Winner of best in show, Mr Sascha Baggli’s 1951 Bentley Mark VI Cresta II by Facel Metallon. This unique vehicle was commissioned by Jean Daninos as a gift for his wife.
Story and photos by Jonathan Sharp
In the lull between Retromobile and the proper start of the 2026 season I thought you might indulge me by allowing me to show you an event that we did not have a chance to publish in 2025 – the Cartier Style et Luxe concours which is an integral part of the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed.
You can always rely on the Cartier team to come up with a great selection of classes and last year was no exception.
You may recall in 2024 they showed tractors, and for 2025 it was the turn of vans in celebration of the 60th birthday of the much-loved Ford Transit, the class being called Van Go – Masters of the Moving Arts. But the show field also contained traditional concours fare with a class in celebration of 100 years of the Rolls Royce Phantom – Origin of Opulence; Sweet’N Low – Invicta’s Invincible S Type; Balance of Power – Bugatti’s Game -Changing Veyron; Spoilers and Stripes – 60 Years of ALPINA; Curve Appeal – The Golden Age of Carrozzeria Touring, and Viva Las Vega – Parisian Panache, American Punch featuring Facel Vega.
So what follows is a selection of photos of most of the cars on display. When you look at the photos you might think that some of them look really pretty dusty, and you are right. It was so blooming hot that the team that normally spends the weekend dusting the cars every 5 minutes so could not do their stuff for fear of damaging the paint work; yes, it was that hot. One final thought, Cartier Style et Luxe is one of the events in which the best in show winner is entered into the Peninsular Best of the Best award and I cannot help thinking how funny it would be if the judges had picked a van!
Van Go Masters of Moving Arts
From the ‘Van Go Masters of Moving Arts’ class in celebration of 60 years of the Ford Transit, Lukas Huni’s 1953 Lancia Ardea 800 Furgoncino chassis number 550-8110, a rare survivor indeed.
1956 Trojan Van Courtesy of J Wareing & Son (Wrea Green) Ltd.
Meakin Logistics UK Ltd’s 1969 Bedford CA in the colours of the RAC Breakdown service.
Morag Matheson’s 1959 Austin 101 in the colours of ‘British Railways Parcel Service’.
The archetypal white van, Peter Lee’s amazing 1965 Ford Transit MK1.
Terry Smith’s 1964 Morris LD30.
Curve Appeal- The Golden Age of Carrozzeria Touring
Richard Hackett’s 1948 Bristol 401 Superleggera Saloon, once the personal car of Carlo Felice Bianchi Anderloni.
Bristol 401
The Mann family’s 1954 Alfa Romeo 1900 CSS Touring.
Courtesy of the Selected Car Group of Denmark, 1964 Lamborghini 350GT
Dr Martin Halusa’s 1951 Ferrari 212 Export Berlinetta Touring, chassis 0088E
Dr Martin Halusa’s Ferrari take two.
Entered by the Stratton Motor Company, 1959 Aston Martin DB4 Series 1, This example is chassis 110, the 10th example constructed.
From Munich Classics, 1962 Maserati 3500GT.
Viva Las Vega – Parisian Panache, American Punch
General shot
Tom Reah’s 1961 Facel Vega HK500.
Mr Pierrer Bivon’s 1959 Vega HK2 Prototype, Chassis AO99 is the original prototype for the Facel II and is based on the chassis of the HK500. Interestingly, the car remained with the company until 1965 and was first registered to Jean Daninos, the marque’s founder.
Mr Mark Walker’s now extremely rare 1963 Vega Facellia, one of the last examples constructed.
Entered by FIVA, 1964 Facel III.
Sweet’N Low – Invicta’s Invincible S Type
Karl Pritchard’s 1930 Invicta 4 1/2 Litre S Type Low chassis Drophead Coupe with coachwork by Corsica. Known by its owner as ‘Salamander,’ chassis S106 in believed to be the sixth example built, and one of only two bodied by Corsica and the only example with a unique drophead coupe style.
Entered by Mr Andrew Crisford, 1931 Invicta S Type Low Chassis with coachwork by Freestone & Webb. Chassis S86 was originally supplied to Baron von Treeck, a German aristocrat living at the time in Mayfair, London, who was later unmasked as German Spy. Originally fitted with coachwork by Lancefield, by the 1980s Chassis S86 was in dire need of restoration but the bodywork was beyond the point of repair. Just before the owner set about having a new body constructed an original body by Freestone and Webb was discovered, and following restoration was fitted.
Alan Brown’s 1931 Invicta S Type ‘Low Chassis’ with coachwork by Vanden Plas, The first of two white Invictas campaigned by Raymond Mays and one time Sports Car Hill Climb record holder at Shelsey Walsh. Also raced at Brooklands and Skegness.
Michael Taylor’s 1934 Invicta S Type ‘Low Chassis’ by Grose.
Shaun Lynn’s ex Alain De Cadenet 1931 Invicta S Type ‘Low Chassis’ S95 by Carbodies.
Rolls Royce Phantom – Origin of Opulence
Mr Yohan Poonawalla’s ex Maharaja Bahador of Jammu and Kashmir 1928 Phantom 1 Experimental Sports Prototype Torpedo Tourer 17EX by Jarvis.
Dr Christopher van Essen’s 1927 Phantom 1 Sporting Tourer by Hooper. Ordered new by the Maharaj Kumar of Udaipur, one of eleven Rolls Royce owned by the royal family. Designed for ceremonial use, including Viceroy visits and royal weddings, 100 EF is fitted with Grebel searchlights, Barker bumpers, a fully opening windscreen and has covered less than 25,000 miles in 99 years.
Michael Dacre’s well known 1926 Phantom 1 Brougham de Ville ‘The Phantom of Love’ by Charles Clark. Originally ordered by Clarence Gasque, the chief financial officer for FW Woolworth, as a gift for his wife. The interior trim draws heavily on inspiration from Marie Antoinette’s sedan chair being adorned with hand painted satin wood, ormolu mounted vases, silver gilt accessories, and Aubusson tapestries.
From the Torre Loizaga Museum Spain, 1927 Phantom 1 Springfield Newmarket Tourer by Brewster. First registered on the 21st May 1928 to Piper Aircraft and initially fitted with Brewster’s Pall Mall body, in 1929 the chassis was reclothed with Brewster’s rather more elegant Newmarket Tourer coachwork.
Katarina Kyalova’s 1928 Phantom 1 Sportsman saloon ‘The Black Diamond’ by Hooper. Originally constructed for Diamond merchant Otto Oppenheimer the bespoke coachwork includes a concealed compartment for discreet gem transportation.
The Hon. Sir Michael Kadorie’s ex Maharaja of Jodpur Phantom 1 Boat Tail Tourer by Barker, This unique example, chassis number 9LC, was created for the Maharaja for the purpose of tiger hunting in India, Specific options ordered include a light weight three seater sports body, Outside handbrake, two side mounted spare wheels, an ivory white finished steering wheel, and real ivory control nobs, and who can miss the two hunting rifles mounted on the side.
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