A sensational Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza Spider Zagato, which was driven by Scuderia Ferrari in the 1930s, took first place as "Best of Show" at this year's Salon Privé Concours d'Élégance. The Italian beauty boasts an enviable racing history, with a victory in the Coppa Principe di Piemonte in July 1932, driven by none other than Tazio Nuvolari. The "flying Mantuan" also drove the car in the prestigious Klausen race in the same year.
The best of the best
The floor of Blenheim Palace was populated by some of the most elegant and significant cars in automotive history. The panel of ICJAG judges awarded second place, titled "Best of Show Runner Up", to the famous Ferrari 166MM Touring Barchetta, which won the 1949 Mille Miglia and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The last step on the podium went to a rare right-hand drive Ferrari 250 GT Lusso from 1964.
New this year was an award for the Most Exceptional Design. Named in honor of Winston Churchill, who was born at Blenheim Palace, the Churchill Cup was awarded by some of the automotive industry's most respected designers, including Marek Reichmann of Aston Martin, Stefan Sielaff of Bentley, Russell Carr of Lotus, Louis de Fabribeckers of Touring Superleggera and Julian Thompson of Jaguar, to name just a few of the many famous names.
They selected a 1933 Lancia Astura Pinin Farina Cabriolet 'Bocca'. One of only a handful of cars designed by Mario Revelli di Beaumont for Lancia dealer Ernesto Bocca. With its curved fenders and elegantly shaped rear end, it was hardly surprising that this highly original vehicle captured the imagination of the judges. It was also awarded the prize for the most elegant car (Most Elegant Award).
The royal's favorite and a road-going GT40
In such a spectacular location, it was only fitting that His Highness, the twelfth Duke of Marlborough, chose his favorites on two and four wheels. On two wheels, his choice was a 1939 AJS 2A, while the prize for a four-wheeled vehicle went to a 1960 Aston Martin DB4 GT, which had competed in historic races before being restored to its original condition.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Salon Privé, Andrew Bagley, presented a Ford GT40 with the "Chairman's Award". The vehicle with chassis number 1034 is the fourth of only 31 Mk I road versions built and the first to pass into private ownership. The first three cars remained in Ford ownership. The GT40 has recently been carefully and sympathetically restored to a unique period correct condition.
Two McLaren successes at once
25 years after the McLaren F1 won its debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Gordon Murray-designed hypercar was given its own class. And there was even more McLaren success when a 1997 F1 GTR Longtail picked up the People's Choice Award. Chassis 28R competed in the GT Championship under the GTC Gulf Team Davidoff and was the last F1 GTR to be built.
Delightful patina and incredible motorcycles
Two legendary racing cars from the nineteen fifties were honored with the two special prizes awarded by the judges. One of these was an ex-Equipe Nationale Belge Ferrari 500 TRC, which won a class victory at Le Mans in 1957. The car was driven by David Cottingham to a number of historic racing events over a long period of time and has now won the "Passione Corsa Award".
The "Preservation Award" went to a Jaguar D-Type with a delightful patina, which is probably the most original D-Type still in existence today. Chassis number XKD509 was driven as a new car in America at the time and is now a remarkable contemporary witness.
Not to be underestimated were the vehicles parked outside Blenheim Palace. The motorcycles comprised three classes spanning 75 years, from a 1914 Triumph to a 1989 Ducati 851 Corse, and were judged by an extremely knowledgeable panel of judges including Somer Hooker, ex-racer Steve Parrish, Henry Cole, Dennis Frost and Mike Jackson.
"The standard of motorcycles at this year's Salon Privé was absolutely incredible, said Parrish. "The incredible Ducati 750 Super Sport won the Ducati class. It's probably one of the most beautiful bikes I've ever seen. It was a tough call and Henry Cole and I worked hard to decide on a winner, but the 750SS stood out for its originality."
Parrish continued: "A Suzuki RG500 took the win in the Competition Class. I may not be an expert on many things, but I am when it comes to an RG500, having ridden and crashed so many! The 1980 model is far better than it ever was when it came fresh out of the box from Japan. I would love to own it myself, but I don't think I could afford it."
A 1965 Norton Unified Twin came out on top of the motorcycles with a win in the Exceptional Street Motorcycles Class.
Winners with high status
Andrew Bagley, Salon Privé Concours Chairman, said: "I am absolutely thrilled to award this year's Best of Show prize to Ian Livingstone's 1931 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza Spider Zagato." The car was one of Alfa Romeo's works racing cars at the time and at the time none other than Enzo Ferrari was responsible for the works racing team and the development of the cars. The team raced under the name "Scuderia Ferrari", which explains the "Cavallino Rampante" on the hood.
"The very characteristic roar came from a supercharged 2.3-liter engine with almost 180 hp, which combined two four-cylinder blocks into an in-line eight-cylinder engine for better reliability. The Alfa Romeo received its Zagato spider body in 1932, but when Tazio Nuvolari took it to the start of its first race, he didn't like the shape of the driver's door and had it cut out."
"The car, which is still in full Monza specification, won several victories with Nuvolari at the wheel and is one of Alfa Romeo's most important racing cars. It is a true sports car of its era and we were thrilled that the ICJAG judges gave this immensely important racing car the overall win with the Best of Show award."
Best of Show winner Ian Livingstone commented: "It is a great honor to be the last owner of this incredible machine and to now win such an important award is a further testament to the history of a special and important vehicle."
