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Monte Carlo Concours 2012 – Report and Photos

Report and photos by Ian McLeod

Ferrari 275 GTB-Competition SpecialeThe third annual Monte-Carlo Concours d’Elegance was held Sunday, March 11, 2012 in the fantastic location of Hercules Port in the Principality of Monaco. The event is an integral part of Monaco Motor Legends International Trade Fair for Collectors and Professionals of Vintage Cars which ran from March 8-11th.

The 2012 Monte Carlo Concours was scheduled earlier than last year given the requirement to fit in with Monaco’s event schedule, in particular the Formula One GP and the biennial Historic Grand Prix. Nevertheless, the weather was excellent: warm, dry and clear blue skies every day. Entrants and sponsors also enjoyed impressive hospitality at the Hotel Hermitage and the exclusive Automobile Club de Monaco.

Given the certainly of salt covered roads on the way from UK to Monaco I decided to have my Jaguar XK120 FHC delivered there on the basis that I would drive it the 1500 miles back home no matter what. Kentvale did an excellent job collecting my car from home and delivering bang on the agreed time. I was somewhat concerned about the return journey as the car had covered only a few hundred miles since restoration by Nigel Dawes in the 1990’s after which it went in to the Blackhawk Collection for a decade prior to my acquiring it. Nevertheless, the exercise was a success as I received an award and the return trip was trouble free and completely dry.

The event does not (yet) attract hundreds of cars but the quality and standard is very high and included cars which have appeared and won at major International Concours including Pebble Beach and Kuwait. On Sunday all cars paraded through the Principality prior to the announcement of the Awards.

Best of Show went to a unique Maserati Boomerang Concept Coupe and class winners included a Bentley Continental and superb Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8. There was an impressive list of entries which included Ferraris, Bugattis, Cord, my own Jaguar XK120 FHC, Delahaye, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, OSCA, Morgan, Talbot-Lagos, Lamborghini, Lagonda, Cadillac, Ford and Porsche.

This is an excellent event which I thoroughly recommend, especially if you have a good, interesting car but are not overly obsessed with having it “correct” in micro detail.

Monte Carlo Concours d’Elegance 2012 – Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture)

[Source: Ian McLeod]