2012 Kuwait Concours d’Elegance – day 1 (part 2) - Motoring Middle East: Car news, Reviews and Buying guidesMotoring Middle East: Car news, Reviews and Buying guides

2012 Kuwait Concours d’Elegance – day 1 (part 2)

February 16, 2012

Our first live report from the region’s premier international classic car event

By Shahzad Sheikh

We’ve been burning the midnight oil to bring you pictures from the fabulous Kuwait Concours d’Elegance 2012. And that includes the official debut of the production version of the Aston Marting V12 Zagato. His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah opened the third edition of Concours d’Elegance automobile competition (Kuwait Concours 2012) at the Marina Crescent here this evening. He’s seen here with Leonardo Fioravanti, head of the Concours judges and a Pininfarina designer for 24 years, responsible for some of the most iconic Ferraris ever.

The Shah of Iran was one of Lamborghini’s best customers in the company’s early days and had four Miuras: P400, S, SV and an SVJ. This is the SV ordered in a Imperial Blue with white leather upholstery. This 1971 Miura has been full restored.

The very rare and astonishing 1967 Iso Rivolta Breadvan GTO was based on a 1961 Ferrari 250 SWB and actually built to compete against the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO at le Mans. Giotti Bizzarrini was hired by Count Giovanni Volpi to upgrade a Ferrari 250 GT SWB to compete against the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO at le Mans. It was a car born somewhat out of malice as engineer Giotti Bizzarrini was hired by Count Giovanni Volpi to upgrade a Ferrari 250 GT SWB to GTO specs. He did this after being royally snubbed by Enzo Ferrari himself who refused to sell him a GTO. In fact Bizzarrini made it better by developing a more aerodynamic body extended backwards, and moving the engine further back and lower into the car to improve its balance and centre of gravity. He completed it in just two weeks, and it’s reported to have been 7km/h faster than the GTO at Le Mans.

This Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost by Hooper is from Pakistan and one of the historically significant cars in that country. It was in this car that Pakistan’s founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah rode with the last Viceroy of India, Lord Louis Mountabatten to the assembly building on 14th August 1947 for the creation of Pakistan and to take oath as the first Governor General of Pakistan. This car was originally owned by HH The Nawab of Bahawalpur and loaned to the government of Pakistan for use as Jinnah’s official car. It was auctioned in 2003 by the Nawab’s family and bought by Karim Chhapra. It was restored and is frequently seen at events in Pakistan. the car has done only 7000miles from new.

The 1954 Plymouth Explorer Concept is actually Italian designed as part of a series by Luigi Segre of Ghia. It was mounted on a 114-inch wheelbase Plymouth chassis and just 54-inches tall with just a 230 cubic inch six-cylinder engine offering a miniscule 110bhp. It has a semi-auto transmission, twin exhausts and featured ivory hue side stripes, vestigal fins, green paint, white leather upholstery, bucket seats and fitted luggage.

A 1965 Shelby is one of only six 289 Cobra factory team roadsters made to FIA specs for the 1964-1965 US Raod Racing Championship (USRRC) series. The half-dozen cars were known as the ‘cut down door cars’ due to the widened rear fender wells. This car, CSX 2557, is one of two fitted with dual side pipes on each side of the car. It’s considered one of the most origianl of all the famed Shelby Cobra race cars and has gone careful restoration. It’s stunning in its original Gaurdsman Blue with white Le Mans stripes.

The 1972 Aston Martin DBS Ogle was shown at the Montreal Motor Show in January 1972, funded by tobacco company W.O.Wills. It’s based on a DBS V8 chassis with a glass fibre body with everything above the waist in glass. The rear panel is made of a single sheet of brushed stainless steel with 22 holes in it – the harder the driver braked, the more lights were illuminated (and car modern car makers are only now considering developing brake-pressure related high-intensity brake lights!). Shown below, furthest from the camera. The car in the foreground, which looks like a TVR, is actually badged Ferrari Daytona!

This 1963 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato is one of just 19 examples. 0189 was the last of 11 right-hand drive versions built and one of three to receive English paint – Caribbean Pearl with Connolly Red high and carpets. Completed on 14th December 1962 it took longer than any Zagato to be sold, eventually going for £3,950. It’s been restored by Aston Martin Works Service and has been in Europe for the last decade added recently to William Loughran’s collection.