S-type seals victory in London
American collector Bruce Mccaw scooped his second Concours of Elegance win with his dazzling 1929 Mercedes-benz S-type at the 31 August-2 September show.
The 2017 Pebble Beach winner scored an outright victory at Hampton Court, which is now the permanent home of the premier British concours. Unlike other events, the awards are voted for by fellow entrants rather than a judging panel. Mccaw’s Barker-bodied beauty was first owned by Earl Howe, who used it in the 1930s.
The classy show also featured special awards judged by decade for the first time. The earliest class went to Harold Peter’s cute 1909 Isotta-fraschini FENC Tipo A, which has recently returned to Europe from the USA. Other class winners included a highly original Alfa Romeo 8C-2300. This Figonibodied spider was previously owned by a Frenchman for 67 years, having been gifted the car as a 21st-birthday present. Unseen for decades, it was discovered in timewarp condition near Paris in 2013.
Further highly original classics on display included Anthony Maclean’s Lancia Astura Farina Bocca, which looked very rakish with the ’screen folded flat. Just four of six survive, and this car was first owned by one of Mussolini’s generals. Unique features include a novel lattice-style leather interior.
Among the other winning highlights were Andreas Mohringer’s lovely ex-stirling Moss Maserati 300S, the Finburgh family’s Porsche 917K and Coxinga Widjojo’s Lamborghini Miura.