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Concours of Elegance UK 2015 – Report and Photos

Concours of Elegance at the Royal Palace of Holyroodhouse 2015
Concours of Elegance at the Royal Palace of Holyroodhouse 2015

The fourth annual Concours of Elegance took place on 4-6 September 2015 at the Royal Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland. A total of 60 automobiles from around the world graced Edinburgh’s Palace of Holyroodhouse, joined by displays of hundreds of other motor cars from manufacturers and car clubs. Nearly 10,000 spectators enjoyed this year’s first-class event, which featured wonderful weather and a passionate selection of the world’s rarest motor cars.

The 2015 Concours of Elegance at Holyroodhouse Palace was the fourth such automotive gathering in the United Kingdom, with the first event at the Windsor Castle in 2012, followed by the St. James’s Palace in 2013 and Hampton Court Palace in 2014. The event is unique in the fact that the setting changes from year to year but with the consistent theme of always being held on the lawns of a Royal palace. Set against the backdrop of Arthur’s Seat, the Palace of Holyroodhouse stands at the end of Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile, and serves as Her Majesty The Queen’s official residence in Scotland.

Immediately ahead of the UK Concours of Elegance 2015, a 200-mile driving tour of Scotland was offered to entrants wishing to participate, culminating at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Starting in Loch Lomond, the ‘Highland Tour‘ route saw the cars drive the famous ‘Rest and Be Thankful’ hillclimb, before moving on to Inverary Castle, the Falls of Dochart and back to Loch Lomond ahead of the final leg which took in the Trossachs and the route to Edinburgh.

With perfect weather for all three days of the Concours – Owners’ Day, Jaguar Land Rover Saturday and Bentley Sunday – thousands came out to enjoy the gardens of the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Among them were some special guests, including Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Sir Jackie Stewart and Dario Franchitti. The Concours of Elegance UK 2015 concluded on Sunday, September 6th at the Palace of Holyroodhouse with the Concours awards prize presentations. Concours entry owners and guests were invited to a dinner for the prize winners’ announcements on Saturday night, hosted by Concours of Elegance Patron, HRH Prince Michael of Kent.

The owners of the sixty Concours cars were asked to vote for the car they would ‘Most Like To Drive Home In’ and thereby selected the ‘Best In Show’. The overall winner at the Holyroodhouse Palace Concours 2015 was awarded to the 1903 Mercedes 60HP Simplex of Anke RuckWarth. The owners praised the incredible engineering in this 112-year-old car, which is powered by a 9.2-litre four-cylinder engine and capable of nearly 80 mph. Only four are known to exist.

Other winners included the 1967 Ferrari 275 GTS/4 NART Spider of Jon Shirley awarded the RAC Spirit of Motoring Award, while the 1927 Mercedes-Benz S Rennsport owned by Klaus Schildbach won the Spirit of the Tour award as the driver and car pairing considered to enter most in to the spirit of the Highland Tour.

An impeccable Jaguar SS1 took home two prizes this year, winning both the RAC Club Trophy and the inaugural Jaguar Trophy. Two independent panels of judges, which included HRH Prince Michael of Kent, Jaguar director of design Ian Callum and Aston Martin head of design Marek Reichman, were unanimous in their decisions. As winner of the RAC Club Trophy the SS1, belonging to Michael and Linda Jewell, will be invited to take part in the main Concours in 2016.

The 2015 Concours of Elegance included a special feature for some of Scotland’s most famous racing drivers and their cars. The grounds of the Palace of Holyroodhouse hosted iconic cars driven by Scottish legends like Jim Clark, Johnny Dumfries and Andrew Cowan. In a world-first, Sir Jackie Stewart brought together all of his Formula One World Championship-winning cars: a 1969 Matra MS80, a 1971 Elf Team Tyrrell 003 and a 1973 Elf Team Tyrrell 006. Scotland’s most famous racing team, Ecurie Ecosse, was celebrated with the largest ever collection of the team’s cars. There were two in the main Concours – the Jaguar D-type that came second at Le Mans in 1957 and an ex-Jim Clark 1959 Tojeiro-Jaguar – as well as an additional six Ecurie Ecosse racers on display.

The stunning pale green Ferrari 250 GTO (s/n 3505GT) at the Concours was driven by Innes Ireland straight from Maranello to Goodwood for the International Easter Monday race of 1962. It’s also the same car that won the Tourist Trophy in 1962 and competed at Le Mans in the same year, where it failed to finish.

Ferrari fans were also able to see a Ferrari 212 Export Vignale that made its worldwide Concours debut after an extensive 14-month restoration. The 1951 car was personally driven by Enzo Ferrari to its first owner in Italy, powered by a race-prepared 2.5-litre V12 engine and boasting a body styled by Vignale.

As ever with the Concours of Elegance, this year’s event successfully raised £150,000 for it’s charities for 2015 Action on Addiction, Walking With the Wounded and Springfield Motor Racing’s Club for Young People.

Concours of Elegance is already planning for 2016. To celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s 90th birthday next year, the event will have the biggest and most incredible selection of cars ever seen at the Concours of Elegance.

Similar to the 2012 Windsor Castle, 2013 St. James’s and 2014 Hampton Court events, Sports Car Digest also documented the 2015 Concours of Elegance, with Senior Photographer Tim Scott producing the following stunning images from this year’s event that show the wonderful selection of cars and the unique Palace setting. The first gallery starting below features our favorite images, all displayed in the full-width view of Sports Car Digest, while the second gallery and award winners can be found on the last page of the article and gives a comprehensive view of all the photographs. To see more from Tim, visit fluidimages.co.uk.

Concours of Elegance Holyroodhouse Palace 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery

 

Sir Jackie Stewart brought together all of his Formula One World Championship-winning cars: a 1969 Matra MS80, a 1971 Elf Team Tyrrell 003 and a 1973 Elf Team Tyrrell 006.
Sir Jackie Stewart brought together all of his Formula One World Championship-winning cars: a 1969 Matra MS80, a 1971 Elf Team Tyrrell 003 and a 1973 Elf Team Tyrrell 006.
Ex-Jimmy Clark Lotus
Ex-Jimmy Clark Lotus
Ex-Jimmy Clark Lotus
Ex-Jimmy Clark Lotus
1951 Ferrari 212 Vignale Export
1951 Ferrari 212 Vignale Export
1961 Jaguar E-Type Semi-Lightweight ‘ex-Briggs Cunningham’
1961 Jaguar E-Type Semi-Lightweight ‘ex-Briggs Cunningham’
1903 Mercedes Simplex 60HP
1903 Mercedes Simplex 60HP won Best in Show

 

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Concours of Elegance Holyroodhouse Palace 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Two

 

1931 Invicta 4 Litre Vanden Plas Low Chassis S-Type
1931 Invicta 4 Litre Vanden Plas Low Chassis S-Type
Scottish racing great Dario Franchitti
Scottish racing great Dario Franchitti
1967 Ferrari 275 GTS/4 NART Spider
1967 Ferrari 275 GTS/4 NART Spider
1963 ATS 2500 GTS Allemano Coupe
1963 ATS 2500 GTS Allemano Coupe
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, ex-Innes Ireland
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, ex-Innes Ireland
1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato 2VEV raced under the John Ogier's Essex Racing Stable with assistance from the Aston Martin factory
1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato 2VEV raced under the John Ogier’s Essex Racing Stable with assistance from the Aston Martin factory

 

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Concours of Elegance Holyroodhouse Palace 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Three

 

1912 Lorraine Dietrich ‘Vieux Charles III’
1912 Lorraine Dietrich ‘Vieux Charles III’
Ferrari 288 GTO
Ferrari 288 GTO
Concours of Elegance at the Royal Palace of Holyroodhouse 2015
Concours of Elegance at the Royal Palace of Holyroodhouse 2015
Ecurie Ecosse racers, ranging from the 1950s to the modern-day
Ecurie Ecosse racers, ranging from the 1950s to the modern-day
Scottish Motor Racing Legends Display
Scottish Motor Racing Legends Display
Ex-Jimmy Clark Lotus display
Ex-Jimmy Clark Lotus display

 

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Concours of Elegance Holyroodhouse Palace 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Four

 

1936 Delahaye 135 Sports DUV 870
1936 Delahaye 135 Sports DUV 870
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, ex-Innes Ireland
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, ex-Innes Ireland
Ex-Briggs Cunningham 1961 Jaguar E-Type Semi-Lightweight won its class at the Sebring 12 Hours in 1962
Ex-Briggs Cunningham 1961 Jaguar E-Type Semi-Lightweight won its class at the Sebring 12 Hours in 1962
HRH Prince Michael of Kent with the 1956 Jaguar D-Type Ecurie Ecosse
HRH Prince Michael of Kent with the 1956 Jaguar D-Type Ecurie Ecosse
1935 Squire 1500 Ranelagh Tourer
1935 Squire 1500 Ranelagh Tourer
1956 Maserati A6G/2000 Zagato Berlinetta
1956 Maserati A6G/2000 Zagato Berlinetta

 

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Concours of Elegance Holyroodhouse Palace 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Five

 

Admiring the 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato 2VEV
Admiring the 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato 2VEV
1987 Ferrari F40 Pininfarina GT Prototype
1987 Ferrari F40 Pininfarina GT Prototype
1939 Delahaye Type 165 Figoni et Falaschi Cabriolet ‘World’s Fair Car’
1939 Delahaye Type 165 Figoni et Falaschi Cabriolet ‘World’s Fair Car’
1938 Bugatti Type 57C Gangloff Two-Seater Drophead Coupe
1938 Bugatti Type 57C Gangloff Two-Seater Drophead Coupe
Sir Jackie Stewart with the 1956 Jaguar D-Type
Sir Jackie Stewart with the 1956 Jaguar D-Type
1951 Tojeiro-MG Sport
1951 Tojeiro-MG Sport

 

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Concours of Elegance Holyroodhouse Palace 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Six

 

1958 Ferrari 250 GT Scaglietti Berlinetta Tour de France
1958 Ferrari 250 GT Scaglietti Berlinetta Tour de France
Senior Photographer Tim Scott looks at home in the 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Short Chassis Zagato Spider
Senior Photographer Tim Scott looks at home in the 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Short Chassis Zagato Spider
1967 Ferrari 275 GTS/4 NART Spider and 1965 Aston Martin DB6 Short Chassis Volante
1967 Ferrari 275 GTS/4 NART Spider and 1965 Aston Martin DB6 Short Chassis Volante
1933 MG K3 Magnette­ Supercharged Roadster
1933 MG K3 Magnette­ Supercharged Roadster
1956 Maserati A6G/2000 Zagato Berlinetta
1956 Maserati A6G/2000 Zagato Berlinetta
Concours of Elegance at the Royal Palace of Holyroodhouse 2015
Concours of Elegance at the Royal Palace of Holyroodhouse 2015

 

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Concours of Elegance Holyroodhouse Palace 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Seven

 

1965 Shelby 427 Competition Cobra LOV1
1965 Shelby 427 Competition Cobra LOV1
1937 Bentley 4.25-Litre Vanden Plas Tourer
1937 Bentley 4.25-Litre Vanden Plas Tourer
1949 Talbot Lago Type 26 Gran Sport by Franay
1949 Talbot Lago Type 26 Gran Sport by Franay
1960 Aston Martin DB4GT Bertone Jet
1960 Aston Martin DB4GT Bertone Jet
1935 Squire 1500 Ranelagh Tourer
1935 Squire 1500 Ranelagh Tourer
1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO and 1961 Jaguar E-Type Semi-Lightweight
1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO and 1961 Jaguar E-Type Semi-Lightweight

 

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Concours of Elegance Holyroodhouse Palace 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eight

 

Ecurie Ecosse - 1956 Jaguar D-Type, 1959 Tojeiro-Jaguar Sports-Racing Prototype and 1953 Jaguar C-Type
Ecurie Ecosse – 1956 Jaguar D-Type, 1959 Tojeiro-Jaguar Sports-Racing Prototype and 1953 Jaguar C-Type
1931 Invicta 4 Litre Vanden Plas Low Chassis S-Type and 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Short Chassis Zagato Spider
1931 Invicta 4 Litre Vanden Plas Low Chassis S-Type and 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Short Chassis Zagato Spider
1979 BMW M1
1979 BMW M1
1963 Jaguar E-Type 3.8 Fixed Head Coupe and 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC Speciale
1963 Jaguar E-Type 3.8 Fixed Head Coupe and 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC Speciale
1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Vanvooren Drophead Coupe
1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Vanvooren Drophead Coupe
Ecurie Ecosse display included a 1959 Commer Ecurie Ecosse Transporter
Ecurie Ecosse display included a 1959 Commer Ecurie Ecosse Transporter

 

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Concours of Elegance Holyroodhouse Palace 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Nine

 

1975 Lancia Stratos HF Stradale
1975 Lancia Stratos HF Stradale
1905 Star Gordon Bennett Racer
1905 Star Gordon Bennett Racer
Concours of Elegance at the Royal Palace of Holyroodhouse 2015
Concours of Elegance at the Royal Palace of Holyroodhouse 2015
The 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Short Chassis Zagato Spider only deserves the very best Scottish water
The 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Short Chassis Zagato Spider only deserves the very best Scottish water
Concours of Elegance at the Royal Palace of Holyroodhouse 2015
Concours of Elegance at the Royal Palace of Holyroodhouse 2015
1951 Ferrari 212 Vignale Export
1951 Ferrari 212 Vignale Export

 

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Concours of Elegance Holyroodhouse Palace 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Ten

 

HRH Prince Michael of Kent greeted the entrants
HRH Prince Michael of Kent greeted the entrants
Lots of interest in the 1937 Jaguar SS100
Lots of interest in the 1937 Jaguar SS100
Concours of Elegance at the Royal Palace of Holyroodhouse 2015
Concours of Elegance at the Royal Palace of Holyroodhouse 2015
1965 Aston Martin DB6 Short Chassis Volante
1965 Aston Martin DB6 Short Chassis Volante
1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Coupe Aerodinamico
1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Coupe Aerodinamico
1965 Shelby 427 Competition Cobra LOV1
1965 Shelby 427 Competition Cobra LOV1

 

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Concours of Elegance Holyroodhouse Palace 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Eleven

 

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
1939 Delahaye Type 165 Figoni et Falaschi Cabriolet ‘World’s Fair Car’
1939 Delahaye Type 165 Figoni et Falaschi Cabriolet ‘World’s Fair Car’
1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Short Chassis Zagato Spider
1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Short Chassis Zagato Spider
1953 Jaguar C-Type Ecurie Ecosse
1953 Jaguar C-Type Ecurie Ecosse
Ecurie Ecosse collection
Ecurie Ecosse collection
Curiosity for the 1949 Talbot Lago Type 26 Gran Sport by Franay
Curiosity for the 1949 Talbot Lago Type 26 Gran Sport by Franay

 

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Concours of Elegance Holyroodhouse Palace 2015 – Main Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)

 

[nggallery id=840 images=15]

 

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[Source: Concours of Elegance; photos: Tim Scott / Fluid Images]