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Concours of Elegance ... Best in Show 1929 Mercedes-Benz Type S Barker


 

Hampton Court Palace, 31.08 - 02.09.2018

The seventh edition of the “Royal Concours” as it widely known, due to its tour of Royal residences, including St James Palace and Windsor Castle, before settling at Hampton Court Palace, was held over the weekend of 31 August – 02 September. It featured a total of 60 desirable automobiles displayed in the Palace’s Fountain Gardens, ranging from a 1903 Panhard et Levassor 15 HP to a 2018 Ferrari GTC4 Lusso Tailor Made. There were also massive club displays on the perimeter of the main show area, together with classic dealer displays, broadening the spectrum of cars for visitors to enjoy. Those participating in the club displays were eligible for judging by HRH Prince Michael of Kent and his team for the RAC Club Trophy. There was also a RAC Spirit of Motoring Trophy, which went to Katie Forrest for her passion and flair in taking part in the Concours in her 1912 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost ‘Taj Mahal’, affectionately nicknamed ‘Nellie’.

It is unusual, in that unlike most concours it has no jury to judge the cars, with each owner of a participating vehicle having a vote for their favourite car on display, obviously not being able to vote for their own. This year the awards were extended to have ones for set production periods, under the same process, pre-1920s, 1930s, 1940s/50s, 1960s and 1970-onwards. There was also a public vote for the “Future Classics” display and “Harry’s Garage” display, the former featuring the likes of the unique Rolls Royce Sweptail and Mclaren Senna, whilst the latter was comprised of four door performance cars, which included a Vauxhall Lotus Carlton, the Lancia 8.32 with its V8 Ferrari engine and a Jaguar XE SV Project 8. The public vote went to the opulent Rolls Royce Sweptail, which certainly had massive presence, and was exquisitely crafted in the company’s finest tradition. 

Apart from the main concours awards and those already mentioned, there were Jaguar and Bentley Club awards on the Saturday and Sunday respectively, with eminent experts for each marque choosing the recipients of the awards. The Jaguar Club award went to a highly original XK 120 with only 53,000 recorded miles, whist the Pre-1965 Bentley Club award went to a S2 Saloon, and the Post-65 award went to a 200 model year Continental T. The much coveted overall Best of Show award, the Pullman Trophy, went to the 1929 Mercedes-Benz Barker Tourer originally built for the founder of the British Racing Drivers’ Club, Earl Howe, which was very impressive in its blue and polished aluminium coachwork, and was the winner of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2017.

 

Best in Show

1929 Mercedes-Benz Type S Barker

Pre-1920s

Isotta Fraschini Tipo A FENG

1930s

Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Short Chassis Spider

1940s/50s

Maserati 300S

1960s

Porsche 917K

1970-onwards

Lamborghini Miura P400 S

 

The RAC Club Trophy

Alvis Speed 25 DHC

The RAC Spirit of Motoring Trophy

Katie Forrest and her 1912 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost

The Jaguar Trophy

Jaguar XK 120

The Bentley Trophy (pre-1965)

Bentley S2 Saloon

The Bentley Trophy (post-1965)

Bentley Continental T

Bridge of Weir British Legends

Morgan 4/4

Future Classics

Rolls Royce Sweptail

 

Ferrari Entry

Model

Colour

Chassis #

Reg’ #

 

166 Inter Touring Coupé

Dark Red

017S

770 XUX

 

212 “Uovo”

Silver-Dark Blue

024MB

VI 19370

 

500 TRC

Silver-Red Stripe

0708MDTR

96961

 

250 GT SWB Berlinetta

Blue Met’

3367GT

1 NGL

 

275 GTB*

Grey Met’

07169

11 DOF

 

275 GTB (Alloy)

Pale Blue Met’

07927

CEL 85

 

365 California

White

9849

TGU 587E

 

Dino 246 GT

Silver

00910

SIL 246

 

GTO (288) Prototype

Red

 

47647

TH 4

GTC4 Lusso

“Arancia Rik” Met’

232717

GT 600

 

 

*Did Not Show

 

Keith Bluemel         
09/2018