The seventh edition of the Valletta Concours on Sunday 1 June saw a repeat win for the same owner and marque as last year when Indian collector Yohan Poonawalla took the International Best of Show with his 1949 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith with bodywork by James Young and Gurney Nutting. The victorious Rolls-Royce was initially owned by the Maharaja of Mysore before later moving to the Maharaja of Bharatpur, during whose ownership it was used for HRH the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip and reportedly by Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II when they visited India in 1961, and also by the Prince of Wales.
Selected by a large international jury including designer Peter Stevens, the Rolls-Royce made it two consecutive wins for Poonawalla after his Rolls-Royce Phantom 1 Prototype 17EX (see Octane 258) took the spoils in 2024.
For the first time, however, the concours offered two Best of Show titles, the international award scooped by Poonawalla plus another for the best Maltese-owned car: Best in Show Maltija. This was taken by Mark Borg’s beautifully and immaculately restored silver Alfa Romeo 1750 ‘Duetto’ Spider Osso di Seppia, which also took the prize for the top restoration. The same owner also displayed a sensational 1973 Fiat 124 Abarth CSA racer that he has recently converted from a distressed Stradale, but it was pipped to top honours in the Road Racing class by a 1948 Bristol 400 that took part in the 1952 RAC Rally.
As ever the uniquely eclectic spread of cars displayed for free in historic St George’s Square ranged from an immaculately turned out Austin A60 Half Tonne pick-up to a 1966 Maserati Sebring, but there were plenty of stand-outs including a brace of Hillman Minxes – 1959 SIIIB and a 1961 example.
The oldest car in the concours was a charming 1906 Prima.
Other cars of particular historical note included the 1940 Lancia Aprilia Bilux by Pininfarina, quite possibly the only survivor of the long-wheelbase scaled-up Aprilia with its eye-catching clap-doors. This rarity was rewarded with the Best Italian Car award from visiting ASI (Automotoclub Storico Italiano) members. FIVA president Tiddo Bresters was also at the Valletta Concours this year.
While star exhibitors at the show included Eric Simpson and Barry Pickup who, having been spectators at the event in 2024, this year drove 2600km over four days from Huddersfield to enter the former’s 1972 Citroën DS19. The car is interesting in that it was previously owned by Chapron – believed to have been used as the family/factory hack – and displayed some unusual features such as a rich wooden dashboard.
One of the biggest advances was the breadth and quality of the motorcycles, ranging from very early scooters to a 1951 Vincent Black Shadow ridden to the event from the UK. As a result, chief judge Jeremy Jackson-Sytner and concours mastermind John Saliba announced at the end of the awards ceremony that there would be a third Best of Show in 2026, for best motorcycle.
On the fringe of the concours there was a very strong display of cars from the Maltese MG club.
For more info on the Valletta Concours, visit the official website.
