For the third time, Mathias Doutreleau and his ever-growing team invited visitors to the Concours d'Elégance Suisse in Coppet, near Geneva. Not only the owners of exceptional car models responded to the call, but also a host of sponsors and many visitors who benefited from the pleasantly cool summer weather.
Three days for beauty
The event lasted three days in total, with the first day dedicated to the Tour d'Elégance, a 70 km drive through the beautiful regions around Lake Geneva.
On Saturday, the vehicles then faced the strict eyes of the judges, while the owners were able to enjoy a leisurely day without being bombarded with questions about their cars by the judges.
Sunday afternoon was then dedicated to the victory celebrations and the naming of the Best of Show.
The just over 80 cars present were divided into 15 classes, most of which referred to eras and construction methods. In addition, there were two exclusive Ferrari front-engine classes, a class for Swiss bodies and two classes with vehicle model anniversaries as their theme.
Two Bugatti 57 Atalante
Only 17 Bugatti Atalante cars were built in total, so the chances of seeing two of these extremely elegant models in public at the same time in one place were probably slim. But exactly this encounter was made possible in Coppet, where a yellow and black variant from 1937 met a red and black coupé from 1936.
The younger of the two from the Schlumpf collection came out on top, at least as far as the judges' assessment and thus the class victory was concerned.
60 years after its presentation at the Geneva Motor Show
Two 60-year anniversaries were celebrated at the same time and both were due to presentations at the Geneva Motor Show. In 1958, both the Aston Martin DB4 and the Ferrari 250 GT Pinin Farina celebrated their debut.
And 60 years later, six DB4s and four 250 GT Pinin Farina Coupés stood in front of the castle fountain and competed with each other.
Both cars are now super classics, which made the competition for the class victories all the more exciting. In both cases, the winner was a car built in 1960.
Sixteen cylinders under one hood
There are not too many cars with 16 cylinders that you could buy for road use. Cadillac built a V16, the Bugatti Veyron of modern times has 16 cylinders (in W-shape) and the Cizeta tried a V16. And then there was the Marmon, largely unknown in this country.
As a Type 145 from 1931, it had a four-door convertible body and under its hood slumbered the 16-cylinder heart, which was unfortunately handicapped by a defective fuel pump. Impressive!
Even 16 cylinders were not enough to win the class; in fact, six were enough, because the Delage D8 120 from 1937 had no more to offer, but they were certainly at least as elegantly packaged.
Lightweight sportiness
The Amilcar C6 from 1927 was hardly less impressive, but considerably smaller. It looked almost a little lost among the mighty luxury convertibles, although at the time it could have run circles around the Hispano Suiza or the Isotta Fraschini with its 100 hp from the supercharged in-line six-cylinder engine with a displacement of around 1.1 liters and a weight of just over 600 kg.
For its fans, it is certainly one of the most elegant sports/racing cars ever, but the judges chose the Hispano Suiza H6 B Dual Cowl Twin-Cockpit Open Tourer from 1926 as the class winner and this car also had some special features, such as a secret compartment for smuggling Chanel No 5 or an altimeter for the rear passengers.
The Bertone-SWB
One of the highlights of the Concours in Schlosspark was certainly the Ferrari 250 GT SWB as a Berlinetta Speciale from 1962, a one-off designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro at a young age and one of the few sports cars of the sixties not designed by Pininfarina.
The car received a special prize, but had to bow to the certainly impressive Ferrari 342 America from 1953 in terms of class honors.
Celebrated Swiss car bodies
Typical and meaningful for the Concours in Coppet is the Swiss bodywork class, which was dominated by Graber bodies in 2018. Herrmann Graber certainly had a knack for elegant body shapes and the Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 BMM from 1939 was named class winner and "Best of Show".
However, the 1934 Mercedes-Benz 500 K with Graber bodywork, which won second prize in the class and a special prize, was certainly also impressive.
The pretty Lancia Augusta from 1937 with Gangloff bodywork and the two post-war Alvises with Graber bodywork were not shortlisted, although none of them lacked elegance.
Diversity in the post-war vehicles
Over two thirds of the cars accepted for the Concours were from the post-war period. Two classes were dedicated exclusively to front-engined Ferrari sports cars.
As already mentioned, the 342 America from 1953 won the class for the cars up to 1964, while the yellow 365 GTB/4 Daytona from 1971 won the class trophy for the later cars from 1965 to 1971.
In the class of sporty coupés from 1940 to 1959, an Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Villa d'Este from 1949 was chosen as the best; in the front-engined coupés from 1960 to 1975, this honor went to the Salon 1961 Jaguar E-Type.
With five vehicles, the rear-engined class was as strongly represented as other classes, but some visitors would certainly have found something to like in each of the five sports cars.
However, it was not the two Dino 206/246 GTs that won the race, nor the certainly special Porsche 911 S/H from 1970, but the Lamborghini Countach LP400 from 1977, which was polarizing in its purple paintwork with white interior, while the adjacent Miura P400 SV from 1972 was almost a little too inconspicuous in its brown colour scheme.
Best in class among the open-top sports cars built between 1956 and 1975 was the Aston Martin DB5 from 1964, which really looked too attractive in its light blue touring skin and even stole the show from the mustard yellow 300 SL from 1960.
And then there were three limousine classes, each of which ended with the Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith from 1952, the Monteverdi 375/4 from 1972 and the Rolls-Royce Silver Spur from 1984 taking top honors. The last two classes are particularly interesting, as future classics were graded and compared here.
Elaborate judging
30 judges took on just over 80 cars and examined them under the direction of Adolfo Orsi in accordance with the rules of the Chief Judge Advisory Group. The vehicles are checked for functionality, originality and authenticity. A non-functioning blinker will result in a point deduction, as will a faulty engine or improperly carried out restoration work. Checking this in a short space of time, with only Saturday available, was a mammoth task that also required some preparation.
The results, if not already mentioned, are documented in the list at the end. For the "Best of Show", for which only class winners are considered, elegance criteria were also taken into account in addition to the evaluation standards applied within the class. One certainly cannot deny the impressive elegance of the Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 BMM Graber from 1939.
The Concours in Coppet certainly deserves praise. The selection of vehicles was hardly inferior to the great beauty contests of Cernobbio or Amelia Island and the victory of a Swiss bodywork gave the event a welcome special flavor. Keep up the good work!
The cars and the prizes
| Class | No | Make | Type | Year | Prices/Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-1 | 1 | Hispano Suiza | H6 B Dual Cowl Twin-Cockpit Open Tourer | 1926 | Class victory |
| A-1 | 2 | Amilcar | C6 | 1927 | |
| A-1 | 3 | Isotto Fraschini | Type 8 A | 1927 | |
| A-1 | 4 | Bugatti | Type 43 A | 1931 | Second in class |
| A-2 | 1 | Cadillac | V12 Fleetfwood | 1931 | |
| A-2 | 2 | Marmon | Type 145 | 1931 | |
| A-2 | 3 | Alvis | Speed 20SC | 1934 | |
| A-2 | 4 | Mercedes-Benz | 500K | 1935 | Prix de l'Elégance sur-mesure présenté par Berence Genève |
| A-2 | 5 | Cord | 810 | 1937 | Second in class |
| A-2 | 6 | Delage | D8 120 | 1937 | Class victory |
| A-2 | 7 | Rolls-Royce | Wraith | 1939 | |
| A-3 | 1 | Hispano Suiza | T49 "Weyman" Sport Saloon | 1927 | Second in class, Prix de la Meilleure Préservation |
| A-3 | 2 | Bugatti | Type 57 S Atalante | 1936 | |
| A-3 | 3 | Bugatti | Type 57 S Atalante | 1937 | Class victory |
| A-3 | 4 | Delage | D8 120 S | 1938 | |
| C-1 | 1 | Ferrari | 250 Europe | 1953 | |
| C-1 | 2 | Ferrari | 342 America | 1953 | Class victory |
| C-1 | 3 | Ferrari | 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Speciale Bertone | 1962 | Prix du Jury Honoraire - Prix de l'automobile du Salon de l'Automobile de Genève |
| C-1 | 4 | Ferrari | 250 GT Lusso | 1963 | |
| C-1 | 5 | Ferrari | 330 GT America | 1963 | Second in class |
| C-1 | 6 | Ferrari | 330 GT 2+2 | 1964 | |
| C-2 | 1 | Ferrari | 275 GTB Competizione | 1965 | not on site |
| C-2 | 2 | Ferrari | 275 GTB/4 | 1966 | |
| C-2 | 3 | Ferrari | 330 GTC | 1967 | |
| C-2 | 4 | Ferrari | 275 GTB/4 | 1967 | Second in class |
| C-2 | 5 | Ferrari | 330 GTC | 1967 | |
| C-2 | 6 | Ferrari | 365 GTC | 1969 | |
| C-2 | 7 | Ferrari | 365 GTB/4 Daytona | 1971 | Class victory |
| D-1 | 1 | Mercedes-Benz | 500K Graber | 1934 | Second in class, Prix du Cercle des Passionnées |
| D-1 | 2 | Lancia | Augusta Gangloff | 1937 | |
| D-1 | 3 | Bugatti | T57 Graber |
1937 |
|
| D-1 | 4 | Alfa Romeo | 6C 2300 BMM Graber | 1939 | Class victory, Best of Show |
| D-1 | 5 | Alvis | TC21-100 Super Graber | 1955 | |
| D-1 | 6 | Alvis | TE 21 Super Graber | 1963 | |
| E-1 | 1 | Aston Martin | DB4 Series 1 | 1958 | |
| E-1 | 2 | Aston Martin | DB4 Series 1 | 1959 | |
| E-1 | 3 | Aston Martin | DB4 Series II | 1960 | Class victory |
| E-1 | 4 | Aston Martin | DB4 Lightweight | 1961 | |
| E-1 | 5 | Aston Martin | DB4 Series I | 1960 | |
| E-1 | 6 | Aston Martin | DB4 Vantage Series IV | 1962 | Second in class |
| E-2 | 1 | Ferrari | 250 GT Coupé Pinin Farina | 1958 | Second in class |
| E-2 | 2 | Ferrari | 250 GT Coupé Pinin Farina | 1959 | |
| E-2 | 3 | Ferrari | 250 GT Coupé Pinin Farina | 1960 | Class victory |
| E-2 | 4 | Ferrari | 250 GT Coupé Pinin Farina | 1960 | |
| G-1 | 1 | Alfa Romeo | 6C 2500 Super Sport Coupé Villa d'Este | 1949 | Class victory, 2nd place Best of Show |
| G-1 | 2 | Fiat | 8V Rappi Corsa | 1953 | |
| G-1 | 3 | Peugeot | 203 P3V | 1953 | |
| G-1 | 4 | Autobleu | 4CV | 1955 | |
| G-1 | 5 | Mercedes-Benz | 300 SL | 1955 | Second in class |
| G-1 | 6 | Alfa Romeo | Giulietta Sprint Veloce | 1957 | |
| G-1 | 7 | Plymouth | Fury Hardtop Coupé | 1959 | |
| G-2 | 1 | Triumph | Italia 2000 | 1960 | |
| G-2 | 2 | Jaguar | E-Type Series 1 FHC | 1961 | Class victory |
| G-2 | 3 | Lancia | Flaminia Super Sport Zagato | 1966 | Second in class |
| G-2 | 4 | Cadillac | Eldorado Coupe | 1967 | |
| G-3 | 1 | Dino | 206 GT | 1968 | |
| G-3 | 2 | Dino | 246 GT | 1969 | |
| G-3 | 3 | Porsche | 911 S/H | 1970 | |
| G-3 | 4 | Lamborghini | Miura P400 SV | 1972 | Second in class |
| G-3 | 5 | Lamborghini | Countach LP400 | 1977 | Class victory |
| G-4 | 1 | Lancia | Aurelia B24S | 1958 | |
| G-4 | 2 | Ferrari | 250 GT SWB California Spider | 1960 | Prix du Président du Jury Honoraire |
| G-4 | 3 | Mercedes-Benz | 300 SL | 1960 | Second in class |
| G-4 | 4 | Mercedes-Benz | 190 SL | 1962 | |
| G-4 | 5 | Jaguar | E-Type Series 1 | 1963 | |
| G-4 | 6 | Jaguar | E-Type Series 1 | 1963 | |
| G-4 | 7 | Aston Martin | DB5 Volante | 1964 | Class victory |
| G-4 | 8 | Chevrolet | Corvette Stingray | 1965 | |
| G-4 | 9 | Chevrolet | Corvette Stingray | 1965 | |
| G-4 | 10 | Triumph | Stag | 1975 | |
| G-5 | 1 | Jaguar | MK V | 1949 | |
| G-5 | 2 | Rolls-Royce | Silver Wraith Mulliner | 1952 | Class victory |
| G-5 | 3 | Rolls-Royce | Silver Wraith Mulliner | 1953 | |
| G-5 | 4 | Bentley | Type R Freestone & Webb | 1958 | |
| G-5 | 5 | Rolls-Royce | Silver Wraith Long Wheelbase Touring Mulliner | 1954 | Second in class |
| H-1 | 1 | Mercedes-Benz | 600 | 1969 | not on site |
| H-1 | 2 | Mercedes-Benz | 300 SEL 6.3 | 1972 | not on site |
| H-1 | 3 | Monteverdi | 375/4 | 1972 | Class victory |
| H-1 | 4 | BMW | 3.3 Li E3 | 1975 | not on site |
| H-1 | 5 | Mercedes-Benz | 450 SEL 6.9 | 1977 | Prix de l'Equipage présenté par The Rake Magazine |
| H-1 | 6 | Mercedes-Benz | 450 SEL 6.9 | 1979 | Second in class |
| H-2 | 1 | Rolls-Royce | Silver Wraith II | 1980 | Second in class |
| H-2 | 2 | Aston Martin | Lagonda | 1982 | |
| H-2 | 3 | BMW | Alpina B7 Turbo S | 1982 | |
| H-2 | 4 | BMW | Alpina B9 E28 | 1984 | |
| H-2 | 5 | Rolls-Royce | Silver Spur | 1984 | Class victory |
