Every year in mid-August and in the middle of the week, Bürkliplatz in the heart of Zurich is transformed into a true classic car oasis. Insiders immediately realize that it is time again for the Zurich Classic Car Award, the Concours d'Elégance on Lake Zurich.
Entry record
For the first time, more than 90 vehicles were registered and the range on site on August 21, 2019 was very broad.
From pre-war sports cars to almost neo-classics, there were cars to admire and even an off-road vehicle, a Mercedes-Benz 280 GE of the first vintage, mingled with the Concours vehicles.
Small cars with history
For many visitors to the ZCCA, which took place in perfect weather conditions, it was probably the first time they had seen a Meadows-Frisky. The microcar is one of the few survivors of this speedster, which was considered to be very sporty at the time.
It was powered by a Villiers 3T two-cylinder engine with 325 cm3. The originally shaped convertible offered space for two people. Although it was not enough to win a prize at Bürkliplatz, the small car was sure to be popular with the public.
Incidentally, the FMR TG500 Tiger won the small car class.
British pioneer
The Jowett Javelin, exhibited as a 1950 model, is also really rare. This car, designed by Gerald Palmer, was in fact the first newly developed post-war car in England. And the Javelin was innovative, being powered by a four-cylinder boxer engine and equipped with independent suspension all round.
Around 20,000 units were built between 1947 and 1954. During this period, they won the Monte Carlo Rally and other important races.
This beautiful vehicle achieved third place in the 50s car class.
Alfa Romeo 1900 Super with special paintwork
Even rarer than the Javelin was a very special Alfa Romeo 1900 Super from 1956. The well-known stylist Jole Veneziani had used her creativity to create a two-tone paintwork and a special interior. The design was so well received that it was included in the series in February 1956.
Around 200 cars were delivered in this way, and the one shown in Zurich was probably one of around ten surviving vehicles. And not only that, the interior has remained unrestored to this day and the car has a low mileage.
Another car from the same brand, an Alfasud Sprint Veloce from the special "Trofeo" series, was also on display at Bürkliplatz. It was awarded second place.
Alpine
restored over 20 years ago
Perhaps the most impressive car on the course, especially for fans of plastic bodywork, was certainly an Alpine A108 Berlinette Tour de France from 1965. Not only is this car extremely rare, with around 25 examples built, but the owner also bought the car in boxes when he was still a teenager and then spent around 20 years restoring the coupé to its original condition.
The car was only recently completed and was duly admired in Zurich. In the end, the class victory also went to the plastic flounder.
100 years of Bentley
A separate class was dedicated to the Bentley brand to mark its 100th birthday, which was well attended and well stocked. There was a car to admire from almost every decade.
Although the post-war vehicles came out on top in the rankings, the pre-war sports cars were admired even more.
70 years of Abarth
The 70th anniversary of Carlo Abarth's cars was also celebrated with an extensively endowed class, which also featured very early cars from the Austrian's oeuvre in Italy.
The cars in this class in particular breathed the racing spirit of the fifties and sixties and many visitors to Bürkliplatz remembered the racing cars that caused a sensation in slaloms, hill climbs and on the circuit.
The winner was the Abarth 750 GT Zagato Corsa from 1957.
The public likes it American
The public was also asked to choose a winner.
The visitors obviously liked the exuberant shapes of the 1960 Chevrolet Impala Convertible, which had already arrived in Switzerland as a new car. The 1800 series was equipped with a V8 engine, making it the ideal basis for cruising on local roads.
Italian elegance as "Best of Show"
Not entirely unexpectedly, it was ultimately a representative of Italian elegance that took home the trophy as the most beautiful of the event.
The Lancia Aurelia B24S as a Spider America from 1955 was also a real eye-catcher and, especially with the special hardtop, looked as if it had been cast from a single mold. In addition to the class victory in the 50s cars category, it also deservedly won the "Best of Show" award.
The owner took it in his stride, the award presenters were delighted. Incidentally, this car is not a "trailer queen", but is really on the move, because just two days later you could experience the sports car on the road at Passione Engadina.
Participating vehicles and prize winners
| No. | Make | Type | Year | Comment/Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Abarth | 750 GT Zagato Corsa | 1957 | Winner class Abarth |
| 02 | Abarth | 750 Zagato | 1957 | |
| 03 | Fiat-Abarth | 850 TC Berlina S1 | 1961 | |
| 04 | Fiat-Abarth | 850 TC | 1962 | |
| 05 | Abarth | Monomille Scorpione Beccaris | 1962 | |
| 06 | Abarth | 1000 GT Bialbero | 1962 | |
| 07 | Abarth | 1000 GT Bialbero | 1963 | 2nd place Abarth class |
| 08 | Fiat-Abarth | 2400 Allemano Coupé | 1965 | |
| 09 | Abarth | OT 1300 (2000) Periscopo | 1968 | 3rd place Abarth class |
| 10 | Fiat-Abarth | 595 | 1970 | |
| 11 | Bentley | 3.0 Litre Red Label | 1922 | |
| 12 | Bentley | 3.0 Litre Speed | 1924 | |
| 13 | Bentley | 4 1/4 Litre | 1936 | |
| 14 | Bentley | 4 1/4 Litre | 1939 | |
| 15 | Bentley | Mk VI | 1949 | |
| 16 | Bentley | Mk VI Special | 1949 | |
| 17 | Bentley | Mk VI | 1962 | Winner class Bentley |
| 18 | Bentley | R-Type | 1953 | 2nd place class Bentely |
| 19 | Bentley | S2 | 1960 | |
| 20 | Bentley | S2 DHC Mulliner | 1961 | |
| 21 | Bentley | T1 | 1967 | |
| 22 | Bentley | Eight | 1992 | Winner "Best Preserved" |
| 23 | Bentley | Continental R | 1995 | |
| 24 | Kroboth | All-weather scooter | 1954 | |
| 25 | Messerschmitt | KR 200 | 1955 | |
| 26 | Messerschmitt | KR 200 | 1956 | |
| 27 | Heinkel | Type 150 | 1956 | |
| 28 | BMW | Isetta 300 | 1957 | 2nd place Micro Cars class |
| 29 | FMR | TG 500 "Tiger" | 1959 | Winner class Micro Cars |
| 30 | Bond | Mk G | 1962 | |
| 31 | Trojan | 200 Type 154 (Heinkel) | 1962 | |
| 32 | Meadows-Frisky | Prince | 1958 | |
| 33 | Sparrow | 200 | 1956 | 3rd place Micro Cars class |
| 34 | Citroën | B 14 Cabriolet | 1927 | |
| 35 | Mercedes-Benz | Nürburg 500 | 1931 | 3rd place pre-war class |
| 37 | BMW | 328 Wendler convertible | 1937 | 2nd place pre-war class |
| 38 | SS Jaguar | 100 2.5 Roadster | 1962 | |
| 39 | Alvis | 12/70 | 1938 | |
| 40 | Delahaye | 135M Chapron Coupé | 1939 | |
| 41 | Fiat | 508 Balilla Trasformabile | 1939 | |
| 42 | Cadillac | 62 Convertible Coupe | 1941 | |
| 43 | Bristol | Type 400 | 1948 | |
| 44 | Rolls-Royce | SHC Supercharged | 1936 | |
| 45 | Rolls-Royce | Phantom I Boattail Roadster | 1928 | Winner pre-war class |
| 46 | Chrysler | 77 Roadster | 1930 | |
| 47 | MG | J2 Open Two Seater | 1933 | |
| 48 | Jaguar | Mk IV 2.5 Litre | 1948 | |
| 49 | Chevrolet | C 3600 Pickup | 1949 | |
| 50 | Jowett | Javelin Standard | 1950 | 3rd place class 40/50s |
| 51 | Riley | RMC | 1950 | |
| 52 | Bristol | Type 401 | 1953 | |
| 54 | Jaguar | XK 140 DHC | 1954 | |
| 55 | Alfa Romeo | 1900 Super | 1956 | |
| 56 | Jensen | 541 L | 1956 | |
| 57 | Alvis | Graber Special TC 108 G | 1957 | |
| 58 | Chevrolet | Corvette C1 | 1957 | |
| 60 | Lancia | Aurelia B24 S Spider | 1957 | |
| 61 | Lancia | Aurelia B24 S Spider America | 1955 | "Best of Show", winner class 40/50s |
| 62 | Alfa Romeo | Giulietta Spider 750 D | 1957 | |
| 63 | Arnolt-Bristol | Roadster | 1957 | 2nd place class 40s-50s |
| 64 | Mercedes-Benz | 220 S Cabriolet (W180) | 1959 | |
| 65 | Chevrolet | Impala Convertible | 1960 | Winner "Audience Award" |
| 66 | MG | A 1600 | 1960 | |
| 67 | Ferrari | 250 GTE 2+2 | 1962 | |
| 68 | Alfa Romeo | 2000 GTV (Bertone) | 1971 | |
| 69 | Alfa Romeo | Giulietta Spider | 1962 | 3rd place class 60s |
| 70 | Alfa Romeo | Giulia Spider | 1963 | |
| 71 | Jaguar | Mk II | 1963 | |
| 72 | Jaguar | E-Type Series 1 4.2 Litre OTS | 1964 | |
| 73 | Alpine | A 108 Berlinetta Tour de France | 1965 | Winner class 60s |
| 74 | Aston Martin | DB5 Shooting Brake Radford | 1966 | 2nd place class 60s |
| 75 | Lotus | Elan S4 | 1969 | |
| 76 | Bond | Equipe GT | 1969 | |
| 77 | Iso | Rivolta GT | 1969 | |
| 78 | Mercedes-Benz | 280 SE 3.5 Coupé (W111) | 1969 | |
| 79 | Alfa Romeo | 1750 GT Veloce | 1969 | |
| 80 | Dino | 246 GT | 1969 | |
| 81 | Porsche | 356 C Coupé | 1963 | |
| 82 | NSU | Ro80 | 1972 | |
| 83 | Alfa Romeo | Montreal | 1972 | |
| 84 | Jaguar | E-Type Series III V12 Convertible | 1962 | |
| 85 | De Tomaso | Pantera | 1973 | |
| 86 | Renault-Alpine | A110 Berlinette VC | 1975 | |
| 87 | Monteverdi | High Speed 375 S | 1970 | Winner class 70s |
| 88 | Ferrari | 308 GTB | 1977 | |
| 89 | Mercedes-Benz | 280 GE | 1979 | |
| 90 | Lamborghini | Countach LP 400S | 1979 | 3rd place class 70s |
| 91 | Maserati | Kyalami | 1977 | |
| 92 | Alfa Romeo | Alfasud Sprint Veloce "Trofeo" | 1983 | 2nd place class 70s |
| 93 | Bentley | 4 1/4 Litre Aerofoil Sport | 1937 | 3rd place class Bentley |
