Concours South Africa – A Vintage Car Love Affair
Africa’s premier automotive Concours d’Elegance
A vintage car feast is upon us this August, as classic car enthusiasts anticipate the third (3rd) annual Concours South Africa – one of the highest profiled events in the country. This year will see new entries amongst the likes of an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint from the late 1950s, early 1960s classics such as a Fiat V8 Vignale, an Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Sports Freccia d’Oro, a Talbot Lago Grand Sports T26 and a Fiat Stanguellini Berlinetta Coupe.
This event attracts the jet-set elite of South Africa as well as high-profile media. They will all convene to soak up the euphoria of this event, which is a combination of exceptional cars and glamour. This annual lifestyle fair, which is held over two days around the world, in the United States of America, Europe and Australia, will see an array of car aficionados enter their vintage, classic and collectable automobiles into a competition which judges each individual classic vehicle on rarity, presentation and originality, whether they are pre-war, vintage or from the modern era – they all have to date no later than 1995.
In 2017, over 75 cars entered the Concours South Africa, which accepts entries from all countries. This year over 100 vehicles is set to enter the contest, making it the biggest car competition in South Africa to-date. The ultra-glamorous event will be held at Steyn City north of Johannesburg, one of Joburg’s premier residential estates – the perfect pairing to host the Concours South Africa as both entities represent splendour.
History
The original name Concours d‘Elegance which means competition of elegance dates back to 17th century France, and over the centuries this competition included the inclusion of classic cars.
Concours is not a contest of speed, but of style and elegance – the vehicles are judged on the quality presentation, historical accuracy and technical merit.
The oldest Concours is the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este which was first held in September 1929 and is still held annually at the Villa d’Este in Cernobbio on Lake Como in Italy.
The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, which began in 1950, continues to set the bar for all others with collectors worldwide dreaming of competing where the famed 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links is the stage and the rolling Pacific Ocean serves as a backdrop. In tandem with the competition between extraordinary historic automobiles, the Concours also serves as gracious host to some of the world’s most anticipated concept and new car debuts each year.
Ross Crichton, Co-Founder of Concours South Africa comments, “The Pebble Beach event strives to honour the artistry and craftsmanship of bygone eras. Since 1950, Pebble Beach has been host to the finest exhibition of show cars in the world and making the whole affair even better, people actually get to hear this million-dollar (or more) machines roar … It’s likely the best moving motoring museum that someone could ever witness.”
The Judges
Experienced judges, who are both international and local, including chief Judge Wayne Harley, and assistant chief Judge Marius Malberbe, will examine the automobiles thoroughly. Both judges have a wealth of experience in the classic car fields. Harley is the curator of the Franschhoek Motor Museum in the Winelands, while Malherbe is the former managing director of Lamborghini in South Africa and is an arch classic car and motorcycle collector. The categories of the cars include – pre-war, post-war, elegance, sports car, preservation, restored, light commercials, popular classic, modern classic, and period costume.
Former Winners
The event last year in South Africa was won by the 1988 Ferrari F40 belonging to the Johannesburg collector Keith Rivers. Only 1311 of these cars were made in Italy and they were so much in demand that when they reached the United States that some new owners paid almost three times the list price of approximately ZAR 5 million (US$400,000).
The first Concurs South Africa was held in 2016 and won by a 1985 De Tomaso Pantera GT5 owned by Fatima de Abreu from Gaborone, Botswana. This mid-engine sports car, produced by the De Tomaso car company of Italy from 1971 to 1992, was their most popular model, with over 7,000 manufactured over its 20-year production.
People who enter this competition are avid lovers of cars particular vintage – and tend to be collectors. Many of them buy the vehicles in a dilapidated state and restore them to their former glory and the ultimate prize being able to enter their prized possession into the Concours be it be in South Africa or anywhere else.
The Event
This affair is nothing short of spectacular – fine cuisine, superb local wines and choice champagne will be the order of the days served all day long, along with the high-glamour, the nostalgia and regality of these vintage machines that have been individually fine-tuned to being superb with their original parts. There will be a bustle of activity and entry to the paddocks to view these exclusive cars. Aligning themselves to Concours South Africa and adding a splash of prestige are the likes of Super Car Lifestyle, Nedbank Private Wealth, auction house – Coys of Kensington founded in 1919, Vantage Fine Automotive Art and others.
Paul Kennard, co-founder of the Concours South Africa, commented on the event saying, “We are gratified that there has been so much interest in Concours South Africa, with the actual competition still a couple of months away this bodes well for another brilliant event in 2018”.
This is an event about a lifestyle, meeting different people from the SADC region, networking and above all else, beautiful race cars. For those of you who like all things beautiful, who have a taste for the finer things in life, come and enjoy two days of pure charm and excitement.
DATE DIARY DETAILS
Event: Concours South Africa
Venue: The Parkland Residence of Steyn City
Dates: 10 – 12 August 2018
Time: 10:30 – 18:00
Dawn Patrol: Field opens to car entrants at dawn Judging Commences: 8:30 am
Field officially opens to General Admission spectators 10:30 am Day 2, Awards are presented, 1:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Social Media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ConcoursSouthAfrica/
Twitter: @ConcoursSAfrica
Instagram: @concours_south_africa
LinkedIn: Concours South Africa
Official Hashtag: #ConcoursSouthAfrica
Buy your tickets NOW!
Ticket Categories
Club D’Elegance:
Individual Package Cost I R2 500 – per guest
Reserved Lounge Cost I R3 000 per guest
Private Hospitality Suites: Package Cost: Bespoke packages can be tailored to your budget.
Public Tickets: R500.00 per guest
All above costs exclude 15 % VAT.