Story and photos by Hugues Vanhoolandt
The now biennial Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille Concours took place the last weekend of June on the lawns of the historic Chantilly Castle, about 50 kilometers north of Paris.
The classic cars are part of the “Concours d’Etat” which hosts some 130 exceptional cars coming from the greatest collections in the world. The cars are on display on Le Nôtre’s lawns, forming a unique ephemeral museum. Some fifteen classes were selected and the main themes this year were the 100th Anniversary of Ballot (already in existence since 1904, Ballot created its first car in 1919), and classes for Iso Rivolta, Aston Martin racing cars, Facel Vega, McLaren racing cars, Avions-Voisin, Paris Motor Show cars at the Grand Palais until 1961, the Marcello Gandini creations, the Porsche 917 and the Bentley centenary.
Alongside the Concours d’Etat, a Concours d’Elegance takes place for the manufacturers and their concept-cars. The jury awards the best presentation of the concept-car and its beautiful model dressed in a fashion designer’s current collection.
Finally, the Grand Prix des Clubs is for the car clubs. They take part in the huge garden party in a pastoral setting that would have inspired the most famous Impressionist painters.
However, the event is primarily a day dedicated to elegance, and the spectators can enjoy a vast array of activities, exhibitions and workshops spread out in the Estate. The access is free to Chantilly Castle, that houses the second largest collection of antique paintings after the Louvre. Also accessible are the Great Stables, the largest stables in Europe, which contain the Museum of the Horse.
Aston Martin Class
In the Aston Martin class…Franco Scaglione, then Bertone’s chef stylist, revamped the DB2.
And how Zagato transformed the DB4 GT some years later. 1 VEV is one of a pair of DB4 GTZ ordered by Essex Racing Stable. It went on to success at Goodwood driven by Roy Salvadori.
The DBR1 brought the only Le Mans 24 hours victory to Aston Martin, sixty years ago. This example, DBR1/5, is the only example sold to a privateer, Peter Whitehead.
Ballot 100th anniversary
Before WWI, Ballot supplied engines to many small manufacturers and also to Delage. When the war was over, Ballot decided to enter the 1919 Indy 500 and this car, the 5/8 LC Indianapolis, prepared in secret, set pole position driven by René Thomas. Another Ballot finished fourth. [We’ll have more on the Ballots of Chantilly in next week’s VeloceToday.-Ed.]
Bugatti Class
This Bugatti Type 37A belonged to German amateur driver, Willi Seibel, who entered it for the 1929 German Grand Prix and raced it until 1936, always driving it to the races and then back home. After WWII, Seibel became manager of the Nürburgring circuit and always kept his white Type 37.
Bugatti Type 51 and 57.
The Bugatti Type 40 Fiacre built in secret by Jean Bugatti for his sister Lidia.
The Concours d’Elégance
Despite its 110 years of existence, Bugatti was also present in the Concours d’Elégance for concept cars with ‘La Voiture Noire’ (The Black Car), a one-off whose name evokes Jean Bugatti’s personal Type 57 Atlantic, which mysteriously vanished in 1939.
Eighty years after the original DS was unveiled, the DS X E-Tense is how the DS brand sees the future in 2035. The originality comes from its asymmetry with the cockpit on one side for the pleasure of driving, and on the other side the cocoon, with French ‘art de vivre’ in autonomous driving technology.
The Speedtail is McLaren’s most aerodynamically efficient car ever and the fastest to date. To get the best out of the 1070 hp hybrid powertrain, the driving seat is in central position as was in the iconic McLaren F1 25 years ago.
A mobile lounge for modern times. That is how Renault defines its autonomous, connected and 100% electric “robo-vehicle” EZ-Ultimo. The upper part is made of 600 diamond-shaped facets, treated like a one-way mirror. They filter the view towards the inside of the vehicle while providing a transparent effect inside.
The creations of Marcello Gandini
With the Carabo, the young Marcello Gandini dresses the Alfa 33 and its central V8. Presented at the 1968 Paris Salon, the car was radical with its conical shape, and it resonated in immediately in all the world’s design agencies.
Based on the mechanics of a Citroën GS, the 1972 Camargue would influence the styling of the Citroën XM nineteen years later with its front end and large head lights.
With the 308 GT Rainbow based on the 308 GT4, also designed by Bertone, Gandini penned a modern interpretation of a two-seater. Less harmonious than the 308 GTB, the Rainbow innovated with its rigid opening roof.
The Porsche 917s
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 917, three were in attendance in several forms. A long-tail in Martini livery, a short-tail in Gulf livery and between them a 917 adapted for road use for Comte Rossi and first registered in Alabama.
Cars at the Paris Motor Show in the Grand Palais up to 1961
The 302 Peugeot Darl’mat had perfect proportions, the work of dentist Georges Paulin, who designed special coachwork for Emile Darl’mat who raced the cars and displayed them at motor shows.
Displayed at the Grand Palais in 1948, this Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport was bodied by Franay, in a more sober style than Saoutchik or Figoni.
Presented at the 1950 Paris Motor Show with this Stabilimenti Farina cabriolet body, this Ferrari 166 Inter had in other lives a spyder corsa body and a Touring barchetta-style body. It has been recently restored to its original appearance by Ferrari Classiche.
The Voisins with Voisin coachwork
The roaring twenties were ripe for originality. Although the engine and the coachwork of this C4 of 1924 were very simple, the first owner chose an exuberant decoration, bright yellow and black hounds tooth check.
This C15 of 1929 was Gabriel Voisin’s personal car and it has some special features like the running boards turned into fishing rod cases, and the rear boot used to store wood as he loved camping. He also pulled a caravan with his C15.
This 1933 Voisin C24 Châtelaine languished under the Montlhéry oval and then in the famous Baillon collection before it was recently restored by a fan of Voisin and his technology.
In 1935, the Voisins were almost one-offs. Each Voisin had a name starting with C (Aerodyne excepted). This “Clairière” borrowed the front shape of the Aerodyne, but had a cutaway rear with protruding boot.
The Facel Vegas
Some consider the Facel Vega HK II the most elegant of all the Facel Vegas. We cannot contradict them.
Sadly, the HK II is also the last model built before the company went broke.
The display of the ‘Amicale Facel Vega’, the French Facel Vega car club, with another HK II surrounded by …
… a special display of the smaller Facellia F2.
The Bentleys
Jean Daninos, owner of the metal factory Facel, was involved in the making of the 1948 Bentley Cresta. This car will inspire Jean Daninos in the creation of the Facel Vega brand some years later.
The 1929 crisis ruined all W.O. Bentley’s plans for the 8 Liter. Fortunately, some of the 100 units of this luxurious car have survived until today. The first owner of this short-chassis 2-door version kept it for only six months …
The Best of Shows
…and today, the current owner enjoyed the Best of Show award for Pre-War cars.
Runner-up at last year’s Pebble Beach Concours, the 1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport coupé by Figoni had its revenge in Chantilly, claiming the Best of Show award for Post-War cars.
Previous Chantilly events