In Germany, automotive culture is not only part of the raison d'être, but also the classic car scene between Munich, Stuttgart, Hamburg and Berlin is more alive than in almost any other European country. Nevertheless, collectors and enthusiasts in search of truly top-class and internationally relevant concours events have usually had to travel to Lake Como, Pebble Beach or England. The organisers of the Concours of Elegance at the royal Hampton Court in London have now changed this - and celebrated the first edition of the Concours of Elegance Germany at Gut Kaltenbrunn on Lake Tegernsee last summer. The ultimate automotive summer party in front of a Bavarian dream backdrop was a complete success.
As local partners, the watch brand A. Lange & Söhne and the auction house RM Sotheby's presented the first German Concours of Elegance. And Classic Driver was also involved in the development of the event: our CEO J.P. Rathgen is once again the honorary president of the Concours this year, while our magazine will keep you, dear readers, up to date on the highlights of the event as an official media partner.
The second Concours of Elegance Germany will take place on 25 and 26 July - and once again, visitors can look forward to 50 selected exceptional classics competing against each other in the competition for class victories and the title of "Best of Show". Of course, the entire line-up will not be unveiled until Friday morning, but we can already reveal some eye-catchers: Great design icons such as the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL, the Aston Martin DB4, the Lamborghini Countach LP400 and the Ferrari 275 GTS are represented as well as rare, surprising and almost forgotten cars such as the Serenissima Agena, the Citroen SM Mylord, or the Ogle Triplex GTS. Meanwhile, friends of baroque elegance will enjoy European Art Deco road cruisers such as a Talbot-Lago T23 and a Delage D8 Roadster designed by Henri Chapron, as well as an Austro Daimler Bergmeister. Unlike other concours events, the winners are not chosen by a jury, but by the participants themselves.
The Concours program begins on Friday with the Grand Arrival of the participants in their automobiles along Lake Tegernsee, a series of exciting panel talks and a Best of Show Parade, where all Concours cars will be presented to the audience. On Saturday, the focus will be on the special classes, including fresh formats such as the Emerging Collectors Concours, the Ladies' Concours and the Junior Concours. The excitement finally rises when the Decade Awards are presented and the overall winner of the Best of Show Award from A. Lange & Söhne.
But that's not all: In addition to the actual concours, an exhibition of around 100 extraordinary automobiles from brand partners such as Lamborghini Munich, Emil Frey Sportivo - Official Ferrari Dealer, Brabus, Koenigsegg and Rimac as well as renowned dealers will also attract visitors to Gut Kaltenbrunn. RM Sotheby's, meanwhile, is unveiling a special exhibition of the Schumacher Memorabilia Collection. Tickets are still available for both days - but don't wait too long, because you really shouldn't miss the ultimate automotive summer party of the German collector car scene.
Photos by Jonny Lau for Classic Driver
