980s. It then underwent an exacting restoration — based on the information available — and a new rear-entrance body was constructed in keeping with period images.

Dating back to an era of single-cylinder planetary-transmission cars, the Premier Model F featured an overhead valve four-cylinder engine and a sliding gear transmission.

Contemporary advertisements described it as having a top speed of 40mph and promoted its 10-gallon tank, offering a 182-mile range, which will be ample for the 60-mile trip from London to Brighton.

Premier is not the only motor car manufacturer making its first run to Brighton.

The Model F will be joined by a Vabis — a rare Swedish vintage car that is a precursor of the renowned Scania brand.

More than 400 cars are taking part in this year’s run.

Full information can be found on the official Web site (www.veterancarrun.com).