ITALIAN DESIGNER ZAGATO’S FINEST CREATION AND “FIONA” THE SINGER, TAKE TOP HONOURS AT 2017 GULF CONCOURS

One of Italian designer Zagato’s most successful creations which combined the styling house’s rakish lines and distinctive double-bubble roof clad over the stunning 1965 Lancia Flaminia Super Sport was crowned the “Vacheron Constantin Best In Show” during the second annual Gulf Concours held on the lawns of the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah hotel in Dubai.

Owned by Dubai-based Tomini Classics, the alloy bodied coupe which made its debut at the 1958 Turin Auto Show was voted best among a field of 39 cars which

represented an even mix of modern bespoke and classic models.

Two exhaustive days of judging by the world’s best classic car judges from the UAE,

Europe and the United States including His Royal Highness, Prince Michael of Kent,

GCVO, studied each car for its authenticity, originality, documented history and, where applicable, restoration.

The Flaminia is best known as the last car to feature an engine built by the famous

Italian engineer Vittorio Jarno and was the first successful production V6 engine. Jarno became famous for designing the eight-cylinder engine for the Alfa Romeo P2 which won the first ever world championship for Grand Prix cars in 1925 and also powered the P3 raced by a young Enzo Ferrari in 1933. His last project was the V6 engine first fitted to the Lancia Aurelia and later the Flaminia.

The Gulf Concours winning example was the later 3C model which used a 150bhp,

2.8-litre version of the engine, of which just 150 examples were produced.

Alexander Schmiedt, Regional Director for Middle East and Subcontinent at Gulf

Concours’ presenting partner, Vacheron Constantin, said of the award: “Unique and

exclusive cars and fine watches are two outstanding passions with strong shared

comparable traits. Their sense of community could be experienced on the Gulf

Concours 2017. The event is an opportunity for Vacheron Constantin to showcase

their exceptional timepieces for connoisseurs and collectors in a likeminded

environment.

“Just like a car, a mechanical watch is the product of meticulous craftsmanship, the

creation of hundreds of dedicated small parts that all work together to perform a

complex complication in an aesthetical exceptional casing. An undertaking that

demands patience, the investment of both time and money, and knowledge.

Ownership of such an exclusive product is all the more enjoyable and rewarding.

“Collecting unique and exceptional examples of timepieces and automobiles allows for individuals to express their own personal tastes to a greater degree. The community’s love of collecting and the element of connoisseurship that can be experienced at the Gulf Concours keeps the two disciplines of high watchmaking and automotive engineering thriving for years to come.”

Aside from the Vacheron Constantin award, the modern bespoke equivalent, the “FT How to Spend It Best in Show” went to the 2015 Porsche Singer, “Fiona.” US-based Singer is one of the success stories of modern day bespoke car manufacturing using the Porsche 911, 964 model as its platform. It reimagines it as an early 1970’s 911 using modern day mechanicals and like “Fiona,” each car is a one-off masterpiece.

Other category winners in the classic car section include “Best European” for a 1950

Mercedes-Benz 170s, “Best American” for a 1992 Vector W8 Twin Turbo, “Best

Restoration” for a 1936 Cord 812 and “Best Presented” which went to a 1990 Ferrari F40, while the popular “People’s Choice” award was handed to a 1952 Land Rover Series 1.

The highly competitive Modern Bespoke winners comprised “Best Manufacturer Car” for a 2017 Porsche 911 GT3, “Supercar Pin-up” for a one-off, 2014 McLaren P1 MSO, the “Burj Al Arab” award went to a 2017 Ferrari California T from Ferrari’s atelier program, Tailor Made as a tribute to the Ferrari 250 GTO, while the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLR 722 Stirling Moss won the “People’s Choice” award.

For the second year, the lawns of the Burj Al Arab provided the perfect outdoor

setting against the backdrop of the Arabian Gulf and this year it was complemented

by two outstanding sculptures supplied by gallery owner Matar Bin Lahej, one of

which was fittingly called “Speed.”

Set in the lush grounds of the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah’s North Terrace, the invitation-

only event is an intimate and luxurious environment for exotic car lovers to mingle with like-minded enthusiasts of luxury brands and is set to become one of the world’s most noted Concours d’ elegance events.