The Zoute Grand Prix was organized for the seventh time in Knokke. Of course we went to take a look. A Fiat 8V Berlinetta Rapi was elected to Best of Show.
The organizers of the Zoute Grand Prix were disappointed: the weather was perfect last weekend for an event that mainly takes place in the open air. The Zoute Grand Prix takes place to a large extent on the boulevard along the beach. The part that we are most interested in, the concours d'élegance, is a little further on, on the course of the Royal Zoute Golf Club.
There we see a few old acquaintances: cars that we have already seen at other classic events this year. One is the winner of the Het Loo, the prototype of the Ferrari Daytona from 1968. Although much was discussed about it in Apeldoorn, it was apparently not such a bad winner; the Ferrari also won its class in Knokke.
Favorites
The final victory went to another car, the Fiat 8V Berlinetta Rapi. This Otto Vu designed by Luigi Rapi was delivered in 1953 to the Scuderia Ambrosiana and was eighteenth in the Mille Miglia of that year. The following year, Vincenzo Aurricchio owned the car and participation in the Mille Miglia was less successful. The car did not reach the finish line.
In addition to the winner, there were of course more cars that were worthwhile. Without looking at them as closely as the jury obviously did, we had a few favorites out of the 70 participating cars. The Plymouth Superbird from 1970, for example, but also an orange Iso Grifo A3 Competizione from 1965, a bright yellow Lancia Stratos HF Stradale and two Miuras, namely a P400 and an SV. Then there was of course some Dutch pride: a Alfa 8C 2300 Corsa Spider for example, and a Siata 208 CS Bertone. Plus Quirina Louwman, who was on the jury, along with Derek Bell, Louis de Fabribeckers, Lorenzo Ramaciotti and Andrea Zagato, among others.
Airbrake
What a brand new Porsche 911 R had to look for at the competition d'élegance was, to be honest, a mystery to us, but side by side with a classic 911 R from 1967 it was a more than delicious sight. A BMW 3200 Michelotti Vignale from 1958 could have been our favorite, were it not for a Mercedes 300 SL with a huge spoiler, designed by Rudolf Uhlenhaut. A prototype, and the spoiler is actually called Airbrake. The car drove the Mille Miglia and was tested at Le Mans in 1952.
In addition to the 70 participants in the competition, there were also participants in a rally, a tour for sports cars and manufacturers showed their latest models. For example, BMW showed the new 5 Series in a closed room, the first photos of which will be shown later this week. Anyone who, when seeing all that beauty, felt the urge to expand their collection, could also take advantage. On Friday there was a modest auction.
