Lancia Astura wins ‘Best of Show’ at Concours of Elegance Germany

A new international concours appearing on the scene is always exciting, and this year has seen the first Concours of Elegance Germany – sister event to the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace – take place at Gut Kaltenbrunn, on the shore of Lake Tegernsee. The field contained a selection of just over 80 cars, from pre-war legends to modern hypercar icons, with the overall Best of Show award being given to a 1939 Lancia Astura Pinin Farina Cabriolet.

The Lancia, a Series 4 Pinin Farina Cabriolet Astura, features a wonderful small capacity 3.0-litre V8 engine, as well as an extended wheelbase over the earlier models. Lancia was always the boundaries of automotive engineering, proven by this car’s electric soft top. Complete with bespoke coachwork from Pinin Farina, it’s widely considered to be one of the most beautiful Lancias.

A rare 1939 Lancia Astura Pinin Farina Cabriolet was honoured with the coveted award, emerging victorious from a field of over 80 exquisite motor cars

A rare 1939 Lancia Astura Pinin Farina Cabriolet was honoured with the coveted award, emerging victorious from a field of over 80 exquisite motor cars

Chairman of the Steering Committee – Richard Charlesworth MVO – presented the Chairman’s Award to a 1958 Bugatti Type 57C. There was also a celebration of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing 70th Anniversary, with an award presented to a 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing ‘Demonstration Car’. Having been presented to European royalty and social luminaries when new, it has one of the most interesting backstories of any Gullwing.

James Brooks-Ward, CEO of Thorough Events commented: ‘We set out to create an international German Concours that the passionate collectors and enthusiasts in Germany could call their own. We achieved this and went beyond all our expectations. It felt like it had happened a number of times and already it feels like a well-established international Concours.’