Exotic Hispano-Suiza takes top honours in new international concours

A magnificent ex-Maharaja Hispano-Suiza H6C was Best in Show at the inaugural Concours d’Élégance International Schlumpf. Having made its post-restoration debut earlier this year at Rétromobile, the car was created for Jai Singh, Maharaja of Alwar, who, having switched allegiance from Rolls-Royce, owned some 15 Hispanos including two Mulliner-bodied examples and two long-wheelbased chassis (one Kellner and one Mulliner). This car is the only long-wheelbase Mulliner-bodied car and, having left India some years later, was repatriated by the great collector and Indian motoring advocate Pranlal Bhogilal. The distinctive boxes on the side of the superbly appointed car were for the guns that were often carried. Read the full story of this extraordinary car here.

The new event, taking place in and around the track behind the famous Musée National de l’Automobile (Collection Schlumpf) in Mulhouse was superbly supported despite sweltering temperatures. As well as supercar manufacturers and dealers, plus a plethora of luxury goods, there was a strong showing of club cars and a delectable display of rally beasts.

One of the highlights was the small but superb selection of cars brought outside from the massive museum selection, which included a Delahaye 135M, Bugatti Type 28 Torpedo and Pegaso Z-102. However, nothing could rival the trio of imperious of Bugatti Type 41 Royales (Coupé Napoleon, Esder Roadster and Park Ward) that took centre stage all weekend. Better still the 12.76-litre straights eights were regularly fired up for runs around the parade track, which was busy all weekend and ended the event with a run by the club cars as they departed.

The boutique concours itself took place inside the track and features around 40 cars in four principal classes.

The international jury was led by former F1 driver Thierry Boutsen (whose had his own stand at the event) and featured Christian Philippsen, Leo van Hoorick, Massimo Delbò, Christian Ginet and many more. They presided over four classes in strict date order, plus one category for supercars and a handful of special awards.

Among the class winners were a wonderful Bugatti Type 28 that had been in one family for generations and a timewarp low-mileage Peugeot 205 T16. The largest and hardest fought class was for cars from 1951-1970. Competition was so tight that even a Ferrari 340 with Carrera Panamericana history was edged out of the places. The winner was a Ferrari 250 GT Lusso repainted in Nocciola in homage to Steve McQueen’s car.

Two interesting racing cars were an Australian-built Porsche 962 and a 5-litre Chevy-powered Automa GT. Apparently the only racer ever built by Automa, it broke in practise at Kyalami and was mothballed, never to compete again.

That class was easily rivalled for quality of entry, however, by the smaller 1931-1950 group, which, as well as the winners (below) included a truly spectacular Cord 812 and the famous mid-engined Alfa Romeo Aerospider 8C created in 1935 by the Gino and Oscar Jankovits in Croatia.

At the end of the debut event it was reported that there was already an agreement for it to take place for years to come and on its inaugural showing it looks to have the potential to become a powerhouse concours in France in a unique and alluring venue.