Teardrop Talbot wins the Cartier Style et Luxe

By Greg MacLeman
Events
 | 30 Jun 2015

The stunning 1937 Talbot-Lago T150 ‘Tear Drop’ won the Cartier Style et Luxe on 28 June at the Festival of Speed. The curvaceous coachbuilt coupé was one of five amazing pre-war French beauties flown from Peter Mullin’s museum in Oxnard, California for a special tribute to Figoni et Falaschi.

Cartier Style et Luxe

The Talbot’s seductive form wowed the celebrity judging panel, which included Ferrari styling director Flavio Manzoni, Apple’s design chief Sir Jonathan Ive, and model Jodie Kidd. “I love this era, and the Talbot’s proportions are unbeatable, “ said industrial design guru Marc Newson. “It’s one of the sexiest cars ever built.”

Cartier Style te Luxe

Showstopper was the amazing 1939 Delahaye 165 Cabriolet with wind-down windscreens

The jaw dropping group of Figoni et Falaschi designs was a tough judging challenge, with the fabulous 1939 Delahaye 165 cabriolet pulling the crowds throughout the festival. Debuted at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York, it was later impounded by American customs during WW2, and eventually discovered in Hawaii. 

Cartier Style et Luxe

Earliest Citroen DS of Wenzel Gelpke captured the judges' hearts

Other special classes included a 60th birthday tribute to the Citröen DS with a stunning set of Gallic classics ranging from class-winning production DS19 Berline to rare Chapron-bodied DS23 Coupé Le Mans. Jaroslaw Pawluk’s mint DS21 Familiale with its rare extra seat option was a popular attraction, and will now head for the owner’s holiday home in Ibiza where it will be used as family transport. 

Cartier Style et Luxe

Eric Heerema's fabulous Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 MM was a C&SC favoruite

Eric Heerema’s ultra desirable ex-Tazio Nuvolari Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Zagato won Sporting Heritage, a celebration of supercharged pre-war sports cars. Other blown beauties included Jonathan Turner’s Triumph Dolomite 8C SS Corsica, which was a copy of the Alfa by Donald Healey. 

Cartier Style et Luxe

Retro class was much debated, but clear winner was the Eagle Roadster

A much debated feature for the 20th Style et Luxe was the Modern Classics' group, with Ian Callum’s CMC Jaguar Mk2 matched to the wild Ferrari P4/5 Enzo custom built by Pininfarina for New York collector James Glickenhaus. The class was won by Henry Pearman’s Eagle Speedster, but it was the Porsche 911 Targa modified by Singer that pulled the biggest crowd.

Cartier Style et Luxe

C&SC's Mick Walsh discusses DS19 Cabriolet with Falvio Manzoni, Sir Jonathan Ive, Marc Newson and Jodie Kidd

Nigel Webb’s V12-powered Jaguar XJ220 topped ‘The 200mph Club’ award upstaging a McLaren F1 and mean black Ferrari F40, while the Special Coachbuilt Ferrari set was won by the 500 Superfast of John Collins. “This car is a constant inspiration to me, and we’ve recently had one in the Ferrari design studio to study for the new FF,” said Manzoni. “Great designs from the past are always an influence for me.” 

Cartier Style et Luxe

Ferrari 500 Superfast was inspiration for Ferrari stylist Flavio Manzoni

 

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Greg MacLeman

Greg MacLeman is a contributor to and former Features Editor of Classic & Sports Car, and drives a restored and uprated 1974 Triumph 2500TC