The precipitation helped demonstrate just how shiny the cars were

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A little bit of typical northern European October rain and some very heavy grey skies could not dampen the ardour of the visitors’ love of motor cars at the Zoute Concours d’Elegance.

Part of the 10th Anniversary Zoute GP (also constituting Top Marques, Rally, GT Tour, and a Bonhams auction), the 9th Edition of the Concours was held at the prestigious Royal Zoute Golf Club on the ‘northern riviera’ at Knokke Le Zoute in Belgium.

The final parade of the concours cars alongside the Dyke Le Zoute and ending on the impressive Podium Albertplein Marquee was watched by an estimated 100,000 enthusiastic spectators. This made me, as a member of the Jury, feel very important as, in a fleet of limousines with a police escort, we were transported ahead of the parade to our under-cover VIP position. The logistical organisation of the whole event which in 2018 attracted 263,000 visitors, 645 cars, 1,040 participants, 13,000 VIPs, along with over 100 members of the media and 57 partners and sponsors is rather remarkable! So even though for this year the rain did deter a few visitors, many of my fellow judges including those from America remarked that it is an event that rivals Pebble Beach in scale and quite possibly in content.

Concours d’Elegance

Not only did the visitors put up with the inclement weather, so too did some 106 concours vehicles and owners. Remember we are talking Concours d’Elegance here, cars that have been detailed and polished, and lavished with love and devotion in an endeavour to achieve the holy grail of class winner, or even perhaps the coveted Best in Show. At least the precipitation helped demonstrate just how shiny the cars were as the rain slid along the panels.

And what an incredible selection of PreWarCars there were to be seen amongst those celebrating 100 years of Bentley, 110 years of Bugatti and a host of other classes. Any automobile that was going to win Pre-War Best in Show would have to beat the 1930 Gurney Nutting Bentley Blower built for the legendary Captain Woolf Barnato, or the 1938 Bugatti Type 57C coupé owned and driven by none less than Le Patron himself Ettore Bugatti and his son Jean, as well works drivers Jean-Pierre Wimille and Robert Benoist. The oldest car on display a 1912 Peugeot Bebé, was designed by Ettore Bugatti, whilst another contender would be another Bugatti, the Type 43 Grand Sports Tourer originally owned by Crown Prince Leopold of Belgium. The unanimous winner though from a host of marvellous motors was the incredible 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K cabriolet A, first owned by Madame Franchi the proprietor of the La Roulote nightclub in Paris. Just one of eleven cars of its type it remained in continuous family ownership until 2007!

“Raindrops keep falling on my head…Nothing’s worrying me!”

Words and pictures by James Nicholls.

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