A 1933 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Fignoni presented by David and Adele Cohen has claimed Best of Show at the Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance 2025. The one-of-a-kind coupé won Prix d’Honneur at Monte Carlo and Nice in period, as well as appearing at the Paris Salon in 1933. It was then converted to race at the 1935 Le Mans 24 Hours, where it took took class honours with Guy Don and Jean Desvignes.
Following its racing career, the Alfa Romeo was refitted with its original Joseph Figoni bodywork and spent decades in South Africa, where it was acquired by David Cohen in 2008. As a youngster, Cohen recalls being overtaken by the 6C daily as he cycled to school.
Following a comprehensive restoration by RX Autoworks of Vancouver – overseen by 6C guru Simon Moore – the Alfa has been a high-ranking concours veteran, having already been a Best of Show runner-up at Pebble Beach and claiming much of the silverware at Villa d’Este in 2012.
It’s no surprise that a car of such impeccable quality and provenance took the top prize in Sydney this year, as many consider the rapidly growing concours to have truly earned its place on the international calendar. Even so, the Alfa faced stern competition from two other amazing beauties at this, the event’s seventh running.
As runners-up, Best of Show for pre-war automobiles went to another Pebble Beach regular, the 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Aravis by Gangloff, while the Best of Show post-war prize went to the 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400. The Bugatti, formerly of the Mullin Museum and built in period for French racing legend Maurice Trintignant, was showcased by renowned Australian businessman Clive Palmer, who is fast becoming a big hitter on the international concours stage and had several cars in the Sydney line-up. Meanwhile, the immaculate Miura was fresh from a lengthy restoration by the go-to Cremonini team in Modena, Italy.
Such quality was consistent among the winners, the judges noting that the 1963 Jaguar E-type that had been restored in Australia by Concours Sportscar Restoration and bagged the coveted Best Restoration Award was of such high quality that it could have graced any concours lawn worldwide.
Of comparable desirability were the five Porsche Speedsters that René Aalhuizen supplied for a special Speedster class. Although the seven-strong group embraced 911 wide and narrow bodies and a 964 Speedster, it proved a shut-out for 356s and Aalhuizen when his 1955 Pre A, which had a tree growing through it when he took it on, came second to his stunning Stone Grey example on its post-restoration debut.
The international flavour was embodied in the visiting well known 1948 Alfa Romeo 6C Sport Freccia d’Oro rally veteran of San Marino resident Umberto Galloni. Used regularly, the innovative four-seater was rewarded by being declared the best post-war preservation car. The pre-war preservation prize, meanwhile, went to a delightful Alvis Speed 20, still wearing its original Australian bodywork by Martin & King.
Guest of honour, Formula 1 driver and winner of the 1989 Adelaide Grand Prix for Williams, Thierry Boutsen, was one of the guests on the live stage across the weekend. He also took an active role in the judging, alongside a jury also comprising two Australians, a duo of Brits, Madan Mohan (creator of 21 Gun Salute) from India, as well as experts from the US and Italy. Chief judge was Alessandra Giorgetti, the Milanese former Registro Italiano Alfa Romeo and Touring Superleggera Register vice-president.
Notable Australian home wins included class honours for a gorgeous ex-Jack Brabham BT23E and a Passion Trophy for the painstaking tracking down, and meticulous – and lengthy – restoration, of one of the country’s first and most famous 1932 Ford hot rods.
One of the ongoing big draws of the concours, which took place from February 28 to March 2, 2025, is a unique setting, which has seemingly now settled at Cockatoo Island. One of many islands in Sydney Harbour, the dormant shipyard is transformed with the cars displayed in vast sheds that were said to once be the largest structures in the Southern Hemisphere and now offer an atmospheric industrial backdrop.
In addition to the displays, the sheds housed food stations, lounges and modern motor manufacturers ranging from Maserati to Fiat, Aston Martin and Polestar, each showcasing their latest wares and offering passenger rides around the site.
Outside, the blazing sun eased by the breeze off the water made for a one-off venue for visitors to enjoy sustenance on the lawn, accompanied by regular interviews and entertainment in the background, as well as the regular, thunderous parades.
Because the site is accessible only by water, the cars travel to Cockatoo Island on barges while the public makes use of the regular ferries that circle the harbour and offer a superb tourist experience in themselves.
Concours founder and curator James Nicholls said: “I am delighted that a car as globally and historically significant as the Figoni 6C not only attended our concours, but also proved to be such a hit with the judges and public – it is a very worthy winner. That, plus the quality of the two runners-up, which are similarly well known internationally as top-tier classics, emphasises the growing importance of the Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance on the world stage.
“Australia may be a bit of an outpost geographically, but it is as passionate as any nation when it comes to motoring, and visitors who have made the effort to see our show have been blown away by the quality of the cars and the event, as well as the passion of the participants and the hospitality of the country as a whole.
“We have something truly unique here, not least in terms of accessing this cherished UNESCO World Heritage site, and I would urge even more international visitors to come and see it for themselves from March 6-8, 2026.”
See more on the Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance here.
Full Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance results:
Best of Show – 1933 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Figoni
Best of Show Pre-war – 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Aravis Special
Best of Show Post-war – 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400
Class Awards
Class 1 – Icons
Winner – 1933 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Figoni
Runner-up – 1967 Maserati Mistral Spider
Class 2 – Wind in Your Hair (post-war)
Winner – Mercedes-Benz 190SL
Runner-up – 1963 Jaguar E-type
Class 3 – Italianissimo
Winner – 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400
Runner-up – 1962 Lancia Flaminia convertible
Class 4 – Fast & Loud
Winner – 1967 Babham BT23E
Runner-up – 1973 Porsche 917/30
Class 5 – 100 Years of French Revolutions
Winner – 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Aravis Special
Runner-up – 1905 Eugene Brillie 20/24HP
Class 6 – Speedsters
Winner – 1958 Porsche 356 T2
Runner-up – 1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A
Class 7 – Pre-war Australian Coachbuilt
Winner – 1926 Rolls-Royce Phantom (Williams & Redfern)
Runner-up – 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom II (George Williams)
Special awards
Preservation Pre-war – 1935 Alvis Speed 20 SC
Preservation Post-war – 1948 Alfa Romeo 6C Freccia d’Oro
RIAR best Alfa Romeo – 1933 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Figoni
ASI Best Italian Car – 1982 Lancia 037 Stradale
Passion (Pre-war) – 1932 Ford Roadster
Passion (Post-war) – 1959 Fiat Abarth 750 GT Zagato
Best Restoration – 1963 Jaguar E-type
Most Spectacular Car – 1973 Porsche 917/30
