A Concours d’Elégance is a chance to view some very special, rare and unique automobiles up close, and an opportunity for owners to not only show off their classics, but also add huge value to their pride and joy if they win a category.

Entries into a Concours are not like the classics you see driven to a local show; these are coveted items, often worth millions, and spend their time languishing in climate controlled private collections or museums. They are very special, the best of the best, and therefore in huge demand. Event organisers go to great lengths in negotiating with owners to show their automobiles and arrange for the most careful of shipping from across the globe. It’s not just four wheels either, as the Motorbike Concours categories are just as competitive.

Due to the nature of the entries, a Concours has a garden party atmosphere – a celebration of great automotive design, fabulous food and drink, with a chance for men to sport their blazers and ladies to shine in their elegant dresses.

One of the most respected Concours in the UK
The 2017’s Chubb Insurance Concours d’Elégance took place in the prestigious grounds of Blenheim Palace and is closely linked with the famous Pebble Beach Concours in America. Now in its twelfth year, the event is by far one of the most respected Concours in the UK and therefore attracts some spectacular entries.

Taking top honours for Best of Show was a one-off 1960 Alfa Romeo 6C 3000 CM Pininfarina Superflow IV. It’s a car that hadn’t been shown in the UK before, as it lives in America. It shook off fierce competition in the Curvaceous Coupes Class (yes, some of the Concours categories have really fabulous names) and sailed across the Atlantic with not only the Best in Show Trophy, but also a Best-in-Class award.

This year’s Concours d’Elégance also played tribute to Ferrari’s 70th anniversary. Highlights included a 1949 Ferrari 166 Inter Coupe – the oldest-surviving UK-based Ferrari – to the latest Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta (open top), which was built to celebrate the marque’s 70th anniversary.

Other winners included:

• People’s Choice: 1973 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 ‘Daytona’ Spider
• Graceful Pre-War Motoring: 1939 Horch 853A Sport Cabriolet
• Best of British: 1961 Jaguar E-Type 3.8 Series 1
• Luxury in Motion; Pre-War Rolls-Royce: 1931 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental
• Riviera Cruising: 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider
• Evolution of the Supercar Pin-Up: 1967 Lamborghini Miura P400
• Classic Sports Racers against the Stopwatch – to 1965: 1965 Shelby 427 Cobra
• Exceptional Motorbikes 1900–1939: 1903 Royal Sovereign
• Exceptional Motorbikes 1940–1976: 1975 Suzuki T500 Rickman Metisse
• Exceptional Competition Motorbikes: 1975 Ducati 750 SS