Outstanding 1956 Ferrari 500 Testa Rossa takes top honours as Best of ShowSublime 1954 Maserati A6 GCS Berlinetta receives People’s Choice crownAmazing Lamborghini Miura anniversary class wows judgesPeter Mullin’s Voisin C3 Strasbourg wins Most Exciting RecreationOutstanding Concours line-up paraded in front of nearly 2,000 VIP guests at Blenheim PalaceSalon Privé continues through to Saturday 3rd September.
Hailed as one of the finest concours competitions yet, 2016’s Chubb Insurance Concours d’Elégance has seen some of the world’s rarest and most alluring cars battle it out on the lawns of Blenheim Palace.
Leading the charge of formidable Italian thoroughbreds, the outstanding 1956 Ferrari 500 Testa Rossa fended off rivals to steal the Best of Show on the Thursday of Salon Privé. It was also the winner in its Racing Improves the Breed class, with another famous Italian car, a magnificent 1954 Maserati A6 GCS Berlinetta close behind, being runner-up in the same class. The Maserati however did pip the Ferrari to the post in the race to receive the People’s Choice award.
In tribute to the 50th anniversary of the iconic supercar, and as part of the wider Lamborghini-backed celebrations,the Lamborghini Miura anniversary class drew eight amazing examples to the concours lawns. Giving the judges a hard task in deciding a winner, the Lamborghini Miura P400SV of Adrian Labi ultimately proved the winner, with the P4000SV of Bill Heinecke finishing close behind.
Other Italian winners included the completely original 1992 Ferrari F40 which won the Dream Machines class, and a beautifully restored 1972 Dino 246 GT which won the European Grand Tourers category. The infamous Ferrari 365 ‘Daytona’ caused a stir at this year’s show, with the 1971 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 taking Gone with the Wind class win in, the 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 winning Best Interior class, and the 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 finishing runner up in European Grand Tourers class.
With over 75 exceptional classic cars and motorbikes, this year’s Chubb Insurance Concours d’Elégance assembled some outstanding vehicles, as the competition returned to the World Heritage site of Blenheim Palace. “There are cars that just impress from the start, and this year the 1956 Ferrari 500 Testa Rossa wowed the judges. Never having been seen before at a worldwide Concours, it was a sight to behold for any Concours connoisseur” said Salon Privé Managing Director & Concours Chairman, Andrew Bagley. “A Testa Rossa being a rare model in itself, this car ticked all the boxes for the Judges in terms of attention to detail of the restoration, provenance and racing pedigree, making it the clear, outright winner. Owned by Bruce Lavachek and David Cottingham, the award was particularly moving as it has been a painstaking 40-year journey for Bruce to locate the car and bring it to its now former glory, with the specialist skills of David Cottingham, owner of DK Engineering. The car had in fact languished in a barn in Iowa and had been forgotten about since its last race in 1960. To have the car presented at a worldwide-renowned Concours, let alone with the ultimate Best of Show, is a dream that Bruce never considered could be achieved in his lifetime.”
2016’s Chubb Insurance Concours d’Elégance results
AUTOMOBILES
Best in show1956 - Ferrari 500 Testa Rossa
People’s Choice1954 - Maserati A6 GCS Berlinetta
CLASS A - Exceptional Motorcycles 1900-1939Winner: 1938 - BSA Gold StarRunner up: 1932 - Brough Superior SS100
CLASS B - Exceptional Motorcycles 1940-1975 - CompetitionWinner: 1966 - BSA 500 MX GP TitaniumRunner up: 1953 - Matchless G45
CLASS C - Exceptional Motorcycles 1940-1975 - HighwayWinner: 1969 - Honda CB750Runner up: 1958 - Velocette Venom
CLASS D - Pre-war CoachworkWinner: 1934 - Rolls-Royce Phantom II ContinentalRunner up: 1933 - Aston Martin Le Mans Short Chassis
CLASS E - Racing Improves the BreedWinner: 1956 - Ferrari 500 Testa RossaRunner up: 1954 - Maserati A6 GCS Berlinetta
CLASS F - The Great V12 FerrarisWinner: 1953 - Ferrari 250 Europa Short Chassis PrototypeRunner up: 1971 - Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona
CLASS G - Porsche Racing PedigreeWinner: 1974 Porsche 911 3.0RSRunner up: 1969 - Porsche 911
CLASS H - European Grand TourersWinner: 1972 - Dino 246 GTRunner up: 1971 - Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona
CLASS I - Gone With The WindWinner: 1971 - Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona SpiderRunner up: 1961 - Bentley S2 Drophead Coupé
CLASS J - Dream MachinesWinner: 1992 - Ferrari F40Runner up: 1987 - Lamborghini Countach 5000QV
CLASS K - 50 years of the Lamborghini MiuraWinner: Lamborghini Miura P400 SV (Adrian Labi A&A Premier Classic)Runner up: Lamborghini Miura P400 SV (William Heinecke)
Special AwardsMost Original pre-war: 1933 Aston Martin Le Mans Short ChassisMost Original Post-war: 1992 Ferrari F40Most Sensitive Restoration: 1966 Iso GrifoMost Elegant: 1956 Bentley S1 Continental Park Ward Drophead CoupéMost Iconic: 1973 Lamborghini Countach LP 400 PeriscopioMost Exciting Design: 1957 Jaguar XKSSBest Interior: 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 DaytonaMost Exciting Recreation: 1922 Voisin C3 Strasbourg
MOTORCYCLES
Most Original Motorcycle: 1936 Norton Model 50Most Superlative Motorcycle: 1936 Moto Guzzi 500S
