Far and away, the two most famous Concours d'Elegance in the world today are Pebble Beach in Monterey, California and Villa d'Este on Lake Como. Winning either one is not only as hard as winning a lottery; it is as lucrative as one too. Not in direct prize money, mind you, but a Best of Show award will add unfathomable value to your beloved car, should you ever wish to part ways with it.
Our region, though home to many important collectors, has for too long trailed behind in terms of globally certified vintage car events. There may be a charming annual show in Lebanon and another in Dubai, but thanks to Kuwait, and specifically one man, the country's ex-Prime Minister and noteworthy classic car collector His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al Mohammad Al Sabah, there is now a Concours d'Elegance in the Middle East that can at least rival the ambition, if not the scale, of the world's very best.
Now in its fourth edition, after a two-year hiatus ostensibly due to security issues, the Kuwait Concours d'Elegance is back, and the great news is that this year's show was bigger and better than ever. The latest contest encompassed a field of sixty classic cars, from beautiful examples of the early stages of the automotive industry, like the Saudi-owned 1915 Ford Model T, through to rare muscle cars of the 1960s and 70s. Notable entrants included a 1935 Bugatti Type 57 Aerolithe Electron Coupé, a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder, a 1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero and a wonderful Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster.
Yet what exactly is a Concours? "A Concours d'Elegance is basically a beauty pageant for cars," says Zakaria Dashti, consultant to the Kuwait Historical, Vintage and Classic Car Museum. "One in which they are judged for their historical accuracy, technical merit and style. The very first concours were said to have taken place in 17th-century Paris, when aristocratic families would compete on who owns the most elegant carriage. With time, carriages became cars and the competition endured, at least for the classics."
As you would imagine, judging these rolling works of art was not taken lightly in Kuwait, and the organisers managed to assemble a group of judges with such global stature that, in terms of sheer fame, they almost gave the cars a run for their money. Chief amongst them was Leonardo Fioravanti, the man who designed the Ferrari Daytona, the 288 GTO, the 512 Berlinetta Boxer, the 365 GT4 2+2 and the F40. Then there was Valentino Balboni, the former chief test driver of Lamborghini so loved by the brand that they even named a car after him. Other notables included Andrea Zagato, the head of Coachwork Zagato, Dr Ulrich Bez, the chairman of Aston Martin, and Sandra Button, who as Executive Director of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance brings with her the breadth of her specialised experience.
But for us, what made the Kuwait Concours so special was not just the calibre of the competition or the professionalism of the event itself, but the enthusiasm of the local population. This year, the concours attracted the highest number of spectators yet, especially because, with so many side shows like the Ferrari Day, American Muscle Day and Biker Day, the week-long show felt much more like a motorhead festival than a classic vintage car beauty pageant.
In the end, after all the tallies were counted, Bespoke managed to win the Kuwait Historical, Vintage and Classic Car Museum Prize for its entry of a one-off 1933 Standard Avon created for the pioneering English aviator Amy Johnson. The car is in an almost completely original state, owing to the fact that it was locked away in a barn for decades by Johnson's heartbroken husband following her death in the Second World War. The Best of Show was awarded to a 1965 Lamborghini 350 GTS Spider, one of just two made.
But as ever, this concours was not so much about winning or losing as sharing a unified passion for motorcars. And in that regard, Kuwait scored with flying colours. Here is to hoping we see you again next year.
