Car Concours goes virtual for 2020

What is it?

Being held entirely online, the Concours Virtual is unique as Concours d’Elegance events go. The event is being organised in aid of Unicef’s pandemic response to help children affected by the COVID-19 crisis worldwide. On display are more than 180 beautiful automobiles that are open for viewing from the convenience of your home.

• A total of 17 classes of automobiles on display
• Cars from India showcased as well
• Visit the concoursvirtual.com to experience the concours and vote

Which cars are on show?

There is a wide range of automobiles on display, from an unrestored 130-year-old steam wagon to the greatest supercars from the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s. 

Some of the cars to look out for are Steve McQueen’s Jaguar XKSS, Elvis Presley’s BMW 507 and a Rolls-Royce Phantom V originally belonging to Sheikh Zayed of UAE. There’s also a bevy of F1 cars in the 70 Years of Formula 1 Class.

Sheikh Zayed’s Rolls-Royce Phantom V

Some of our favourite classes are the Concept Cars from the 70’s featuring a Lancia Stratos HF Zero; Poster Cars of the 60s, 70s and 80s that has a Lamborghini Countach LP400; and the Banzai Group A Homologation class which features some iconic cars like the BMW E30 Cecotto, Lancia Delta Integrale, Ford Escort RS Cosworth and an Audi Quattro. There is a special class as a tribute to Sir Sterling Moss and, for the first time, a scale models class too.

The Indian connection

There are a number of cars with an Indian connect participating at the concours.  The 1933 Minerva Type AL - Seven Passenger Landaulet de Ville by Carrosserie Van Den Plas belonging to Diljeet Titus is believed to be one of two of its kind in the world, and has already been declared winner in the ‘People’s Vote’ in the “Cars of the Art Deco Era” category. Yohan Poonawalla’s stunning 1949 Bentley Mark VI Touring Saloon by Hooper was originally owned by the Maharaja of Mysore. The car won Best of Show at the 21 Gun Salute Concours d’Elegance in New Delhi earlier this year.

Diljeet Titus with his 1933 Minerva Type AL

Also winner of the ‘People’s Vote’ in the Pre-War Supercars Class is Sirdool Singh’s 1904 Napier L49, Semi-Limousine by H.J. Mulliner believed to have once belonged to the Nizam of Hyderabad.

Judges par excellence

The exhibits are split into 17 special classes and are judged by some of the most prominent experts in the world like Dr. Andrea Zagato, grandson of founder coachbuilder Ugo Zagato; Peter Stevens, best known for designing the McLaren F1, the 1988 Lotus Esprit and the 2003 Subaru Impreza P1; Nick Mason, drummer for Pink Floyd and car collector; multiple world and Olympic champion track cyclist, Sir Chris Hoy MBE; Sandra Button Chairman of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance; and Executive Director and British TV presenter and journalist Vicki Butler Henderson, to name a few.

1962 BRM P578 Formula 1 car

The winner of each class qualify for the ‘Best of Show’ honours with the final winner to be announced on August 9, 2020.

You can vote

You can take part in the concours by casting your vote for your favourite car across categories. To do so, register on concoursvirtual.com.