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Antwerp Contest of Elegance

At the time we informed readers of The Escudería of the Hall of Antwerp, dedicated to classic cars. In this region of Flanders, activities around historic vehicles are cultivated with wealth, a circumstance that favors our return to the port capital near Brussels.

Upon reaching its ninth edition, the Antwerp Contest of Elegance paid tribute to the golden age of Lancia by selecting twenty models of the brand which constituted the central nucleus of an event presented to the public in the appropriate setting of the gardens of the Palais de Belvédère in Wijnegem.

The young Belgian organizer Nicolas Van Frausum said he was satisfied to have gathered a good hundred participants who competed for the award Best of Show during the day of September 8, 2013.

A 1937 Lancia Aprilia with racing history seeks its location
A 1937 Lancia Aprilia with racing history seeks its location

The categories open to registration were:

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→ Sport before the war

→ Pre-war luxury

→ Postwar luxury

→ Sport British of the Fifties

→ Decade of the Sixties

→ The Mediterranean

→ Exotic Italians

→ Porsche 911 (before 1974)

→ Early Nineties

→ Contemporary supercars

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Juan-Manuel Fangio spent the scare of his life driving this 1952 Lancia Aurelia
As we will see below, Juan-Manuel Fangio spent the scare of his life driving this 1952 Lancia Aurelia

Historian en route

At the introductory dinner the day before, the author had the unexpected pleasure of meeting the renowned automobile historian Karl Ludvigsen, one of the most respected motorsport book authors for his authority on the subject.

A former student of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Ludvigsen has definitive works on brands such as Chevrolet Corvette, Merdedes-Benz and Volkswagen. He has also specialized in biographies of well-known motor aces, such as Juan Manuel Fangio or Stirling Moss.

The talk with personalities like this is enriching, due to their immense knowledge in any field related to the history of the motor, its brands and characters. As an anecdote, Ludvigsen confessed that his first research work at the aforementioned institution focused on Pegasus sports cars. Unfortunately, it is a document that is impossible to find today.

The historian Karl Ludvigsen shows us his Talbot-Lago from 1935, family and sporty
The historian Karl Ludvigsen shows us his Talbot-Lago from 1935, family and sporty

At the age of 79, this historian is not limited to purely academic pursuits, but is an active driver who makes long-distance trips at the wheel of his 120 Talbot-Lago T1935 Baby-Sport Coach. Came to Antwerp driving from Ireland, where he had participated in a vintage car rally and explained to the author of this chronicle the history of a vehicle as interesting as his.

The T120 Baby was the first model made in Suresnes after Antony Lago took control of the Talbot brand and the Ludvigsen is a model with independent front suspension, similar to the Talbot-Lago that participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1935. .

His long road trip earned him the jury's prize to the contestant who came from further afield.

Ferrari F40 that belonged to Michael Schumacher, today revered as a classic
Ferrari F40 that belonged to Michael Schumacher, today revered as a classic

In a contest of this category, with a variety and wealth of brands and models, the viewer plunges into the propitious environment to recreate the history of the specimens exhibited in conversation with the owners, who do not hesitate to open their cars, show the engine and narrate anecdotes regarding your vehicles.

The Ferrari F40 from the supercar row, for example, was a gift from brand president Luca Di Montezemolo to Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher to celebrate one of his championship titles. The car, built in 1992 under chassis number 92371, has recently been restored.

Being able to be classified as old, its predecessor 195 Inter, manufactured in 1950 with chassis number 101 and bodywork by Ghia, won the award in its Exotic Italians category. Its owner, Rennat Declerck he does not hesitate to drive it on the road.

On the well-kept Belvédère lawn, a Porsche 356 Roadster D'Ieteren shines in all its glory
On the Belvédère lawn, a Porsche 356 Roadster D'Ieteren shines in all its glory

Inside the Porsche 356, the Roadster D model -by Belgian bodybuilder D'Ieteren-, deserves special consideration.

When Ferry Porsche decided to discontinue production of the 356 Speedster, he planned an equally sporty but more comfortable model, with a windshield worthy of the name that would allow a decent hood to fit and door glass installed, which the Speedster lacked and which did very well. funny your driving in the rain.

Bodybuilder Drauz was commissioned to continue with the production of the new luxurious Speedster, as it might be described, putting the Convertible D on the market - this time by Drauz. Faced with difficulties in guaranteeing the supply of bodies, Ferry Porsche entrusted D'Ieteren with the continuity of the model, which was renamed Roadster D or Roadster D'Ieteren. The advantage of the D'Ieteren is that in 1961, when it started its production, Porsche already had the 90-horsepower engine, being therefore more powerful than its predecessors Drauz.

As the 1934 Lancia Augusta demonstrates, Lord March was a pioneer of aerodynamics by eye.
As the 1934 Lancia Augusta demonstrates, Lord March was a pioneer of aerodynamics by eye.

One of those rare 356 Roadster D'Ieteren was participating in the Wijnegem contest, and its owner Patrick Van Remoortel explained to the author that the car was exported to Morocco to be delivered to its first owner. Van Remoortel found the car in Montpelier, where he bought it after a complete restoration commissioned by Porsche Classic in Stuttgart. The price of copies in perfect condition is around, above or below, 200.000 euros.

Lancias in quantity

The brand that appeared as the guest of honor, Lancia, allowed visitors to take a trip back in time through its most significant models, going from the famous Lambda of 1924, the first car with a monocoque-type body, to the champion of all Stratos rallies; through Aurelias of various types or Aprilias and Flaminias, whether they are Zagatos or Touring Superleggera.

The special bodies were not lacking either, and Woody -with wooden elements- of an Aprilia specimen bodied in 1948 by Francis Lombardi, or the unique Augusta specimen dressed by Lord March in 1934.

Many will think that the Lancia Aprilia Woody bodied by Lombardi is not well proportioned, but it is a utility
Many will think that the Lancia Aprilia Woody bodied by Lombardi is not well proportioned, but it is a utility

Elegance contests also serve to recognize the merit of cars that marked a technical evolution, such as the extraordinarily low 1924 Lancia Lambda Torpedo, which, as we have said, reminds us that it is the first car to have a monocoque body. , very advanced for its time.

One of the most interesting stories among the Lancias, however, was told by a 20 Aurelia B1952 GT. According to its owner, Leon Thiery, in the XNUMXs the car was owned by Juan-Manuel Fangio, who used it on his private trips. On one occasion, when faced with a truck, the Argentine driver had to dodge it and crashed into a pole, being thrown from the car but without suffering serious injuries.

As has been repeated throughout the year, Wijnegem could not miss the opportunity to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Porsche 911, especially in a country where there is a large number of followers of the brand. Porsche 911s are very abundant in Belgium and are generally in very good condition, possibly due to the good historical work of the importer D'Ieteren, who started representing Volkswagen from a very early time.

A young audience admires the winning Amphicar 770 in the Mediterranean section
A young audience admires the winning Amphicar 770 in the Mediterranean section

A specimen that was returning to active life in this contest and that could be of particular interest to Spanish readers was a 911 2,2T 1971, which was sold new in the United States and was later registered in Spain, before being restored in Portugal in 2013. It is # 9111101560, presented here.

Looking at glamorous cars that abounded in the well-kept grass of Belvédère, we will mention as an example a Delahaye 135M Cabriolet from 1938, bodied by Henry Chapron, of which only 288 copies were produced, counting the 135M and the 135MS.

Elegant Delahaye 135M Cabriolet Chapron
Elegant Delahaye 135M Cabriolet Chapron

The complete lists of winners -both vehicles and owners including their nationality- in the different categories and Best of Show are as follows:

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Sports: Morgan 2-seater Sports, 1933, Ryckaert (B)
 
Luxury: Delage D6 DHC Olympic «Letourneur & Marchand», 1939, Laïche-Herbits (B)
 

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Luxury: Delahaye 135M DHC, 1949 Guilloré, Beerens (B)
 
British Fifties Sport: Triumph TR2 Roadster 'Nessonvaux', 1955, Beckman (NL)
 
Sixties decade: Mercedes 190 SL, 1960, van Assem (NL)
 
Exotic Italians: Ferrari 195 Inter Ghia, 1950, Declerck (B)
 
Porsche 911 (before 1974): Porsche 911RS 2.7 Lightweight, 1973, JF. Dirickx (B)
 
Early Nineties: Alfa Romeo SZ Zagato, 1991, Van Styvendaele (B)

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Before the war: Lancia Lambda Torpedo, 1924, L. Van Hoorick (B)
 
After the war: Lancia Stratos Stradale, 1974, van Eyll (B)
 
Best Lancia on display: Lancia Aurelia B24 Spider, 1955, Maes (B)
 

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[su_spoiler title = 'Various' show = 'false']  

Prize «in its juice»: Lancia Aurelia B52, 1951, J. Van Hoorick (B)
 
Best restoration: Iso Grifo GL 350, 1966, Hehenkamp (B)
 
Longest distance course: Talbot Lago T120 Baby Sport, 1935, Ludvigsen (UK)
 
Popular choice: Aston Martin Sidevalve, 1924, Natens (B)
 
Best period clothing: MG TA, 1937, Snoodijk (NL)

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♦ Amphicar 770, 1965, Van Haver - den Hartogh

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♠ Aston Martin Sidevalve "Jarvis", 1924, Hans Natens (B)

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Full-size images (1.280 px. Approx.)


 
 

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Written by mario laguna

Mario Laguna, author of the book "The Pegaso Adventure", scholar and observer of the history of motor racing, brands and characters. Regular visitor to automobile competitions, whether of current or historical categories, international contests of elegance, lecturer ... Read more

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