While many classic car events were canceled, the Zurich Classic Car Award was held on Bürkliplatz in Zurich on August 19, 2020.
More than 90 cars had registered and they chose the winner, i.e. the most beautiful, in seven classes.
While the public chose a 1965 Ford Mustang Fastback as the most elegant and best-looking, the jury opted for a Ferrari 275 GTS from the same year.
In addition, a Bugatti EB 110 from 1994 was voted Best of Show among the unrestored cars.
Enormous breadth
The array of vehicles that gathered at Lake Zurich on Wednesday morning showed the diversity that 100 years of automobile construction has produced. The oldest car was also the most forward-looking, because with its electric drive, the Detroit Electric from 1918 showed 102 years ago what drive technology would primarily look like in 2040.
And even today, the not exactly compact American still manages a range of 70 kilometers, albeit with better battery technology than over 100 years ago.
The other end of the spectrum was represented by a Smart Brabus Roadster and a Lancia Thesis Stola from 2004. Almost modern cars, but definitely special. While the Smart Roadster was produced in comparatively small numbers, especially as a Brabus version, the Thesis Stola was produced in exactly one series example, while the car on display was the prototype.
Between the extremes of 1918 and 2004, almost the entire spectrum of construction methods and design approaches that were realized between 1930 and 2000 were on display in front of the National Bank in Zurich.
An intact
It doesn't always have to be the designer jewels or multi-million euro valuables that catch the eye of a Concours visitor. Those with an eye for detail can also make completely different discoveries. In Zurich, for example, there was an Opel Olympia Rekord from 1953 that almost seems to have fallen out of a time machine.
Hardly anything had been changed on the car over almost 70 years, whether it was the seat upholstery or the rubber mats on the floor. Even the paintwork was still largely intact, which is what cars looked like seven decades ago.
A Morris Minor II, which had recently been practically pulled out of a barn, stood a few steps further on, similarly close to its original condition but less intact.
However, the prize for the best preserved unrestored car went to a Bugatti EB 110, which was practically in new car condition.
Masterpieces from Pininfarina
A special class was set up to celebrate Pininfarina's 90th birthday.
It is not surprising that this class was dominated by Ferrari. However, there was also a very interesting Peugeot 404 Coupé on show and there were also elegant cars from Lancia, Rolls-Royce and Cadillac.
Nevertheless, the 1st to 3rd places were taken by the cars with the little horse.
From the work of Alfa Romeo
A separate class was also set up for the Alfa Romeo anniversary of the company's 110th anniversary. Although a somewhat greater variety would have been desirable here - a GTV6, an Alfasud Sprint or a 2600 were missing, for example - the jury was able to crown a worthy winner with the winner, a Super Sprint from 1956 with a Touring body.
The second place in this class was also interesting, as the owner of the beautiful Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior was old enough to own the car, but not yet old enough to have passed her driving test.
So she was chauffeured onto the red carpet.
High power density
In most classes, there would certainly have been five, six or more cars that would have deserved a right of way to the award ceremony. The fifties car class should be mentioned here as an example. There were 17 cars and each had its own special features to offer.
How can you compare a completely restored Mercedes-Benz 220 S Coupé from 1958, which was also fitted with a roll-top roof from the body company Tüscher at the time, with an Opel Olympia Rekord or a Plymouth Fury from 1958, which once played a leading role in the movie "Christine"?
Only three of the seventeen cars were able to win a prize, although each one would have deserved one, as the owners were well prepared and had poured a lot of love and expertise into the vehicles in advance.
Almost a premiere
The Monteverdi 2000 GTI from 1968 had a very special history: Pietro Frua had designed a two-door fastback coupé for Peter Monteverdi on the technical basis of the two-liter BMW and built it as a prototype. The premiere was planned for the Geneva Motor Show in March 1968, but did not take place because the one-off was allegedly damaged during transportation.
However, the car later stood undamaged for decades in the Monteverdi Museum and whether the presentation did not take place due to the dispute between Monteverdi and Frua or concerns on the part of BMW is still being discussed today. In the meantime, however, the "stationary vehicle" Monteverdi 2000 GTI became a "vehicle" again and was able to drive up to Zurich under its own power, where it was able to experience its "real" premiere in front of a large audience, so to speak.
The class victory in the cars of the sixties was certainly well deserved, although the competition here was also diverse and well positioned.
Satisfied faces
If you looked around Bürkliplatz, you mainly saw satisfied and smiling faces, despite the masks that are at least partly part of the new everyday life.
Most classic car enthusiasts were simply happy that something was going on again and with all the canceled beauty contests (including Villa d'Este, Paris, Concours Suisse, Pebble Beach), the Zurich Classic Car Award somehow had a special status.
The award winners
Three cars were honored in each class. There was also a special prize and two best-of-show winners.
Pre-war class
1. Rolls-Royce 20/25 Coupé from 1933
2. S.S. Cars '90' from 1935
3. Rolls-Royce 25 Coupé "Smoker" from 1936
Class Fifties
1. Aston Martin DB2/4 Arnolt Bertone from 1956
2. Fiat-Abarth (1100) Allemano Coupé from 1954
3. Bentley Mk VI Graber Coupé from 1951
Class Sixties
1. Monteverdi 2000 GTI from 1969
2. Bentley Continental Flying Spur from 1961
3. Lancia Flavia Sport Zagato from 1967
Seventies class
1. Citroën SM from 1972
2. Maserati Ghibli from 1970
3. Lotus Europa TC from 1973
Youngtimer class
1. Bugatti EB 110 from 1994
2. Bentley Continental from 1995
3. Smart Brabus Roadster from 2004
Class "90 years of Pininfarina "
1. Ferrari 275 GTS from 1965
2. Ferrari 512 BBi from 1983
3. Ferrari F40 from 1990 (?)
Class "110 years of Alfa Romeo "
1. Alfa Romeo Super Sprint from 1956
2. Alfa Romeo Sprint 1300 Junior from 1966
3. Alfa Romeo Montreal from 1973
Audience Award
Ford Mustang Fastback 289 GT from 1965
Best of Show "Restored "
Ferrari 275 GTS from 1965
Best of Show "Unrestored "
Bugatti EB 110 from 1994
Special prize
Detroit Electric from 1918
