EVENT ORGANIZATION
Since 1988, we conceive and organise events: concours d’elegance, rallies, awards, galas, new model launches… It all started after having attended the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance a couple of times in the early 1980’s. At the time, I was living in Paris and, amazed by what I saw, I thought we should bring back the concours d’élégance to France where the idea was born – I found documents going back to 1911! – and was long forgotten. That is the story behind the Bagatelle concours.
We have privileged contacts with the most important collectors in the world. We have worked in several European countries, in the USA and in China. When we organise an event, we offer an ‘à la carte’ menu: we can find the proper venue, obtain the necessary authorisations, invite and deal with the participants, provide judging at concours, prepare road books and handle timekeeping in rallies. We are also always delighted to supply food and entertainment!
Our clients list includes names such as Ferrari, Louis Vuitton, The Peninsula Hotel Group and many more.
The Parc de Bagatelle in Paris in 1988, the perfect venue to host the return of the concours d’elegance in France, where it was born
Concours Louis Vuitton Classic in Saint Cloud park on the outskirts of Paris in 2002
Artwork by Chuck Queener announcing FF40, an event celebrating 40 years of cooperation between
Ferrari and Francorchamps, their Belgian importer and the world premiere of the new 456 GT
Louis Vuitton Classic ‘Serenissima’ Run, from Monaco to Venezia
A rally in Bohemia
Louis Vuitton Classic Best of the Best « Concours » and « Concept » Awards
The Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award, a ‘Peninsula Moment’, which followed up on the Louis Vuitton act and of which Christian Philippsen is a Founding Member
Group pictures of judges at concours d’elegance we organise
(a special reward will go to the first reader who correctly identifies all personalities on the three photographs)
Rally briefing with René Metge and Christine Bélanger, two distinguished members of our team
Awards time!!! Followed by...
… celebrations and entertainment!
ADVICE FOR COLLECTORS, BUYING AND SELLING
Ferrari 166 MM 'barchetta' Touring # 0064M in 1966
The very first time I talked someone into buying an ‘old’ car goes back to 1966, when I convinced Jacques Swaters to purchase 0064M. He paid US$ 2,200 at the time – an amount I could not afford – and thought it was outrageous for something nobody would ever have any interest in. He kept the car until his passing away in 2010. As time went by, he felt happier and happier about the deal!
Since, we have discretely and regularly advised collectors and institutions and assisted them in buying and selling cars of exceptional interest.
0064M as she is today
A small sample of cars we dealt with
DESIGN AUTOMOBILE
In the courtyard of concept car builder G-Studio near Torino, with Pierangelo Maffiodo (CEO), Michel Jardin and Patrick le Quément (both from Renault Design), discovering the finished concept Renault Fuence in 2004
Working as a consultant for the design department of a manufacturer requires a well-established mutual trust. I am proud of having deserved that trust more than once. Confidentiality clauses prevent me from giving more details. What I can say however is that, generally speaking, I am not too bad at judging a design, at assessing its elegance and at understanding if it exudes a personality matching with a brand’s ADN. I relish that kind of work and am ready for more!
A major contribution of ours was to contribute to the launch of the Special Projects Department at Pininfarina’s and to introduce Jim Glickenhaus as its first client. Several companies have followed suit and we are familiar with most of them. If you fancy a one-off, do not hesitate to get in touch and we will guide you!
The glorious Ferrari P4/5 of Jim Glickenhaus during its development and in front of the Pininfarina research centre
A designer's dream, a tribute to David Bowie
MUSEUM DESIGN AND INTERIOR DECORATION
Our sensitivity to elegance and design can be put to good use for interior design. The Lotus 25 which is part of the Moderna Museet collections in Stockholm since decades is what first inspired me. We have now established a privileged cooperation with Italian architect Benedetto Camerana who, among other achievements, has redefined the Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese and we are ready for assignments, being museums, collections, garages or … private homes.
Lotus 25 Formula One and sculpture by John Chamberlain, Moderna Museet in Stockholm
A petrolhead studio with seats (ex-Rover) by Ron Arad, artwork by Walter Gotschke, sculptures by Manou Zurini and plenty of serious reading
EDITION
Automobile Year first appeared in 1953 and was available from the beginning in English, in French and in German
We write articles, we publish books and we are going digital. Our main theme is cars, of course, but we occasionally venture in a field where we have less expertise. Thus, we did a book about love…
An English version of L’Amour was published by Stewart, Tabori and Chang under the title
Love, a Celebration in Art and Literature
A PERSONNAL WORD TO CONCLUDE
I own one of the best databases of collectors, specialists, designers, writers and cars.
I enjoy connecting people and facilitating relationships!
I am a Consulting Member to the International Advisory Council for the Preservation of the Ferrari Automobile (IAC/PFA).
I am a Charter Member of the International Chief Judge Advisory Group (ICJAG).
I have judged in Europe (Bensberg in Germany, Ferrari 60th Anniversary in Italy, Het Loo in the Netherlands, Salon Privé in England, Uniques Special Ones in Italy and in Russia, Le Zoute in Belgium), in the USA (Amelia Island, Cavallino Classic, Pebble Beach for 30 years and always a treat ! -), in the Middle East (Kuwait) and in Asia (Bund Classic in China, Concours d’Elegance of Japan).
I am fluent or have a reasonably good command of French, English, German, Italian, Dutch and Swedish.
Do get in touch with my team, we are ready for new adventures!
Connecting: Ralph Lauren with Paolo Pininfarina at Pebble Beach
Judging
Speaking: a private evening at the Automobile Club de Monaco
Speaking, again: in Yokohama where I made my shortest – and most applauded - speech ever, saying, in conclusion of a concours weekend and in Japanese:
“Good evening, congratulations, thank you, good night”