Which One of These 9 Concours-Winning Cars Won Best of the Best?
The idea came out of what used to be called the Louis Vuitton Classic, which started in the mid-1990s and ran for several years until the passing of Louis Vuitton Chairman Yves Carcelle in 2014, and the cancelation of the Parque Bagatelle concours in Paris meant that award ceased.
Then, 10 years ago, a dapper Belgian automotive enthusiast and classic car expert named Christian Philippsen—who could be cast as James Bond if you were shooting it in the classic '60s—took what had been the Louis Vuitton Classic and, with the generous help of hotelier and car lover The Honorable Sir Michael Kadoorie, collector William E. (Chip) Connor, and everybody's pal Bruce Meyer, came up with Best of the Best.
The idea was to take the winners from an entire year's worth of concours and pick which car was the best. Exactly which concours they choose from varies only slightly each year. Below are the finalists for 2024 and the prestigious concours each of them won.Best of Show, Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille
● 1,991-cc straight 8-cylinder, supercharged● Serial No: 4871● 125 hp at 5,500 rpm● 4-speed manual ● Suspension: front hollow live axle, semi-elliptic springs; rear live axle, quarter-elliptic springs● Drum brakes front and rear.
Background:
The Type 35 Bugatti secured more than 2,000 grands prix victories during its era and is considered one of the top race cars of all time. One of just 52 built by Bugatti between 1927 and 1930, this Type 35 successfully raced until 1933. It placed fourth in its first race at the Targa Florio in 1928 and later claimed an overall win in the 1928 Coupe de Bourgogne in Dijon. The Bugatti won Best of Show at the 2024 Chantilly Arts et Elegance Richard Mille. It is one of the few classic cars to win a prestigious Best of Show in unrestored condition.Best of Show, Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este
● Serial No. 2211079● In-line 8-cylinder engine, 2,300-cc, supercharged● 142 hp at 5,000 rpm● 4-speed manual ● Suspension: live axle front and rear, semi-elliptic springs● Drum brakes front and rear.
Background:
The 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Spider is the only short chassis on which Giuseppe Figoni built a new body. In 1937, it was given as a graduation present to Henri d'Autichamp, a French Naval Academy graduate, who made several modifications, including a thicker chassis, rear-body adjustments, and a larger fuel tank. D'Autichamp then disassembled parts of the car and hid them to protect it from the Germans during World War II. Thought to have disappeared, the 8C 2300 Spider was rediscovered in 2014, and acquired by its current owner in 2024. It has been restored to mechanically perfect condition, retaining its original patina and paintwork.Best of Show, Pebble Beach
● Serial No. 57248● 3,300-cc, 8 cylinders, 250 hp● 4-speed gearbox● Front suspension: leaf spring, hydraulic dampers; rear suspension: rigid axle on leaf springs● Brakes: mechanical drums on all wheels.
Background:
The 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports competed in various races in 1934 and 1935 with renowned drivers René Dreyfus, Robert Benoist, and Jean-Pierre Wimille. Bugatti then converted the vehicle into a sports car by removing its supercharger, adding a four-speed synchronized transmission, and reworking its body. The newly modified car was purchased by car guy King Leopold III of Belgium, who had it repainted in black with a yellow stripe to match Belgian racing colors. Since 2020, it has been owned by a Bugatti enthusiast and made history as the first preservation-class car to win Best of Show at Pebble Beach in 2024.Best of Show, Goodwood Cartier Style et Luxe Concours of Elegance
● Serial No. 57503● 3,257-cc dohc straight 8 with dry sump● 180 hp at 5,000 rpm● 4-speed manual ● Live axle with leaf springs front and rear● Brake drums front and rear, cable operated.
Background:
The third Bugatti finalist boasts a 3.3-litre straight-eight engine mounted in an innovatively low chassis—a design that subsequently evolved into the Works Grand Prix 57G 'Tanks' that dominated the 1936 racing season. One of only 42 Type 57S chassis ever built, it has received numerous prestigious awards, including Most Elegant Pre-War Sportscar at the Pebble Beach Concours, Best of Show at Salon Privé Blenheim Palace, Car of the Year by Classic & Sports Car, and Best of Show at Cartier Style et Luxe in 2024.Best of Show, Salon Privé
● Serial No. 0674● 4,023-cc, front longitudinal V12 dohc 24-plug● 390 hp at 7,400 rpm● 4-speed gearbox● Independent front suspension, double wishbone, coil springs; De Dion Axle rear suspension, coil springs● Drum brakes front and rear.
Background:
The Ferrari 335 S was part of renowned collector Pierre Bardinon's collection for over 45 years and is considered one of the greatest Ferraris ever built. Initially a 290 MM Spyder Scaglietti, it was driven by Juan Manuel Fangio in the 1956 Mille Miglia. After several successful races, including a third-place finish at Nürburgring and second in the Swedish Grand Prix, the car was upgraded to 315 S specifications and then further modified to 335 S specifications, which included a pontoon-style nose for improved brake cooling. For the filming of Michael Mann's 2023 film Ferrari, the car was used to create replicas for scenes depicting the 1957 race season. In 2024, it was recognized as the Best of Show winner at the Salon Privé.Best of Show, Concours of Elegance Hampton Court Palace
● Serial No. 3CP18● 7,300-cc, 12-cylinder ohv engine● 180 hp at 3,000 rpm● 4-speed manual ● Front suspension: independent with coil springs; rear: live axle and semi-elliptic springs● Brakes: drums front and rear, servo-assisted
Background:
This 1937 Phantom III Convertible is one of 18 custom Phantom III bodies built by Brewster craftsmen. A unique two-passenger convertible coupé sometimes referred to as a Henley, the vehicle was delivered in June of 1937 to Colonel Joseph Samuels, a wealthy philanthropist. It had a number of additional owners before it was acquired by Charles Melhinch, who showed it at the 1953 AACA Devon meet where it won the Smoothness and Silence trophy. The car has since been sold a number of times and has received prestigious awards, including Best of Show at the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace in 2024.Best of Show, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering
● Serial No. 151-53-75● 4,496-cc, dohc 12-cylinder ● 245 hp at 5,500 rpm ● 4-speed Cotal electromagnetic gearbox● Independent front suspension, live rear axle● Drum brakes, cable operated.
Background:
With Rene Dreyfus at the wheel, this 1937/1946 Delahaye 145 Cabriolet claimed the prize in 1937's infamous ACF (Automobile Club de France) Prix du Million, a challenge that offered one million francs to the constructor and driver who could best the speed record set at Montlhéry racecourse by Mercedes-Benz. Decorated in Prix du Million livery, the Delahaye went on to win multiple races before being hidden away during World War II. After the war, Delahaye rebuilt the Prix du Million chassis for a French customer looking for a sports car, and in 1981, automotive designer Philippe Charbonneaux re-bodied it to replicate its original grand prix appearance. The car's current owner reunited the 1937 race car with its 1946 Franay roadster coachwork. It now sports its original electric blue color and light grey interior, and won Best in Show at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering in 2024.Best of Show, The Amelia
● Serial No. 800495● 3,557-cc inline 6-cylinder ● 125 hp ● Cotal 4-speed pre-selector gearbox● independent front suspension; live rear axle with parallel semi-elliptic springs● drum brakes all-round.
Background:
The second Delahaye in the group is an elegant 1947 135MS Narval Cabriolet that was first exhibited at the Paris Auto Salon in October of 1947, and was originally owned by famous French singer and songwriter Charles Trenet, who requested the original orange brûlé paint be refinished to a light French blue. It was ultimately purchased by the Mecum family, who restored it and returned it to its original paint color. Upon completion, the Delahaye won the Elegance in Motion Award at the 2023 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Best of Show at the 2023 St. Michael's Concours d'Elegance, and Best of Show at The Amelia Concours d'Elegance in 2024, despite that prominent proboscis over the grille.Best of Show, Cavallino Classic
● Serial No. 6053● 3,285-cc 12-cylinder engine● sohc, 2 valves per cylinder● 320 hp at 7,700 rpm ● 5-speed manual
Background:
A Grand Touring version of the mid-engined 250, the stunning 250 LM had a vibrant racing career from 1965 to 1967, including first-place finishes at Brands Hatch, Snetterton, and Silverstone in 1966. It was recently shown at the 2024 Casa Ferrari and won Best in Show at the Palm Beach Cavallino Classic in January 2024.The Ferrari 250 LM! 'We are delighted to highlight this lineup of truly exceptional motorcars, which exemplify an astonishing level of beauty and performance,' said The Hon. Sir Michael Kadoorie, Chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited, and co-founder of The Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award. 'It is also a great pleasure to have become recognized, over the past 10 years, as one of the premier classic car showcases in the world."
The judging panel for The Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award 2024 features several renowned automotive designers and executives, including Peter Brock, Fabio Filippini, former General Motors vice president of design Ed Welburn and Henry Ford III. Additional judges include royalty and celebrity motorsport collectors and enthusiasts, including HRH Prince Michael of Kent, HH Rana Manvendra Singh of Barwani, Peter Marino, Ralph Lauren, and Jay Leno.
'I am truly humbled to receive this distinguished award,' said Chris Cox, owner of the Ferrari LM. 'It brings me tremendous joy to show a vehicle with such a rich history at the world's biggest concours, and being selected for The Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award is the highest honour a car collector can achieve.'
Originally unveiled in Paris in November 1963, the Ferrari 250 LM (for "Le Mans") is a Grand Touring version of the mid-engined Ferrari 250 P. Featuring a body designed by Pininfarina and built by Scaglietti, it was intended to replace the 250 GTO, one of Ferrari's most successful race cars. A 250 LM won the 1965 Le Mans 24 Hours and the 1965 International Trophy for GT Prototypes. This example is one of only 32 produced, and it enjoyed an accomplished racing career from 1965 to 1967, with notable victories at Brands Hatch, Snetterton, and Silverstone in 1966.
The car later raced at Daytona in 1966 and Le Mans in 1968. Acquired by its current owner in 2018, the 250 LM is a celebrated piece of Ferrari history. It was showcased at the Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena, Italy, as part of the "Ferrari Forever" 75th anniversary exhibition in 2022. It has also been displayed at major concours, including in 2022 at Pebble Beach, and most recently, at Casa Ferrari at Pebble Beach in 2024 to celebrate Ferrari's 70th anniversary in the United States.
'The winning 1964 Ferrari 250 LM is much more than just a stunning vehicle,' said Philippsen, co-founder of The Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award. 'This is one of Ferrari's most revolutionary models, with a rich competitive history and incredible provenance. We are thrilled to honour a motorsport legend of this calibre as this year's Best of the Best.'
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