The Chantilly Arts & Elegance returned for 2024 in magnificent form. Blessed with sunny weather (albeit with a chilly morning), this magnificent concours d’elegance at the Château de Chantilly just outside Paris offered a diverse selection of classics cars and vintage delights, organised with a distinctive French flair. Held on September 14-15, it was a welcome, chilled-out change of pace from a very hectic British concours and events calendar.
A diverse selection of classics cars and vintage delights, organised with a distinctive French flair
Held every two years, the 2024 Chantilly Arts & Elegance was a transition between Patrick and Sylvanie Peter’s stewardship of organiser Peter Auto, to the company’s new director general Marc Ouayoun, and it was a great way to mark ten years since the first event. The action kicked off on Saturday with the Arts & Elegance Tour, which culminated in a gourmet lunch at the Polo d’Apremont. In the afternoon the cars were judged, and in the evening a magnificent masked ball in the historic Château de Chantilly raised anticipation for Sunday’s concours.
More than 28,000 people came to the Chantilly Arts & Elegance. They enjoyed not just a varied selection of cars, but a chance to take in the latest machinery from McLaren, Bugatti, Alfa Romeo, Maserati and DS, while clubs from across France brought along their greatest exhibits to be shown in the grounds. A selection of historic McLaren racing cars was a joy to see, particularly Denny Hulme’s 1972 M8 (pictured above).
Away from the cars there were displays of equine agility – and that of the riders – from Mario Luraschi, sailboats, petanque, giant chess, flower arranging and horse-drawn carriages.
Chantilly Arts & Elegance splits its concours winners into three: pre-war, post-war and concept. This year’s pre-war Best of Show winner was a 1928 Bugatti Type 35C from the AV Collection. This was competing in the 100 years of Bugatti 35 class, which was dedicated to the late Peter Mullin. One of two Works cars sent to compete in the Targa Florio, it was bought by Janine Jennky, the partner of racer Albert Divo. She was an operatta and racer – she won several hillclimbs, and was also the victor at the 1928 Burgundy Grand Prix, setting the lap record at an average of 137km/h.
The winner of Chantilly Arts & Elegance Best of Show for post-war cars was an Antem-bodied, Jacques Saoutchik-designed 1949 Talbot-Lago T26 GS Coupé (pictured above), while 2023’s Lancia Pu+Ra HPE won the prize for concept cars.
The event is only a 45-minute train ride, or a two-and-a-half-hour drive, from Paris, making for an easily accessible yet unique-feeling weekend. During the two days there are chances to take in the chateau’s glorious interiors, purchase exquisite art and appreciate the best that France’s car club scene has to offer. It’s a wonderful way to spend a mid-September weekend, and comes highly recommended. The next Chantilly Arts & Elegance is in 2026 – we can’t wait already.
Here are a few of our favourite cars from the 2024 weekend…
Among the highlights of the class victories (full results are below) was the winner of the Mercedes SL class, pictured above. One of 29 alloy cars built, it was first owned by Scottish racer Rob Walker. He documented his ownership experiences in Motor Sport magazine at the time, and went on to compete with the car in circuit racing. However, his wife was less of a fan of the red hue – indeed, she said that while washing it, it made her feel ill – so the car was repainted white. A subsequent owner returned it to red, and it was later owned by musician Mark Knopfler before joining the AV Collection.
One of the most popular classes was the Tribute to Carlo Chiti class, which was won by a Ferrari 250 GTO. However, in second place was a 1994 MCA Centenaire – one of five ever built. Powered by a Countach-sourced Lamborghini V12, 100 were meant to be built to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the Car Club of Monaco. Unfortunately, the carbonfibre-monocoque machine was a victim of the global recession of the early 1990s, although it was immortalised via a Bburago model car. Another example of the five was parked alongside it.
The above 1982 Lancia Rally 037 Evo 1 won the Lancia in Rallying 1951-1993 class. A highly storied car, it scored two of the five Lancia victories in the successful 1983 World Rally Championship – Markku Alén won at San Remo, while Walter Röhrl did the same in New Zealand.
This 1967 Ferrari 312 won the Formula 1 From 1964 to 1972 class. Presented in pre-aerofoil state (its rollhoop-situated aerofoil was on a stand nearby), this car was taken to three pole positions in 1967 by Chris Amon. Other highlights of this class were a 1968 BRM P133, 1964 BRM O261, 1964 Lotus 33 and the 1969 Cosworth 4W prototype.
This 250 GTE won the Ferrari class dedicated to French importer Charles Pozzi; it was the course car for the 1963 Le Mans 24 Hours, where Maranello cars filled the first six places. Other cars in this class included a 308 GTB Group 4 rally car, the 1972 Le Mans GT class-winning 365 GTB/4 and a 488 Challenge Evo.
Special-Bodied Post-War Lancias was won by the 1955 Lancia Florida from the Lopresto Collection, but another from that source also caught the eye. This 1969 Lancia Aurelia Marica Ghia was designed by Tom Tjaarda at the behest of then Ghia owner Alejandro de Tomaso as a way of garnering Lancia’s interest. Although declining finances meant Lancia couldn’t take up Ghia’s offer, the Marica’s styling cues would live on in the De Tomaso Deauville.
The Lamborghini Countach class was won by Simon Kidston’s 1977 LP 400 ‘UFO’, but another famous Countach caught the eye – this 1990 25th Anniversary car was first owned by oil magnate and sometime F1 team boss Walter Wolf.
For more information on the event, head here.
Chantilly Arts & Elegance 2024 results
Best of Show Concours d’Etat Pre-War: 1928 Bugatti Type 35C
Best of Show Concours d’Etat Post-War: 1949 Talbot-Lago T26 GS Coupé
Concours d’Elegance (Concept Cars): Lancia Pu+Ra HPE
Grand Prix des Clubs FFVE: Vincennes en ancienne – Talbot 126 Baby Sport
Public Prize – Concours d’Elegance: Bugatti Tourbillon
Special Prize Prize List: 1959 Dino 196S
Special Prize Restoration: 1931 Tatra T80
Special Prize: The Works of Marcello Gandini: Lamborghini Countach
Class awards
100th Anniversary of the Bugatti 35 – Tribute to Peter Mullin: 1928 Bugatti T35 C
Lancia in Rallying 1951-1993: A 40-year history: 1982 Lancia Rally 037 Evo
Special-Bodied Post-War Lancias: 1955 Lancia Aurelia Florida Coupé Pininfarina
Mercedes SL: History and Evolution of a Legend: 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Alloy
Lamborghini Countach: 50th Anniversary of Production: 1977 Lamborghini Countach LP400
La Folie des Grandeurs Pre-War: 1931 Tatra T80
La Folie des Grandeurs Post-War: 1949 Talbot-Lago T26 GS Coupé
Haute Couture Maseratis: Special Coachwork Models: 1971 Maserati Quattroporte II Prototipo Frua.
Tribute to Carlo Chiti: 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
Four and Six-Cylinder Racing Ferraris: 1959 Ferrari Dino 196 S
Four-cylinder Racing Porsches: 1964 Porsche 904 GTS.
Unrestored Cars (Pre-War): 1928 Bugatti T44 Faux Cabriolet Labourdette
Unrestored Cars (Post-War): 1971 Citroën SM
Charles Pozzi’s Ferraris: 1963 Ferrari 250 GTE
Formula 1 From 1964 to 1972: 1967 Ferrari 312
Special Motorcycle Class: BMW Boxer
History and Evolution of a Centenary Engine: 2024 BMW R20 Concept
