For the first time in the history of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, a Lancia has won the Best of Show award. The winner, a 1936 Lancia Astura Pinin Farina Cabriolet, stole the show in its first appearance at the prestigious classic car show and competition.
The owner of the Lancia Astura is Richard Mattei, who has owned the car since 2009. A six-year restoration was completed last year, bringing the car back to its original condition. “This Lancia is a true combination of speed and style,” said Concours Chairman Sandra Button. “Pinin Farina took a fantastic car and added many spectacular attributes, including a power top, curved side glass windows and the unusual basket-woven trim. This car is sport and luxury embodied.”
In addition to winning Best of Show, the Lancia won its class and was named the Gwenn Graham Most Elegant Convertible.
This year, 228 entries came from 16 countries and 30 different states. The display was held on the 18th fairway of the impressive Pebble Beach Golf Links. Funds raised from the Concours d’Elegance totaled $1.75 million and went toward 80 different charities.
Competition was tight among the three finalists for the Best of Show award. In the end, the Lancia won out over a 1938 Delahaye 165 Figoni & Falaschi Cabriolet, and a 1931 Stutz DV-32 LeBaron Convertible Victoria.
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Little is known about the pristine Lancia Astura before World War II. It was one of six similarly-bodied cars made by Pinin Farina for a dealer called “Bocca”. Fortunately, its post-war history is well-documented.
After the war, the Astura was owned by the chief engineer of UK airline BOAC. By the 1960’s, it was parked in a Surrey garden and forgotten. Two men, Ronald Barker and Michael Scott, bought the badly worn car for the equivalent of $40. Their bid saved the car from further rot and neglect.
Scott sought out Pinin Farina for more history on the car. Pinin Farina then offered to fully restore the car at no charge to the owner if it was returned to their shop near Turin, Italy. Eighteen months later, it was restored to its original glory. Some of the craftsmen who originally built the car were involved in the restoration.
The Lancia Astura was part of Scott’s collection until 1976, when Eric Clapton purchased the car. The musician remarked that the Astura was “the most fun I’ve had off stage and out of bed.”
In the late 80’s, Clapton sold the car at auction. It was purchased by Pininfarina for their own historical collection. That’s where it remained until 2009, when Richard Mattei bought the cabriolet.
Mattei tried to auction the Lancia at Pebble Beach in 2010, but the car did not meet its reserve price. That’s when he began the painstaking restoration to its current condition. His efforts have been rewarded. His car has received the top prize in the collector car world.
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