A 1938 Delage Type D8-120 S Cabriolet was selected as the winner of The Peninsula Classics 2022 Best of the Best Award, event officials announced.
The accolade selects a winner from a group of classic cars that have won significant awards at the previous year’s major concours events, organizers said. The Delage became eligible for consideration after winning the Best of Show trophy at the 2022 Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace.
“This award is truly the highest honor for a car collector like myself,” said Fritz Burkard, owner of the 1938 Delage Type D8-120 S Cabriolet. “It has been such a joy bringing this car to numerous concours around the world. To be selected as the recipient of this distinguished award by such an acclaimed group of judges is truly humbling.”
Considered one of the finest examples to emerge from Delage and bodied by De Villars, the Delage D8 is a one-off two-seater model, according to The Peninsula judges. The sports body coachwork features stunning proportions and distinctive riveted fenders. The car was first shown at the Concours de l’Auto de Printemps in 1938, where it won the Grand Prize.
Other finalists for the award include a 1932 Duesenberg Model J Sports Torpedo by Figoni, a 1934 Duesenberg LaGrande Convertible Coupe and a 1937 Bugatti 57S Cabriolet by Vanvooren. Other nominees were the 1938 Dubonnet Xenia Coupe by Saoutchik on a design by Andreau, a 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe by Zagato, the 1966 Ferrari 365 P Berlinetta Speciale “Tre Posti” by Pininfarina and a 1956 Jaguar D-Type racer.
“The caliber of the 2022 finalist line-up is, quite simply, astounding. Each of these vehicles represents a superlative achievement of automotive engineering and design. For this reason, choosing a single winner for this award becomes more challenging each year. However, I hope everyone will agree with the judges that this car is truly spectacular,” said The Hon. Sir Michael Kadoorie, Chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels and co-founder of The Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award.
Among the 25 judges were car designer Fabio Filippini, Chief Creative Officer for Genesis Design and Brand Luc Donckerwolke, former Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, Dassault Systèmes Vice President of Design Experience Anne Asensio, fashion designer Ralph Lauren, Ford Motor Company Board of Directors member Henry Ford III, former Design Director for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ian Cameron, and television host and collector Jay Leno.
