The Concours Virtual has announced the first round of the class winners in the inaugural online Concours d’Elegance, presented by Hagerty in aid of Unicef. The virtual car show has attracted some stand out automobiles, all of which have proved very popular with both the judges and the voting public. The class results after the first round of judging is as follows:

Class A: Pre-War Preservation – sponsored by Meguiar’s

The pre-war preservation class was taken by the 1893 Salvesen Steam Wagonette of Duncan Pittaway. This passenger vehicle has remained completely intact and unrestored in its nearly 120 year existence. As owner Duncan Pittaway remarked when accepting the Trophy, ‘I am honoured and astounded to be given this award from such an esteemed group of judges. I feel like the luckiest man on the planet to have the car.’

The class was judged by some of the most pre-eminent personalities in the classic car world – the Duke of Richmond, Wayne Carini, Sandra Button, McKeel Hagerty and Gregor Fisken.

The Salvesen Steam Wagonette will now go forward to compete for Best in Show against other class winners, announced on August 9.

Judges Vote

1. 1893 Salvesen Steam Wagonette (Duncan Pittaway)
2. 1932 Bentley 8 Litre Vanden Plas Tourer (Classic Motor Hub)
3. 1933 Duesenberg Model J Speedster (Anne Brockinton Lee / Robert M. Lee Automobile Collection)

People’s Vote

1. 1932 Bentley 8 Litre HJ Mulliner (Mihai Negrescu)
2. 1893 Salvesen Steam Wagonette (Duncan Pittaway)
3. 1927 Bentley 3 Litre Works Le Mans Specification (Robert Moggridge)

Class B: Hollywood Legends – sponsored by Magneto Magazine

The stunning 1957 BMW 507 has won the Judges’ vote in the Hollywood Legends class at the Concours Virtual, presented by Hagerty and in aid of Unicef. The class, sponsored by Magneto magazine, included a fabulous collection of vehicles from celebrated stars of Hollywood including Greta Garbo, Steve McQueen, Clark Gable and Rudolph Valentino.

Head Judge Jay Ward (Creative Director at Pixar for Cars franchise) said of the judges’ deliberations, ‘It was a very spirited discussion – on the one hand you have the fame of the actor which brings a certain panache to the ownership, and then on the other you have the provenance and condition of the car to consider. It was a real tussle and much discussion took place before we arrived at the Best in Show and the runner up.’

The BMW 507 will now go forward to compete for the ultimate Best in Show Award.

Judges’ Vote

1. 1967 BMW 507 Elvis Presley (BMW Classic)
2. Jaguar XKSS Steve McQueen (Petersen Museum)
3. 1932 Duesenberg Model J Greta Garbo (Anne Brockinton Lee / Robert M. Lee Automobile Collection)

People’s Vote

1. 1932 Duesenberg Model J Greta Garbo (Anne Brockinton Lee / Robert M. Lee Automobile Collection
2. 1962 Land Rover Series II Steve McQueen (Ike Goss)
3. 1921 Kissel 6-45 ‘Gold Bug’ (Mr & Mrs. Andrew and Tanya Heller)

Class C: Cars of the Art Deco Period – sponsored by Meguiar’s

One of the most competitive classes in the whole Concours, the Cars of the Art Deco class, sponsored by Meguiar’s included a number of previous Class and Best in Shows winners from some of the major Concours around the world. It also brought together some of the classic car markets most significant collectors vying for top spot.

It was not an easy decision for the judging panel, which included McLaren F1 designer Peter Stevens, Andrea Zagato, Ken Gross, Patrick Peter, Christoph Grohe and John Mayston-Taylor.

Commenting on the winning car Peter Stevens said, ‘The 1939 Delahaye is the perfect winner since it embodies all those period design elements that so much capture that time: joyous style, pleasure in beauty, sympathetic detail, but with a touch of sadness for the end of not just an era but also for a vanishing way of life.’

Geoff Love, Co-Chairman of the Concours Virtual remarked ‘We were delighted with the quality of cars entered in the Art Deco Class. Between them, the fourteen cars had won multiple Class and Best in Show Awards from major Concours from around the world. The public really got behind the class too, with thousands of votes coming in for a number of the cars’,

David Lillywhite, Co-Chairman added ‘The Minerva was a popular winner of the People’s vote. India has a thriving Concours scene and it was great to see so many get behind the car and propel it to victory.’

Judges’ Vote

1. 1939 Delahaye 165 by Figoni & Falaschi (Mullin Automotive Museum)
2. 1938 Delage D8-120 by De Villars (Fritz Burkard)
3. 1935 Hispano Suiza K6 Brandone (Richard Magides)

People’s Vote

1. 1933 Minerva Type AL Landaulette (Mr. Diljeet Titus)
2. 1938 Delage D8-120 by De Villars (Fritz Burkard)
3. 3rd Place: 1936 Chrysler C9 Airflow Coupe (Mark Becker)

Class D: Pre-War Supercars – sponsored by The Classic Motor Hub

A 1932 Duesenberg Model J Torpedo Convertible Coupe has won the Judges vote in the Pre-War Supercars Class. In a very competitive field that ranged from a 1904 Napier through to a trio of late 1930’s BMW 328 coupes, the stunning Duesenberg caught the attention of the experienced judges to go through as the Class contender for Best in Show. The People’s Vote category went to the popular 1904 Napier L 49.

The Duesenberg J-476 was one of five short wheelbase Torpedo Convertible Coupe bodies built by Murphy. Notable in its design is the Murphy hallmark disappearing convertible top and the bare aluminum top of the body.

In the People’s vote, the earlier cars in the class were favoured with the 1904 Napier pipping the 1907 Thomas Flyer taking the top spot.

The full results are as follows:

Class D: Pre-War Supercars, sponsored by The Classic Motor Hub

Judges Vote

1. 1932 Duesenberg Model J Torpedo Convertible Coupe (Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum)
2. 1907 E.R. Thomas Motor Co. Model 35 (National Automobile Museum)
3. 1931 Bentley 8 Litre Corsica Tourer (Stephen Brauer)

People’s Vote

1. 1904 Napier L 49 (Sirdool Singh)
2. 1907 E.R. Thomas Motor Co. Model 35 (National Automobile Museum)
3. 1925 Hispano Suiza H6C (Fritz Burkard)

Class G: 1970’s Concept Cars Contenders Announced

The 1970’s was a golden decade for wild concept cars. Seven cars that typified the forward thinking and creativity of some of the world’s best automotive designers go head to head in the battle for the 70’s concept crown at the Concours Virtual in aid of Unicef.

Sponsored by BMW Classic, the group encompasses the 1970 Vauxhall SRV through to the 1978 Lancia Sibilio Bertone.

The full list of the radical and groundbreaking 1970s concept cars is as follows:

• 1970 Chevrolet Aerovette
• 1970 Vauxhall SRV
• 1970 Lancia Stratos Zero
• 1971 Alfa Romeo Caimano
• 1972 BMW Turbo
• 1974 Pontiac Banshee III
• 1978 Lancia Sibilo Bertone

The class runs from 14 July through to 21st July and will be judged by eminent personalities from the classic car world. Visitors to the website www.concoursvirtual also have the opportunity to vote for their favourite car in each of the classes, so head on over to cast your vote.