The Chantilly Arts et Elegance is at last back on the concours calendar, playing host to a spectacular display of exotica
WORDS MICK WALSH PHOTOGRAPHY MICK WALSH/PETER AUTO
After three yearsʼ postponement, the Chantilly Arts et Elegance made a welcome return on 25 September. Staged in the grounds of the spectacular 19th-century château 30 miles north of Paris, this one-day event confirmed its status as a world-class concours.
The premier awards are split between pre- and post-war cars, with Gallic designs dominating the results this year headed by the sensational 1938 Hispano-Suiza Dubonnet Xenia, which was a hugely popular winner of the older group. The Saoutchikbodied streamliner designed by Jean Andreau was a feature of the special Hispano-Suiza class and looked amazing in the late sunshine as it took a victorious parade lap around the show arena with the dramatic Renaissance-style castle providing a backdrop.
The Xenia was presented on the showfield beside the Carmen Boulogne, the ultra-exclusive 1000bhp Formula E-derived supercar, painted in matching silver. Unlike the pre-war beauty, which has no identifying badges, the Carmen is adorned with Hispano-Suiza logos and script.
The winner of the post-war trophy was harder to predict from the class victors, with two magnificent Ferraris – the 1966 365P Tre Posti and the Sunoco Team Penske 512M – among the favourites. To some surprise, another French machine, the 1950 Talbot-Lago T26 GS Barchetta, was called up. This little-known design was a 1953 rebody completed by Italian coachbuilder Rocco Motto after the original coupé coachwork had been destroyed in a fiery accident. “Itʼs like the fabulous Ferrari 375 Plus,” argued guest judge and Le Mans veteran Paul Belmondo, with plenty of passion, “but with a longer bonnet and even more beautiful.”
Organised by the Peter Auto team in association with Richard Mille, the Chantilly event is much more than a concours. As well as the 180 competitors, the beautiful woods and lakes feature classic car club picnics and this year there was a BRM celebration featuring three V16s, plus automotive art, balloon flights, boat trips and childrenʼs vintage games.
As well as equestrian displays and acrobats, shepherds in vintage racing gear coralled a herd of geese and goats around the estate. Mix in the latest concept cars, high fashion and delicious food, and the event is a fitting celebration of the nation that created concours
