1927 Hispano-Suiza H6C – Best of Show!

India’s magnificent Hispano-Suiza H6C claimed the coveted Best of Show

Text: Gautam Sen

Images: Nohé Khaldi & Gautam Sen

Most historic vehicle enthusiasts have either heard of, or been fortunate enough to visit, the magnificent Musée National de l'Automobile – Collection Schlumpf, in Mulhouse, France.

Class-winning Bugatti Type 38, in a beautiful original state with wonderful patina, has remained in the long-term ownership of Fabrice Reithofer's family

Widely regarded as one of the world's finest automotive museums, it houses the largest collection of French historic automobiles anywhere, including what is undoubtedly the greatest assembly of Bugattis ever brought together under one roof.

A superbly well-restored SS100 Jaguar won the class for cars from 1931 to 1950

The museum's collection is nothing short of extraordinary. More than 400 vehicles are on permanent display, with another 300 or so preserved in reserve.

Another astounding car was the Berliet BD 40CV Grand Sport, driven and presented by Claudie Feugere

Visitors can admire over 130 Bugattis, including three of the legendary Type 41 Royales, alongside spectacular examples from marques such as Rolls-Royce, Mercedes-Benz, Hispano-Suiza, Delahaye, Delage, Ferrari, Maserati, Lancia and many others.

A stand-alone image of the magnificent Berliet

Add to that racing cars (there is a very special exhibition on the history of Formula 1 going on), pioneering automobiles, children's vehicles, restoration workshops, interactive exhibits and even an autodrome where historic cars are exercised in public, and it is easy to understand why the museum is considered a pilgrimage destination for motoring enthusiasts.

Cécile Schaeffer received the Prix d'Élégance for her exquisite Facel Vega HK500 Coupé

It was on this very autodrome that the inaugural Concours d'Élégance International Schlumpf was held over the weekend of 27-28 June.

Another handsome car was the 1934 Bentley 3 1/2 Litre Airline

The event was the brainchild of passionate collector Christophe Gutknecht (who was ably assisted by Bastien Seldran and the team from the museum led by director Guillaume Gasser) who proposed creating a concours in partnership with the museum, giving collectors and enthusiasts an opportunity to bring their own historic vehicles to one of the world's most prestigious automotive venues.

Of course, the stars of the concours were the two cars from India – the Mercedes-Benz 540K and the Hispano-Suiza H6C – both from the Pranlal Bhogilal Collection

Following the judging system established by the Fédération Française des Véhicules d'Époque (FFVE), the concours celebrated not only beautifully restored and preserved automobiles but also the stories behind them.

The ultimate star, the redoubtable Best of Show, was the amazing Hispano-Suiza H6C. In the images you can see Mohammed Luqman Ali Khan, Thierry Boutsen, Christian Ginet, and yours truly

Every entrant was presented in context, allowing visitors to appreciate its history, its significance and the spirit in which it had originally been designed.

As with the finest concours events, elegance extended far beyond the automobiles themselves: it was reflected in the presentation, the atmosphere and the attention to every detail.

Almost a hundred non-concours cars were on display, representing various clubs

Staged alongside the museum's remarkable permanent collection, the concours created a fascinating dialogue between some of the world's finest museum pieces and an equally impressive selection of privately owned classics.

Although it has been seen before, this car always amazes, given that this one-off mid-engined Alfa Romeo Aerospider 8C is from the late 1930s

For one weekend, the Schlumpf Collection became a living stage where history, craftsmanship and automotive passion came together.

Around forty exceptional automobiles competed in the concours itself, while a further hundred or so historic vehicles attended as part of club displays and enthusiast gatherings. More than twenty-five manufacturers, specialists and exhibitors also took part, adding further variety to the event.

Taking turns to pose with the Hispano-Suiza were Mylène Wittmer, who handles communication for the museum, as well as the legendary Thierry Boutsen and his wife, Tomoyo Kurosaka

Choosing the winners was never going to be easy. The jury was chaired by former Formula One driver Thierry Boutsen and included an impressive panel of internationally respected experts, among them Christian Philippsen, Leo van Hoorick, Tomoyo Kurosaka, Hubert Haberbusch, Octane magazine's James Elliott, Pál Negyesi, our own Mohammed Luqman Ali Khan, and several other distinguished judges.

There was even a discoloured Lamborghini Miura, as well as a smattering of machines from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s (Porsche 928, Lancia Fulvia Coupé, Chevrolet Corvette, Facel Vega HK500 Coupé and a couple of Ferraris, a 250 GT Lusso and a F340), as well as pre-War exotics such as Renault and a Mercedes-Benz 170S

Their task was made particularly difficult by the quality and diversity of the entries. Among the highlights were two beautiful Bugattis, a Type 28 and a Type 38, the unique mid-engined Alfa Romeo Aerospider 8C, an imposing Berliet BD 40CV Grand Sport, a graceful Bentley 3½ Litre Airline, a superb SS100 Jaguar and an elegant Cord 812 entered by renowned Indian collector Yohan Poonawalla, who attended the event with his family.

One of the most beautiful cars on display was Indian billionaire Yohan Poonawalla's Cord 812, which won a Special Award from the museum. At bottom left, we see Yohan Poonawalla receiving the award trophy from Thierry Boutsen (pics courtesy Patrick Hornstein)

India was also proudly represented by two outstanding automobiles from the Pranlal Bhogilal Collection: a magnificent 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K and the recently restored 1927 Hispano-Suiza H6C (1927 Hispano-Suiza H6C: The Rebirth of a Legend), making its concours debut.

With such an exceptional field, selecting the winners proved an enormous challenge. Individual class honours went to the Bugatti Type 38, the SS100 Jaguar, the Ferrari 250 GT Lusso and a remarkable time-warp Peugeot 205 Turbo 16. Yet when it came to the ultimate prize, the judges were unanimous.

All three of the Bugatti Royales in the Schlumpf collection were out on the move, including the Park Ward limousine

The coveted Best of Show award went to the beautifully restored 1927 Hispano-Suiza H6C from India.

It was an extraordinary achievement, particularly as this was the car's very first appearance at an international concours d'élégance.

Yours truly managed a ride in the sumptuous Bugatti Royale Coupé Napoléon, thanks to Schlumpf Museum Director Guillaume Gasser

For the Pranlal Bhogilal Collection, its team led by Chamundeshwari and Brijesh Chinai, and Indian automotive heritage as a whole, it was a memorable and thoroughly deserved triumph, one that made everyone associated with the project immensely proud.

Results:

Best of Show: 1927 Hispano-Suiza H6C (from the Pranlal Bhogilal Collection)

Class Winners:

Pre-1930:

- Bugatti Type 38 (Fabrice Reithofer)

- Berliet BD 40CV Grand Sport (Claudie Feugere)

1931-1950:

- SS100 Jaguar 3.5 Litre (Gérard Lapostolle)

- Bentley 3 ½ Litre Airline Saloon (Rolf Donati)

1951-1970:

- Ferrari 250 GT Lusso (Jean-Pierre Mitard)

- Facel Vega HK500 Coupé (Cécile Schaeffer)

1971-1995:

- Peugeot 205 Turbo 16

- Renault 5 Turbo 2 (Marc Palmieri)

Special Awards

Best Supercar:

- Bugatti Veyron Super Sport

Prix Audace:

- Berliet BD 40CV Grand Sport (Claudie Feugere)

Special Award for Elegance:

- Facel Vega HK500 Coupé (Cécile Schaeffer)

Special Award from Musée National de l'Automobile - Collection Schlumpf:

- Cord 812 (Yohan Poonawalla)

Comments ( )

Comments ()