For the third time, the Concours of Elegance Germany presented a unique exhibition of exquisite classic road and race cars. A record-breaking crowd gathered at Gut Kaltenbrunn on the shores of Lake Tegernsee to admire the one-of-a-kind vehicles spanning nine decades of automotive history along the shores of the sparkling lake.
A Masterpiece by Horch
The “Best of Show” award—presented by the Concours car owners themselves—went to a 1939 Horch 855 Special Roadster by Gläser. It is considered one of the most significant German luxury cars of the pre-war era and embodies the pinnacle of the brand’s technical and design achievements. Presumably, only five to seven examples were produced; chassis 855007 is the only known surviving production model. Originally delivered to the Netherlands, the vehicle was brought to the United States shortly after World War II, where it was part of some of the world’s most famous automotive collections. It was featured in the magazine “Road & Track” in 1954 and driven by Rock Hudson in the film “The World Is Ours.”
A Gift from the Prince
After undergoing restoration in Germany, the roadster was on display at the Audi Museum in Ingolstadt for many years starting in 1992 and was auctioned at RM Sotheby’s in 2024. Today, it is part of a private collection. Its Gläser body—with an exceptionally long hood, sweeping pontoon-style fenders, and a low, dramatic silhouette—is among the most elegant and striking designs of the 1930s. The “Chairman’s Award” went to the 1933 Armstrong Siddeley Special Six, while the “Patron’s Award,” selected by Prince Leopold, Prince of Bavaria, was awarded to the 1955 Maserati 150S/200S prototype.
Journey from Texas
The 2026 event centered on celebrating a special Maserati anniversary—the famous trident emblem first appeared 100 years ago. The Maserati models on display were among the most frequently awarded vehicles of the weekend: The prize for the 1950s went to the 1957 300S factory race car, which Stirling Moss drove at the time, while the award for the 1960s went to a very rare and truly special 1960 5000GT. There was also a special award for a 1959 Maserati 3500 GT convertible prototype by Michelotti for Vignale—the car and its owner had traveled all the way from Texas specifically for this event.
All Winners
Best of Show
1939 Horch 855 Special Roadster by Gläser
Era Winner
1920s Winner: 1928 Bentley 4½ Litre Open Tourer by VDP, Runner-up: 1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Open Tourer by Barker
1930s Winner: 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C-1750 Gran Sport Spyder, Runner-up: 1930 Aston Martin International 1.5L
1940s Winner: 1947 Delahaye 135 MS Roadster
1950s Winner: 1955 Maserati 300 S, Runner-up: 1959 Maserati 3500 GT Convertible Prototype by Michelotti for Vignale
1960s Winner: 1962 Maserati 5000 GT by Allemano, Runner-up: 1967 Lamborghini 400 GT
1970s Winner: 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, Runner-up: 1972 Monteverdi 375 S Berlinetta
1980s Winner: 1985 Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Runner-up: 1989 Ferrari Testarossa
