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American racer Kevin Cogan's Ferrari wins European Concours

06/28/2019

American racer Kevin Cogan won Best of Show at the Concours d’Elegance Suisse

Cogan’s car is a 1953 Ferrari by Vignale

1953 Ferrari with coachwork by Vignale

Mathias Doutreleau, former director of the Californian Concours The Quail

1920 Bugatti Type 22 Brescia Modifiee

American Kevin Cogan’s Ferrari wins Concours d’Elegance Suisse 90 beautiful cars line up on Lac Leman near Geneva

The whole idea of a Concours d’Elegance for automobiles started in Europe in the 1920s and ’30s and, while it lapsed over time since then, in recent years several locations on the Continent have begun to revive the classic showing of beautiful cars in spectacular locations. One of the most recent was held in the tiny and ancient town of Coppet, located on the edge of Lac Leman — Lake Geneva to you and me — halfway between Geneva and Lausanne.

This year was the fourth Concours d’Elegance Suisse. It was held the weekend of June 21-23 on the grounds of the Chateau de Coppet, an almost fairy tale location with panoramic views of the lake and Mont Blanc, both of which have inspired poets and artists for centuries. The Chateau is the former residence of French-Swiss author Germaine de Stael (1766-1817), whose life overlapped with the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era. With such a long history in place, the theme for this year’s Concours was “595 Years of Automotive Style and Engineering” and included historic artworks as well as, this being Switzerland, watches and other timepieces.

Chief judge, Bugatti design director Achim Anscheidt, called it a “marvelous setting.”

Among the 90 cars on display were tributes to the 125th anniversary of Delahaye, 110th anniversary of Bugatti and the 100th anniversaries of Bentley, Citroen and Carrosserie Chapron. There was also a tribute to the 60th birthday of Austin Mini and an homage to its founder Sir Alec Issigonis.

The weekend started with a Tour d’Elegance on Friday departing from the chateau and ending on the concours lawn. Saturday was a preview of the concours for entrants, invited guests and — oh, dear — media. The main concours was Sunday, June 23.

And, voila, Best in Show this year went to an American, one you surely know, former F1 and Indy-car driver Kevin Cogan, whose uniquely beautiful 1953 Ferrari GT Europa with coachwork by Vignale took top honors.

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