Best of the Best Award. Who’s the fairest of them all?
29 July 2023 3 min read 8 images
Photo credit: Peninsula, Pebble Beach, Hampton Court, Amelia Island, The Quail, Cavallino Classic
1st edition 2015: Talbot Lago “Goutte d’Eau”
The idea originated from fairy tales where the prince aspires to be chosen by the “fairest of them all”. Concours d’Elegance are in themselves a fairy tale for those participating with their own car. The dream of course is outright victory, to be Best in Show, which is awarded at the end of the event. But for some that’s not enough as there are numerous big international competitions and therefore numerous Best of Shows. So why not choose the most beautiful of the most beautiful each year? This, translated into automotive language, is what’s known as “Best of the Best”.
The idea of this super prize came from Sir Michael Kadoorie, the owner of the famous Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, which operates the Peninsula hotel chain across the globe. It is therefore no coincidence that his hotels are where the award ceremony generally takes place.
The winning cars of the great competitions, from Villa d’Este to Pebble Beach, from Amelia Island to Chantilly, are judged by a large jury of experts, designers and people of culture who do not have to do the meticulous work normally carried out by judges, but rather give their judgment of absolute excellence.
The first year this award was given was 2015, and the winner was the Talbot Lago T150-C SS. Then, as is now tradition, it was the turn of the Italian marques to share the scene with another “semi-Italian” Bugatti Atlantic: Maserati, Alfa Romeo and Ferrari with three successes.
Each time, an excellent car that Roarington will present.
Today, we’ll introduce the “fairy tale” Talbot Lago, declared Best of the Best in 2015. The jury also included Ralph Lauren, the Earl of March and Henry Ford III. The occasion for the first “The Peninsula Classic Best of the Best Award” was Monterey Week. On the starting line were two post-war cars: the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale and the Dino 206 P and four pre-wars, from the romantic Mercedes Simplex from 1903 to the luxurious Isotta Fraschini Tipo A8 and Cord L9. Finally, the car that won, the streamlined Talbot Lago bodied by Figoni et Falaschi who were in search of aerodynamic perfection. Perfection manifested by a drop of water. Indeed, the winner, which belonged to the famous collection of Peter Mullin, was widely known as “Goutte d’Eau”.
2nd edition 2016: Maserati A6GCS Berlinetta Pininfarina
The Best of the Best awards featuring cars selected among the Best of Shows from the main Concours d’Elegance events in 2016, took place on 15th August 2017 at the Monterey Peninsula. The challenge was a tough one, as among the various cars present, there wasn’t one in particular that stood out above the others. As always, the Italians were in the majority: two Ferraris, a 400 Superamerica and a 375 MM, a 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C, a Lamborghini Miura P400 SV and the future winner, a Maserati. Much appreciation, moreover, for the one-off Dubonnet Xenia Coupé made for the ingenious driver and designer of futuristic cars, André Dubonnet on a Hispano Suiza chassis with Saoutchik bodywork.
But the Maserati A6GCS had an important “godfather”: Adolfo Orsi, a direct descendant of the family that took over the Trident brand from the Maserati Brothers in 1937, a scholar and reliable expert on the brand, who had overseen its restoration. Indeed it is the only one of the 4 Berlinettas produced, totally and exquisitely conserved, to be certified. A thoroughly well-deserved award.
This Maserati, the sister of the 2-litre sports cars winning both on circuits and in uphill races, also hid a secret: in those years, Ferrari and Pininfarina were consolidating a relationship that would have subsequently become historic. It was impossible for the Turin coachbuilder to continue to (magnificently) “dress” Maseratis. We had to wait until 2000 for Sergio Pininfarina to propose a new and truly magnificent Maserati: the Quattroporte. During the 50s, the A6GCS was the last one. An authentic Best of the Best.
CLASSIC CAR MATCHER