News and events
Historic Ferraris took centre stage at the Concours d’elegance ACP, part of Estoril Classics Week (2-7 October), but coachbuilt French models also starred. Now in its sixth year, and held on the wellmanicured lawns of Estoril City Park, the event attracted the cream of concours machinery from the Iberian peninsula. Class and Best of Show honours were secured by the Ferrari 500 Mondial belonging to former Chelsea FC manager André Villas-boas. This highly original sports-racer narrowly shaded Maranello products with extensive Portuguese histories, including a unique 1951 195 Inter by Vignale and a 1950 225 Export-engined 166 Barchetta that raced on street circuits such as Vila Real and Oporto in period.
Ricardo Saragga’s Delahaye 135M Cabriolet Grand Luxe with coachwork by Chapron was the only non-italian challenger for overall honours, and a clear winner of the post-vintage category. In second place was the supercharged 1932 MG Magna of Pedro Villasboas (André’s nephew), with João Cortez de Lobão’s one-off Erdmann & Rossi-bodied Derby Bentley also vying for attention.
The runaway winner of the Sport & GT class was André Besnard’s sublime 1966 Citroën Palm Beach Décapotable. One of only 32 cars made by Parisian carrosserie Henri Chapron, it was the sole example to feature the Ds21style front-end treatment. Laden with every conceivable option, the car was acquired by Besnard in ’67, and he used it as his daily transport for decades before he relocated to Portugal. He and his wife continued to drive it to the beach most days and also on road trips to Paris twice a year. In fabulously original condition, it was also a deserving winner of the Preservation award.
Americana is gaining in popularity in Portugal, and US classics featured prominently, ranging from José Mira’s deliciously patinated 1927 Willys-overland Whippet Phaeton to Fernando Almeida’s 1966 Ford Mustang convertible, the latter taking home the Post-war American Cars class award. Other standouts included José Brandão’s 1952 Aston Martin DB2 Vantage, with superb competition pedigree, which prevailed in the class for the British marque.