Words: Nathan Chadwick | Photos: Hagerty
A 1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B and a 1965 Ford GT40 took the top honours at the 37th Greenwich Concours d’Elegance, held on June 2, 2023. The Ford came out on top in Saturday’s Concours de Sport, which consisted of 15 judged classes, while Sunday’s Concours d’Elegance classes included Pre- and Post-War Alfa Romeo, Steam Cars, Post-War American, Italian, German and English Cars, Supercars, as well as the Cars of Wayne Carini, this year’s Grand Marshal.
The Concours de Sport winner, a 1965 Ford GT40 Mk1, chassis number P/1030, was displayed by Benjamin Levy. The car, specified with Borrani wire wheels, a 289ci V8 and a ZF five-speed transmission, was originally used by the Shell Oil Company as an advertising promotions car, and is believed to have been displayed at the 1967 New York Motor Show. It was then sold to Ken Luscombe-Whyte and repainted in red. By February 1968 it had entered the stewardship of Rodney Lyons of the Epping Oil Company.
Later that year it would grace the cover of both Autosport and CAR magazines, and was subsequently loaned to Ford to be photographed for advertising purposes. Later in 1968, it was acquired by London-based Colin Hyams, who took the car home with him to Australia, making it the first GT40 in the country. While there, it would feature in Australian Motor Manual in June 1969, before entering the possession of Alex Copland, when it was painted in Gulf colours. The car also had a key role in the development of the 2005/2006 Ford GT, and was loaned to the Blue Oval to aid the new car’s design inspiration.
Sunday’s Concours d’Elegance winner was a 1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B owned by Lawrence Auriana. One of just 32 built between 1937 and 1939, this particular 2900 B was originally bodied as an open-wheeled racing car, taking third place at the 1938 Mille Miglia with Piero Dusio and Rolando Boninsegni behind the wheel. It would also finish first on the 1938 Stelvio Hill Climb, before being rebodied into its current form by Pinin Farina.
Away from the concours, visitors could enjoy Hagerty’s Ride & Drive scheme, which allowed them to get behind the wheel of a classic and take it on a guided tour around the area, while the Hagerty Youth Judging Programe saw eight-to-14-year-olds run the rule over a selection of show machines. On Saturday, RADwood showed off homologation specials with its Street Cars Built For The Track display, while a selection of British modern cars was on display in the British Racing Green selection. Hot rods and customs were celebrated with the OnFire display, alongside a selection of supercars.
“The Northeast has a rich automotive history, and the concours is proud to celebrate its place in global car culture,” said McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty. “The Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 selected as Best of Show embodies the spirit of the world’s best collections; its excellence, elegance and history are worthy of acclaim. Saturday’s Concours de Sport winner, a 1965 Ford GT40 Mk1, is equally deserving of praise – an exceptional example of an iconic car.”
More details on the Greenwich Concours can be found here.
