Known especially for its International Auto Show, Geneva is begnning to give old timers more space to be shown in public. The Concours d’Elegance Suisse, now in its third edition, has been able to brilliantly catalyze the very best of Euro-based classic cars by putting up a high-level show at the Château de Coppet on the Lake Geneva.
With a typically north-european style, where without too much publicity of the event it is possible to admire true important motorcars. It shouldn’t come as a surprise if some of the finest GT’s have been assembled for a pure petrolhead-spectacle. It is truly breathtaking to admire the one-off Ferrari 250 GT by Bertone sharing the lawn on a David Brown’s DB5 Volante. Same for the two original and unrestored Bugatti T57’s.
Perhaps one of the most relevant cars there has been the 5th E-Type ever produced, which has been the one exposed at the 1961 Geneva Auto Show. This very car was able to cause a true revolution and was driven by Bob Berry, former D-Type driver, for an entire night from Coventry to arrive at the Auto Show 20 minutes before the unveiling: it was shown in all its glory on the lawn of the Château. Ironically, that very E-Type that shook the world, resides in Switzerland, close to Geneva.
Also a regal parterre of Rolls Royces was present, which included a rare Silver Wraith Limousine with original license plate and left wheel drive, the class winner. The Concours also was celebrating 60 years of the beautiful DB4, including in the event a class entirely dedicated to this incredibly important model. Concours d’Elegance are the ideal places to closely admire the beauty and the elegance of these moving sculptures. History may not interest anyone, but it surely fascinates everbody.
Words & Photos: Jacopo Villa for The Outlierman © 2018
