A new concours of any note is a rare thing, and in Europe especially so. It might be seen as brave to try to establish such a show in Germany, but Thorough Events, the experienced team behind the UK’s Concours of Elegance, is as well placed as anyone to add to its select portfolio. After Windsor Castle and Hampton Court, could a German venue and event match up?
Set on the shore of Lake Tegernsee in Bavaria, the Concours of Elegance Germany’s location was straight out of a fairy tale; an appearance by Julie Andrews would not have been surprising. Set between Munich, Innsbruck and Salzburg, it was not only perfect for the concours, but also for the tour in which many owners took part over the few days before the main event.
Dating back to the 14th century, Gut Kaltenbrunn provided a large courtyard to host the main concours cars. With the mountains as a backdrop and an occasional welcome breeze off the lake, the setting could not have been more perfect. So natural a location indeed, that the Concours of Elegance Germany felt established already, which says a lot about the way it was organised.
With a first-time event the challenge is always to entice owners, but the cars entered were diverse and suberb. Personal favourites include the ex-Team Aston DB3/5, shown now as it looked in 1952 in Peter Collins’ hands. The 1968 Alfa Romeo 33/2 Daytona Coupé looked the part as the period racer that it was, and the Type 57 Bugatti was stately and magnificent. The overall Best of Show, as decided by the other entrants, was the sublime 1939 Lancia Pinin Farina Cabriolet. It was as beautiful as it was rare, and as exotic as any pre-war car can be. With a fascinating history, it was a universally appreciated winner.
Thorough Events usually has some innovations up its sleeve, and the rarefied selection in the main concours was complemented by a 70th anniversary Mercedes-Benz Gullwing array and a Junior Concours – yes, for small cars. Two further concours categories were also very popular: ‘Thirtyunder30’ and the ladies’ class; the former comprised 30 cars owned by people under 30 years of age, and was won by a BMW Isetta bubble car that epitomised the spirit of the category. The ladies’ class was also well supported, and the spoils went to a 1977 Porsche 911 with an interesting back story.
RM Sotheby’s joined the event with a sale that attracted a large audience and over 15 million Euros of sales. You’ll find a full report here.
Concours of Elegance Germany took part in a calendar ‘sweet spot’, prior to most people’s vacations and not clashing with much else. This perhaps helps to explain that over the course of the weekend more than 140 cars were shown, and that nearly 4000 people attended the event. For a first-time concours this was a remarkable achievement. The enthusiasm among visitors and entrants was palpable – clearly this is an event with a future.
Keep an eye out for it here next year, and make a vacation of it.
