The winners of the third Concours d’Elégance Suisse were revealed at the award ceremony held on Sunday June 24th 2018, at the Château de Coppet near Geneva, by an international Jury which awarded 37 prizes and presented a 1939 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 BMM with the Best of Show Award.
Under a bright sun, the competition at the Château de Coppet brought together 85 historic cars spread across 15 classes of excellence – all defined by the Chairman of the Jury, Adolfo Ordi Jnr, (member of the Jury of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Italy) alongside the Honorary Chairman of the Jury, Ed Gilbertson (Honorary Judge of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elégance in the USA).
While the 60th anniversary of the legendary Aston Martin DB4 and the Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Pininfarina were appropriately celebrated by two dedicated classes and culminated in the top prize in the class being attributed to the 1960 Aston Martin DB4 series, the 1970s sedan sports cars also revealed excellent entries.
The magnificent Hispano Suiza H6B torpedo convertible twin hood and the extremely rare Ferrari 250GT Berlinetta built by Bertone shone amongst the winning ranks. The E-Type Jaguar presented at the 1961 Geneva International Motor Show naturally stood out winning first prize in the front-engine sports coupés from 1960 to 1975. An extraordinary Lamborghini Countach LP400 from 1977 belonging to Simon Kidston, arrived like a glowing purple UFO on the lawns of the Château de Coppet and won the prize for rear-engine sports coupés from 1960 to 1977.
However, it was nonetheless the long-awaited 1939 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 BMM, built by famous Swiss coachbuilder Hermann Graber, that captured the attention of all and was awarded the Best of Show Award, the Concours’ highest distinction, presented by one of the main partners, Julius Baer private bank.
This award recognizes both the exceptional authentic aspects of the vehicle and the assessment of its original condition.
The Concours d’Elégance Suisse ended after a highly successful third edition during which the three-day event was attended by more than 2,500 visitors. Being exhibited to both the jury, and to the public as of the morning of Saturday 23rd, the 85 cars threrefore arrived from France, Italy, Great Britain, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany and Monaco as well as the United States and Thailand.
They were assessed and marked by an international Jury consisting of 28 members from ten different countries, chaired as in other years by Adolfo Orsi Jnr, an emblematic figure in the Automobile world.
The organising committee of the Concours d’Elégance Suisse and its Founder, Mathias Doutreleau, announced the fourth edition of the Concours which will take place from June 21 to 23 2019.
Class Results
1920 – 1929, from modernity to design, open cars
1st Prize: 1926 Hispano Suiza H6B dual cowl twin-cockpit open tourer by Bligh Brothers, owned by Jose Maria Fernandez (Switzerland)
2nd Prize: 1931 Bugatti Type 43 A, owned by Pascal Behr (Switzerland)
1930 – 1939, from modernity to design, open cars
1st Prize: 1937 Delage D8-120 by Henri Chapron, owner by Merle and Peter Mullin (USA)
2nd Prize: 1937 Cord 812 SC Phaeton owned by the Burkhardt collection (Switzerland)
1930 – 1939, from modernity to design, closed cars
1st Prize: 1937 Bugatti Type 57 S Atalante owned by the Musée National de l’Automobile, Collection Schlumpf (France)
2nd Prize: 1927 Hispano SuizaT49 « Weyman Saloon», by.J. Mulliner and owned by Marco Gastaldi (Monaco)
Ferrari with front engine 1947 – 1964
1st Prize: 1953 Ferrari 342 America by Pinin Farina, owned by Bruce Vanyo (USA)
2nd Prize: 1963 Ferrari 330 GT America by Pininfarina, ownerd by Albert Obrist (Switzerland)
Ferrari with front engine 1965 – 1971
1st Prize: 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, owned by Paulo Bianchi (Monaco)
2nd Prize: 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4, owned by a private collection (Switzerland)
Swiss Coachworks
1st Prize : 1939 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 BMM, by Hermann Graber, owned by Dr. Matthias Metz (Germany)
2nd Prize: 1934 Mercedes-Benz 500K, by Hermann Graber, owned by Hans Schweizer (Switzerland)
60th aniversary of the Aston Martin DB4
1st Prize: 1960 Aston Martin DB4 series II, owned by Michel Acquaroli (Switzerland)
2nd Prize: 1962 Aston Martin DB4 Vantage serie IV, owned by the Sports Classics Geneva collection (Switzerland)
60th aniversary of the Ferrari 250 GT Coupé Pinin Farina
1st Prize: 1960 Ferrari 250 GT coupé Pinin Farina owned by André Sanchez and Jean-Yves Charriau (France)
2nd Prize: 1958 Ferrari 250 GT coupé Pinin Farina de 1958, owned by a private collection (Switzerland)
Sports coupés 1940 – 1959
1st Prize: 1949 Alfa Roméo 6C 2500 super sport Villa d’Este by Touring, owned by Ermanno Keller (Switzerland)
2nd Prize: 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL owned by Andries Meuzelaar (Belgium)
Front engined sport coupés 1960 – 1975
1st Prize: 1961 Jaguar Type-E (car of the 1961 Geneva International Motor Show), owned by Christian Jenny (Switzerland)
2nd Prize: 1966 Lancia Flaminia super sport by Zagato, owned by Werner Zücker (Switzerland)
Rear engined sport coupés 1960 – 1977
1st Prize: 1977 Lamborghini LP400 owned by Simon Kidston (Switzerland)
2nd Prize: 1972 Lamborghini P400SV owned by William Heinecke (Thailand)
Convertible sports cars 1956 – 1975
1st Prize: 1964 Aston Martin DB5 owned by Elmar Wiederin (Switzerland)
2nd Prize : 1969 Mercedes-Benz 300SL « Senf », owned by René Noppel (Switzerland)
Luxury limousines 1949 – 1960
1st Prize: 1952 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith by H.J. Mulliner, owned by Mauro Borella (Italy)
2nd Prize: 1954 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith by H.J. Mulliner, owned by Michel Bourely (Belgium)
Futures Classics, Luxury sedans 1969 – 1979
1st Prize: 1972 Monteverdi 375/4 by Fissore, owned by Paul Berger (Switzerland)
2nd Prize: 1979 Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL 6.9 owned by the Global Car Collection (Switzerland)
Futures Classiques, Berlines de luxe 1980 – 1985
1st Prize: Rolls-Royce Silver Spur de 1984, carrossée par St James Hooper, owned by the Global Car Collection (Switzerland)
2nd Prize: Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II de 1980, owned by the Global Car Collection (Switzerland)
Special Awards
Best Preserved Award
Given to the best preserved automobile of the concours:
1927 Hispano SuizaT49 « Weyman Saloon» de 1927, by H.J. Mulliner owned by Marco Gastaldi (Monaco)
Cercle des Passionnées Award
Given to the automobile of the concours sold new in Switzerland or that has been under the same swiss ownership for more than 20 years.
1934 Mercedes-Benz 500K, by Graber, owned by Hans Schweizer (Switzerland)
Best dressed Award presented by The Rake Magazine
Given to the best period dressed entrant
1977 Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL 6.9 owned by Raphaël Hubin (Switzerland)
Bespoke elegance Award presented by Berence Genève
Given to the most elegant coachwork
1935 Mercedes-Benz 500 K by Sindelfingen, owned by a private collection (Switzerland)
Honorary Judges Award – Geneva International Motor Show Award
Given to the automobile that was displayed at the Geneva International Motor Show
1962 Ferrari 250 GT berlinette, by Bertone (ex-Nuccio Bertone), owned by a private collection (Switzerland)
Honorary Chief Judge Award
Given to the Honorary Chief Judge’s preferred car
1960 Ferrari 250 GT California spider owned by a private collection (Switzerland)
Best of Show 2018
Concours d’Elégance Suisse Best of Show
1st Place: 1939 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 BMM by Hermann Graber, owned by Dr. Matthias Metz (Germany)
2nd place : 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport Villa d’Este by Touring, owned by Ermano Keller (Switzerland)
