Art Zafiropoulo’s 1996 Ferrari F50 GT – the first of only three built using period Formula 1 technology – bagged Best of Show at this year’s edition of The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering in Carmel, California. It is the youngest Best of Show winner in the event’s 21-year history and took the crown on the year of the F50’s 30th anniversary.
Widely regarded as one of the most important modern Ferraris to roll out of Maranello, the F50 GT’s Best of Show crown indicates the increasing relevance of modern classics among the judges of major concours – although the appreciation for more traditional concours entries remains rock solid.
The F50 GT1 was selected as the winner from a world class field of more than 200 automobiles curated for their design, craftsmanship and provenance. After being crowned as this year’s winner, the Ferrari was welcomed into the prestigious Rolex Circle of Champions and owner Art Zafiropoulo was presented with a custom-engraved Oyster Perpetual Datejust watch.
The Best of Show-winning F50 GT (chassis 001) is the development prototype for Ferrari’s intended GT1 programme in the mid-1990s BPR Global GT Series, which evolved into the FIA GT Championship in 1997.
The F50 GT programme was shelved soon after as GT1 homologation shifted toward prototype-style specials and Ferrari chose not to divert resources from its resurgent Formula 1 effort. That meant that only the factory development car was assembled in-house at Maranello and the remaining two examples (chassis 002 and 003) were later completed by Michelotto from existing parts.
‘Usually race cars don’t win at concours, which makes this moment event more extraordinary,’ beamed Art. ‘This car is truly one of a kind – the very first of its type ever built – so it’s unlike anything else in the world. To see it recognised here, at such a world-class event, is deeply meaningful. Not just for me, but for the entire concours community.’
By winning The Quail’s top prize, the F50 GT is eligible for Peninsula Classics’ 2025 Best of the Best Award, which selects the finest car to win Best of Show from the world’s most prestigious concours d’elegance events. The 2024 award went to the 1964 Ferrari 250 LM that won that year’s Cavallino Classic in Florida.
The success of prototypes and one-offs continued with Jim Utaski’s 1959 Maserati 3500GT that claimed the Art of Bespoke award presented by Octane’s sister title, Magneto. This unique Maserati was the 1959 Turin Auto Show car and the last designed by Franco Scaglione during his stint at Bertone.
Jim’s Maserati will be familiar to Octane readers: it starred in issue 252 (June 2024) and later won Best of Show at the 2024 Audrain Newport Concours d’Elegance.
Meanwhile, Craig and Carolyn Jackson’s 1967 Shelby EXP500 “Little Red” received the Spirit of The Quail – an honour for the car that best represents the event’s passion for motoring and design – while Richard Thompson’s 1967 Sunbeam Mk2 earned the Hagerty Drivers Foundation Award for historically significant, well-preserved automobiles.
Full 2025 The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering Concours d’Elegance results:
Rolex Circle of Champions Best of Show of The Quail
Car: 1996 Ferrari F50 GT1
Owner: Art Zafiropoulo
Spirit of The Quail Award
Car: 1967 Shelby EXP500 Prototype Coupe (Red)
Owner: Mr. and Mrs. Craig Jackson
Hagerty Drivers Foundation Award
Car: 1967 Sunbeam MK2
Owner: Richard Thompson
Liveries of F1
Car: 1997 Ferrari F1310B
Owner: J.R. Amantea
30th Anniversary of the Ferrari F50
Car: 1995 F50
Owner: Museo Carde
60th Anniversary of the Shelby Mustang GT350
Car: 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350R Model #98 (White)
Owner: John Dwyer
60th Anniversary of Iso Grifo
Car: 1963 Iso Griffo A3/L Prototype
Owner: Peter Wilde
The Evolution of the Supercar
Car: 1996 Koenigsegg CC Prototype
Owner: Gaurav Dhar
The Great Ferraris
Car: 1960 Ferrari 250GT LWB California Spider
Owner: Tom and Gwen Price
Pre-War Sports and Racing
Car: 1931 Daimler Double-Six 50 Corsica (Black)
Owner: Ann Brockinton Lee
Post-War Sports 1945-1960
Car: 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing
Owner: Russell Steiner
Post-War Sports 1961-1975
Car: 1967 Toyota 2000GT (Red)
Owner: Gianluca Cimini
Post-War Racing
Car: 1966 Porsche 906 Spyder
Owner: Ed Palmer
Custom Coachwork
Car: 1935 Chevrolet Master Deluxe Coupe
Owner: Greg Heinrich
Sports and Racing Motorcycles
Bike: 1917 Henderson 4
Owner: Mike Lynch
ArtCenter College of Design Award
Car: 2008 Alfa Romeo Disco Volante Coupe by Touring Superleggera
Owner: David Cohen Family Trust
The Art of Bespoke Award presented by Magneto Magazine
Car: 1959 Maserati 3500 GT Bertone
Owner: James R. Utaski
