Miguel Sánchez
“On the track they suffer wear. In museums they do not come to life. Here in Chantilly the cars are still alive, competing, but without damage”. With this motto, the Chantilly Elegance Contest was presented at the end of last September. One of the most interesting events on the European classic scene, bringing together once again dozens of historic vehicles from all over Europe, America and even Asia. In this way, throughout its 17 classes we were able to receive an encyclopedic vision of high-end motoring from the beginning to the end of the 2022th century. In addition, in this year's 55 edition, monographic attention has been paid to the Bugatti Type XNUMX or the always interesting De Tomaso.
Thus, as in other similar events such as Pebble Beach Villa d'Este, the most difficult thing is to think what will be the center of our gaze. Not in vain, trying to point out everything that is striking would result in an article with Sunday proportions. Thus we have opted for an ever-recurring theme in the history of motorsports. The contrast. The contrast between the canonical and the extravagant. Now, since this is a contest of elegance, the aspects to take into account in order to include each unit in one group or another will not be marked by the mechanical scheme, but by the result of combining lines and volumes in its bodywork.
At this point, the first question is obvious. Who is going to represent the canon? In this sense, there are many candidates exhibited in Chantilly, with a great abundance of classic vehicles since their birth thanks to having the Bugatti or Bentley emblem on their grille. Nevertheless, the monographic class dedicated to Hispano-Suiza illustrates very well what we want to express. In this sense, it is worth mentioning the appearance of the 6 H1925B Coach Million-Guiet. A true masterpiece bodied in 1931 using aluminum panels under a technique called Extra-Light Vizcaya. All this in order to achieve a lightened and visually polished two-door.
After this, the delicious openwork lines of the 6 H1929B Torpedo Gallé Sport stood out as a good example of the Roaring Twenties. A really interesting job, managing to give a light appearance to this huge pre-war model with engines of up to eight liters of displacement. Something that its pastel tones help, but also the rear resolved in a way reminiscent of the Boat Tail bodies. A machine created for enjoyment capable of questioning Rolls-Royce as the most refined luxury brand of all those existing before the Second World War.
Entering a field related to racing, in Chantilly 2022 a Alfonso XIII from 1911. That is to say, one of the first units of this sports car assembled in Barcelona until 1914. Equipped with a 3,6-liter, four-cylinder engine, in it the approaches on lightness and reduction of the cylinder capacity were already beginning to be seen which, over time, would end up settling in models such as the Almilcar C6. Undoubtedly a fundamental milestone among the competition cars of the time. Something, obviously, very canonical. However, even the most classic areas have some eccentric member. In the case of the Hispano-Suiza group meeting in Chantilly, this role was played, without a doubt, by the H6C Dubonnet Xenia of 1938.
Built for the French driver and inventor André Dubonnet -creator of an interesting front suspension very popular among racing cars of the XNUMXs and XNUMXs-, this model represents a striking aerodynamic study beyond its appearance. Executed by the Saoutchik workshops, its body insisted on the shape of a tear in its rear. A way to resolve the defense that, shortly after, fell into disgrace to the honor of the previously deposed Kammback. In short, the constant innovative flow of engineering that, in the case of this Hispano-Suiza, managed to transcend time thanks to an appearance that is still futuristic today.
CHANTILLY 2022, FROM THE CANONICAL TO THE EXTRAVAGANT
Thanks to the appearance of Dubonnet Xenia, our eye can move towards groundbreaking volumes. And it will be missing, because one of the models presented at Chantilly 2022 was the 1969 Lancia Fulvia HF Competizione. A unique piece created in 1969 by Tom Tjaarda -responsible for the De Tomaso Pantera or the FIAT 124 Spider- for the purpose of competing at Le Mans. A design with more intrahistory than might be thought, since it was used by Alejandro De Tomaso -then owner of Ghia- in order to attract the attention of Ford. That yes, for what? Well, with the intention that the American giant would buy Lancia, put him as its director and, from that point, start competing with Ferrari.
Another among the impetuous ideas of this designer and businessman. Sentenced with the release of Lancia under the umbrella of the FIAT Group in 1969. All this under the indications of the Italian state. Which, paradoxically, named De Tomaso director of Maserati a few years later when Citroën disengaged from the house of the trident. Indeed, in all this mess Ford bought Ghia in 1970 months after the presentation of the Lancia Fulvia designed by Tjaarda. A whole game of caroms from which we are left with the idea of a racing car approved for the street. Just the premise under which this prototype was created, easily adaptable to enter the circuit at any time.
At this point, speaking of entering the circuit and more specifically entering Le Mans, he highlighted the 450 Bristol 1954. By the way, a replica. Since none of the three survived -some sources indicate four- built. A very particular car from the very approach of its chassis, with two longitudinal rails and a large wheelbase that contrasts with the very narrow axles. If we add to that unapologetic aerodynamics - the car can be difficult to look at, we're not going to lie - designed for the straights, we have a model designed for speed. In other words, when he entered Le Mans in 1953, the managers of the Bristol team wanted to give their chests on the Mulsanne straight thanks, among other things, to the stabilizer fins.
However, when we examine vehicles with fins for stability on the straights, we cannot overlook the CD-Panhard LM64. And it is that in Chantilly 2022 one of the two units of the same could be seen, assembled to participate in Le Mans 1964. And no, we do not have to think about something performance. But rather the opposite, because this model is powered by a concise twin-cylinder engine with only 848 cubic centimeters. Of course, to move only 560 kilos. However, since vehicles with less than a liter displacement had been banned for that year's edition, a supercharger had to be added quickly. Not in vain, the models that incorporated this mechanism had to multiply their displacement by 1,4 in the inscription.
Thus, the CD-Panhard LM64 was able to compete in the class reserved for 1,2 liters. And wow, he did it in a sensational way giving a real lesson in aerodynamics and lightness. Beyond the great mechanics, without a doubt one of the most curious -and effective- designs in the entire history of Le Mans.
Continuing with non-canonical designs seen in Chantilly 2022, we cannot leave out the Ferrari 365P Tre Posti or even a curious Silver Shadow Estate Wagon. In addition, it was impossible not to notice a Glasspar G2.
Not so much because of a possible controversy regarding its lines -these are really fluid and harmonic- but because of the simple fact of its scarcity. Not surprisingly, very few units of this fiberglass model remain. Really desired by any collector devoted to automotive milestones, since this model is the first bodied in series with that material that would later popularize the Corvette C1. In short, cars that can only be seen at events like Chantilly 2022.
Photographs: Unai Ona
