CP INTRODUCES THE NOMINEES FOR THE 2024/2025 “PENINSULA CLASSICS BEST OF THE BEST AWARD”

Chers Amis, bonsoir, good evening!

Eleven years ago, in February 2014, in Paris, at the Retromobile show, I ‘bumped’ into Sir Michael Kadoorie, our friend Michael, and

it ‘clicked’.

I had run the Best of the Best Award for Louis Vuitton for eight years.

A change at the top of the company had prompted an end to their car-related activities.

I liked the concept and I had been thinking about the right partner to relaunch it.

There it was, the perfect fit in front of my eyes: Michael and The Peninsula, the Best of the Best !

Chip Connor and Bruce Meyer joined us.

Fast forward.

Tonight, we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of The Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award and, Michael, I wanted to say how grateful I am to you for having supported the idea, made it happen and elevated it to the international awareness and success we enjoy…

It is an honour, a satisfaction and a pleasure.

Thank you, Michael!

10 years.

Let me give you a few statistics.

These 10 years saw

-        76 nominated cars competing

-        Split between 45 Pre-War and 31 Post-War cars

-        34 nominees (almost half) were Italian cars, of which 16 were Ferraris (almost half again)

-        17 nominees were French

-        Coachbuilders follow the same trend with Italy and Pininfarina primus inter pares.

As to the owners:

-        49 were from the United States, the others split between a variety of continents and countries.

There you see our ‘Best of the Best’ winners’ circle

-        Ferraris won 3 trophies so far – that number may increase to 4 tonight or remain 3, we’ll know soon!

Anyhow, they are clearly ahead of the pack.

Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, Delage, Duesenberg, Maserati, Talbot Lago each won once

-        6 winners came from American collections

o   The Mullin Collection and Rob Walton

o   David and Ginny Sydorick

o   Tom and Jill Peck

o   Brian and Kim Ross

o   The William Lyon Family Collection

-        and one each came from

o   Austria, the Mohringer Collection

o   Monaco, the Destriero Collection

o   and Switzerland, the Fritz Burkard Pearl Collection.

Right on the heels of the winners are the Keller and the Robert Lee collections, both with multiple nominees, but no Best of the Best award yet.

Deborah and Anne, I am sure your turn will come!

As a reminder, the Best of the Best Award goes to a car that won Best of Show in one of the leading concours in the world. Tonight’s candidates are cars entered in events that all took place in 2024.

2024, a pivotal vintage!

Concours started early in the 1900’s.

I couldn’t tell exactly when and where, but it must have been in France, for the word Concours d’élégance is French and has become universal. And the French invented everything anyhow! For many years, these concours were parades of new cars escorted by women, and sometimes dogs, dressed by couturiers.

In the mid-fifties, Pebble Beach, under the enlightened leadership of Jules Heumann and Lorin Tryon, was instrumental in launching the formula that has since inspired hundreds of events worldwide:  inviting and judging classic cars. This quickly turned into an arms race. Entrants were under the impression that, in order to win, their cars had to shine, they had to be better than new.

Over-restauration became the rule.

That has radically changed!

Preservation - which is not neglect, mind you, preservation requires much dedication -, preservation has become key!

Of our 9 nominees tonight, 1/3rd are unrestored, preserved examples.

That’s up from zero!

And the first event to crown one was Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 

With this

1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Spider with

Coachwork by Figoni

Owned by the De Meester Family from Belgium

The 8C, a capolavoro, a masterwork of engineer Vittorio Jano.

After a few years of racing in France, the car was given in 1937, part 21st birthday present, part graduation present, to Henri d’Autichamp.

During World War II, the car was carefully hidden in a barn by the family to prevent it from being requisitioned by German officers.

It was then used sparingly and, by the 1970s, left unused.

As time went by, the car was believed by the experts not to exist anymore.

In August 2010, rumours started about a blue 8C hidden away in France.

Simon Moore, author of the reference book 'The Legendary Alfa Romeo 8C', observed that the family of d’Autichamp had ordered a copy of his book at the same address the car was registered at in the 1930s! They still owned the car.

The rest, as they say, is history.

But it was bad news for an Italian crook who in the meantime pretended he had found the car in an Eastern country and had commissioned a replica to which he had given the same identity.

The real car was eventually acquired by the De Meester family in January 2024. The man behind the purchase, with the benevolent approval of the family, is the 25-year young Thibaut De Meester.

He is also looking after it and after more unrestored cars of a growing collection, very much hands on.

May he be an inspiration for the young ones!

The second event to bestow its top honour to an unrestored car was Pebble Beach. And that car is

1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports with

Coachwork by the Factory

Owned by Fritz Burkard from Switzerland

And shortly after Pebble Beach, the third event to distinguish a preserved car was Chantilly Arts et Elegance, this time an earlier

1928 Bugatti Type 35 C Grand Prix with

Coachwork by the Factory

Owned by Vincent Kolb from Germany

The Type 35 predates the Type 59 and launched the lineage.

Introduced in 1924 at the Grand Prix de Lyon, the Type 35 dominated Grand Prix racing for many years.

Mechanically beautiful, in its 2-litre and 2.3-litre versions, supercharged or not, with superb cast alloy wheels when some cars were still running on wooden rims, the Type 35 is one of the most successful race cars of all time, securing over 2,000 victories!

This car started its life in 1928 as a Works entry. After the Targa Florio where it finished 4th overall driven by Louis Chiron, the Monégasque champion, the car was sold to Janine Jennky, an early lady driver who raced the car quite extensively and successfully for another 4 years.

In 1932, Ricardo Bernasconi, an Italian living in France, changed its colour from blue for France to red for Italy. The Bugatti was then registered with the license-plate which is still on it today. The following owners never restored its original, authentic and patinated condition.

The Type 59 is the ultimate evolution of the Type 35. Developed under the influence of Ettore Bugatti’s son, the very talented Jean, it was introduced in September 1933 and was immediately identifiable by its low and sleek lines, and by its wheels with spokes made of piano wires.

Bugatti entered this factory Type 59 in several European races, René Dreyfus even winning the 1934 Belgian Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps. But it had become increasingly difficult for Bugatti to compete successfully against the German teams, as Hitler provided millions of Deutsche marks to Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union to build race cars for the sole purpose of racing whilst the cars designed by Bugatti were mostly derived from production models. Ettore Bugatti, used to winning, retired from Grand Prix racing and converted this example into a sports car.

The engine was tuned-down and the body was re-tailored as a two-seater with motorcycle mudguards, small windscreens, headlights positioned far down, and side doors.

King Leopold III of Belgium purchased the car in 1937. He had it repainted from French blue to black with Belgian yellow stripes. It stayed untouched  whilst in His private collection, and the four subsequent owners all kept the car as-is, eschewing any restorations or modifications.

Best of Show at Pebble Beach came as a surprise to many, not least to Fritz who kissed the Bugatti on the ramp! It was also the first time a European entrant won at Pebble Beach.

Before that, back in 1993, when owned by Bob Rubin, my late friend Antoine Prunet and I gave it our ‘Prix special du Jury’ at our so-called Bagatelle concours in Paris, a first accolade rewarding already then its remarkable preservation.

I am convinced we’ll see more preserved cars rewarded in the future. But their numbers are limited, and many cars would not survive without restoration. Restoration has also made progress.

Greater attention than ever is now given to respecting the original specifications and finish.

The times of shiny over-restorations are … over!

A good example is this

1937 Bugatti Type 57 S Roadster with

Coachwork by Corsica

Owned by Lord Bamford from England

Best of Show at Goodwood Cartier Style et Luxe

This nominee is at its second attempt and already competed last year - as long as a car hasn’t won the Best of the Best, and earns a new Best of Show in one of our qualifying concours, it may try again, and again.

Apart from the body, there is actually very little difference between this Type 57 and the ex-King Leopold Type 59: basically, same chassis and same engine, both brainchilds of Jean Bugatti.

This bespoke roadster by Corsica was commissioned by Sir Robert Ropner, a shipping magnate and a Brooklands regular. It displays remarkable proportions – a low bonnet line tucked between the wheels always looks good.

And you will remember that, during its restoration, it was discovered that the chassis could be a missing racing chassis from the 1936 Grand Prix Team, perhaps “recycled” and rebodied after having ended its racing days, just like the King Leopold car was. That part of its history is still being investigated.

Our next candidate’s history is fully known, and extraodinary.

The 1937/1946 Delahaye 145 (I will explain why the double date)

Coachwork by Franay

Owned by Sam and Emily Mann from New Jersey in the USA

Best of Show at The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering

Here we have a French Delahaye that defeated the Germans who were mightily dominating the European racing scene.

In 1937 - the first date -, the French government, in cooperation with the Automobile Club de France, launched the Prix du Million, a one-million-franc prize, for the French constructor and driver who could best the speed record set by Mercedes-Benz at the Montlhéry track, South of Paris. That record stood at an average of 146 km/h, over a distance of 200 km.

Delahaye took on the challenge with their 12-cylinder Type 145 which they had developed to contest the new Grand Prix series run under the 4 ½ litre formula. Despite a complex engine design whose reliability was not a given, with driver René Dreyfus, they succeeded - just! –, but they succeeded and won the prize.

Decorated in the Prix du Million livery, the Delahaye went on to earn some more track successes.

With the season over and the Nazis gathering momentum, the car was hidden away for the duration of the war.

In late 1945, Delahaye was approached by a French customer with the request to build him a performance sports cabriolet.

The Prix du Million chassis was suggested and was sent to the coachbuilder Marius Franay.

Shortly before the car’s completion, the customer was arrested and jailed as a Nazi collaborator.

The car was then seized, displayed at the 1946 Salon de l’Auto in Paris – explaining the second date – and auctioned off by the French government.

In 1972, it became part of the Philippe Charbonneaux collection.

Charbonneaux, an automotive designer, surprisingly removed the Franay cabriolet body from the 12-cylinder chassis and proceeded to replicate the race car coachwork, returning the car to its original Grand Prix appearance and performance.

In 1997, the Manns purchased the cabriolet, and the following year, they acquired the rebodied race car which Sam first enjoyed taking to the tracks.

But after a few years, they made the decision to reverse what Charbonneaux had done.

They retrofitted the Franay cabriolet coachwork, and the car is now back to the 1946 Paris Salon configuration.

As a well-deserved recognition, the car was selected by the publishers of the 'Concours Yearbook' to grace the cover of their 2024 edition.

Our next nominee is another Delahaye

The 1947 135 MS ‘Narval’ with

Coachwork by Figoni and Falaschi

Owned by the Mecum Family from Wisconsin in the USA

Best of Show at The Amelia

This one couldn’t be more different from the previous one.

Its spectacular body style was given the name ‘Narval’ after a male whale that has a long protruding tusk, surely the inspiration for the shape of the car’s nose.

And its engine, rather than the 12-cylinder unit, was the reliable 6-cylinder that had proven its capabilities in winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1938.

The cabriolet was exhibited on the Figoni & Falaschi stand at the 1947 Salon de l’Auto in Paris.

It had been ordered by the renowned French singer and songwriter Charles Trenet who had just released “La Mer” – his biggest hit.

20” Excerpt of La Mer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXQh9jTwwoA

This was for those of you more familiar with the Rolling Stones or Taylor Swift.

Trenet had originally ordered the car in a flamboyant Orange Brulé. He then changed his mind.

Following the Paris Salon, he requested for the Narval to be refinished in a light shade of French Blue.

He then took the Delahaye with him to the States  to drive during his 1948 American concert tour.

The car remained  there and was eventually purchased by Dana and Patti Mecum. It was extensively restored and returned to its original Orange Brulé colour.

Only five Delahaye Narval cabriolets by Figoni & Falaschi are documented to survive today, including this one, in the care of just four owners since new.

Our next star is a

19-57 Ferrari 3-3-5 S with

Coachwork by Scaglietti

Owned by Brian and Kim Ross from Ohio in the USA

Best of Show at Salon Privé

And I use the word ‘star’ on purpose not only because, like all our candidates, it is a fabulous car, but also because it did star in the recent Michael Mann movie “Ferrari”. The car is right there, on the poster.

More accurately, the production team built replicas for the film, excellent replicas actually, based on the scanning of our nominee.

If you haven’t watched the movie and have a chance, do go: I thought it gave a rather accurate account of what Ferrari: the team, the man and his private life, and open road racing, were at the time.

1957 was a kind of make-or-break year for Ferrari, which is the story told by the movie, with a particular focus on the Mille Miglia. The race was both a success and a tragedy. Ferrari won with Taruffi.

The sad part is that Alfonso de Portago was killed in a similar car because of a tyre burst. His co-driver Nelson and 9 spectators also lost their lives in what would be the last ‘real’ Mille Miglia.

Our nominee, number 532, finished second in the race, driven by von Trips.

The car lived a rich racing career, driven by champions including Fangio, Phil Hill, von Trips, Collins, Trintignant, Hawthorn, Musso, and also Moss in Cuba in 1958 where he replaced Fangio who had been kidnapped by revolutionaries close to Fidel Castro and only freed after the weekend!

From 1971, the car spent more than 45 years as the favourite of famed French Ferrari collector Pierre Bardinon. He drove it regularly on the private track he had built on the grounds of his home, le ‘Mas du Clos’ near Aubusson.

Brian Ross acquired the car in 2016.

The 335 S is acknowledged by many as one of the greatest Ferraris ever.

Its V12 engine had been updated thanks to the contribution of Vittorio Jano, the same Jano who had been responsible for the Pre-War Alfa Romeo engines.

On the other hand, Ferrari persisted with drum brakes, rather than following the latest trend for discs.

As we know, what really mattered to Ferrari was the engine.

A second Ferrari competes for the Best of the Best tonight

1964 250 LM with

Coachwork by Scaglietti, based on a design by Pininfarina

Owned by Chris and Ann Cox from North Carolina in the USA

Best of Show at Cavallino Classic

Presented in Paris in November 1963, the Ferrari 250 LM was conceived as a Grand Touring version of the mid-engined Ferrari prototypes.

According to the Ferrari nomenclature, the number 250 should have meant that the car was powered by a 3-Litre engine. The LM, with its larger engine of 3.3 Litre, should have been called 275 LM. But it was part of the tactics used by Ferrari to convince the International Sports Commission that the mid-engined LM was a simple evolution of the front-engined 250 GTO it was intended to replace.

The game hasn’t changed: it is all about finding the limits of the rules.

Homologating the GTO had already been a stretch. The LM went beyond. The Commission was not impressed and Ferrari failed. However, the number 250 stayed.

Condemned to battle with prototypes that outclassed it, it nevertheless won the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans. The sports authorities were right: the LM was a race car, not a GT car! But a race car with exceptionally clean and attractive lines.

This LM has had a busy racing history with notable achievements mostly in England.

After having passed through a who’s who of well-known owners, including Paul Vestey, Colin Crabbe, Richard Merritt, Harley Cluxton, the Mitsubishi Corporation in Japan, and later Shiro Kosaka, it was taken over in 2018 by Chris Cox and entrusted with Ferrari Classiche for restoration and certification.

LM’s bring back great memories to me because at the time they were racing, I was part of the Belgian Ecurie Francorchamps Ferrari team. When our LMs were no longer competitive, I was put in charge of selling them. We had three! Asking price was 6,000 US dollars each, and I struggled. It was 1966…

In a few days, the Le Mans winning LM will be offered for sale at auction here in Paris. Estimate is ‘above’ 25 million.

You will have noticed that all nominees so far are either pure race cars, or road cars with a racing heritage.

Our 9th and last nominee begs to differ.

Introducing the

1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III with

Coachwork by Inskip

Owned by Steve and Kimmy Brauer from Missouri in the USA

Best of Show at the Concours of Elegance Hampton Court Palace

The Phantom III does however share one feature with Ferrari: a 12-cylinder engine. Whilst Ferrari used to brag about the horsepower, often adding a few to reality, Rolls-Royce, when asked, simply replied “enough”. In a world of their own, they were superbly ignoring racing. They rather focused on silence, for, as they later advertised, the only sound one should hear at the wheel of a Rolls was the ticking of the clock.

Phantom IIIs were built between 1936 and 1939, with only a few coming to the States for coachwork. The coachbuilder of choice was Brewster, a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce of America. They were highly regarded. Remember the lyrics by Cole Porter in which he compliments a woman and sings

You’re the top

You’re a body by Brewster

You’re the top!

Kimmy, seems to me these words were written for you!

But following the demise of Rolls-Royce of America, Brewster closed its doors in 1937. A group of the Brewster craftsmen were retained by Inskip, and they built a few custom bodies of different styles for the Phantom III chassis, including this one, possibly one of only two 2-passenger convertible coupes.

It was delivered in June 1937 to Colonel Joseph Samuels of Providence, Rhode Island, a wealthy philanthropist with business interest in retail and broadcasting.

Under further ownership, it was displayed at a 1953 Antique Automobile Club of America meet, still in its original black livery and with only 3,000 miles on the odometer.

It was rewarded with – you guessed it - the “Smoothness and Silence” trophy!

In 2006, it joined the Brauer collection and underwent a comprehensive restoration.

Now, after 87 years, mileage shown is still only 36,380, making an average of 418 miles/year.

Quietly…

Voilà!

You will soon discover our winner – and I’ll update my statistics accordingly.

Will it be a preserved example, a Ferrari?

Be ready for a surprise.

We are grateful and thank you all, owners, custodians and caretakers, for keeping, showing and sharing these magnificent machines.

And, as ever, as per our friend and fellow Founding Member Bruce Meyer’s motto – by the way, Bruce was the recipient of the International Historic Motoring Award 2024 for Personal Achievement – as per Bruce’s motto:

“Never lift!”

Merci!

*

Christian Philippsen

February 2025