An Elegant Fusion of Cherry Blossoms and Automobiles

The "Concorso d'Eleganza Kyoto" was first held in December 2016. This second iteration took place at Nijo Castle during the peak cherry blossom season.

"Nijo Castle is famous for its cherry blossoms. That's why I really wanted to hold the event during the cherry blossom season," says Kimura Hidetomo, the organizer and an art aquarium artist.Kimura HidetomoAs he wished, a stunning collaboration between the beautifully blooming cherry blossoms and classic cars was realized.

Datsun Fairlady (left) and Datsun DC3

To elevate "Concorso d'Eleganza Kyoto" into one of the world's premier concours d'elegance events, judges from "Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este" and "Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance," along with classic car journalists from around the globe, were invited.

Furthermore, vehicles were solicited not only from Japan but also from overseas, with the aim of achieving a world-class standard.

The judges and award recipients

The venue was the Ninomaru Palace's central garden within Nijo Castle, Kyoto Imperial Villa. Approximately 30 classic cars gathered in this normally off-limits area. While the first event had no specific theme, subsequent events are held with a designated theme.

This year's theme was Carrozzeria Touring, an esteemed historic coachbuilder founded in Milan, Italy, in 1926. They gained renown for their Superleggera (superlight) construction, leading them to work with manufacturers not only in Italy but also in the UK.

Although operations ceased in December 1966, the company was revived as Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera in 2012, actively developing concept and limited-production models.

At this "Concorso d'Eleganza Kyoto," three units of the limited-edition Alfa Romeo "8C Discvolante" (debuted at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show) were displayed. Additionally, the "C52 Discvolante," which served as the design inspiration, was brought from the "Museo Storico Alfa Romeo" (Alfa Romeo Museum) in Italy. This pairing was a rare sight globally.

Alfa Romeo 8C Discvolante (left) and C52 Discvolante (right)

Among the exhibited vehicles, as per the theme, were many elegant models with Touring bodies, such as the 1939 Alfa Romeo "6C2500SS Sport Berlinetta" and the 1961 Aston Martin "DB4."

Notably, the 1962 Maserati "3500GT," once owned by Hollywood actress Elizabeth Taylor, garnered significant attention. This car, debuting at the 1957 Geneva Show, was Maserati's first mass-produced GT and can be considered the progenitor of the current GranTurismo.

The body color is painted gold, a special order color requested by Elizabeth Taylor's fourth husband, Eddie Fisher, from Maserati. It is said to have been delivered with a red ribbon.

Maserati 3500GT owned by Elizabeth Taylor

The Esteemed Award Winners

From the many jewel-like masterpieces, the following 12 cars received prestigious awards after rigorous judging.

Early Cars to 1951
(The finest car made up to 1951)
1946 Fiat "1100 Furgone Spider"

Late Cars from 1952
(The finest car made from 1952 onwards)
1977 Lamborghini "Countach LP400"

Touring Early Italian
(The finest Italian car with a Touring body, made up to 1951)
1939 Alfa Romeo "6C2500SS Sport Berlinetta"

Touring Classic Italian 1952–1961
(The finest Italian car with a Touring body, made between 1952 and 1961)
1955 Alfa Romeo "1900CSS"

Touring Italian class of 1962–
(The finest car with a Touring body, made from 1962 onwards)
1962 Maserati "3500GT"

Touring Foreign
(The finest non-Italian car with a Touring body)
1959 Aston Martin "DB4 3.7"

Auto Italiana elegante
(ACI) (The finest Italian car)
1962 Maserati "3500GT"

Touring Milestone
(A car representing a significant milestone in Touring's history)
1949 Ferrari "166 Inter"

Premio Sakura
(The car that best suits the cherry blossoms of Nijo Castle in spring)
1939 Fiat 1500 Touring

Craftsman award
(The car with the most outstanding craftsmanship story)
1926 Fiat "509 Delfino"

People's choice
(The car that received the most votes from the public)
1971 Lamborghini "Miura SV"

Best of Show
(Best Overall Award)
1951 Alfa Romeo "6C2500SS Villa d'Este"

A Tour of Famous Landmarks Also Held

The "Concorso d'Eleganza Kyoto 2018" concluded on April 2nd. Some of the participating cars took part in a private tour, the Tour d'Eleganza.

Starting from Kyoto on the 3rd, the tour visited famous historical sites in Ise, Kawana, Hakone, and Oiso. Participants enjoyed hot springs and local cuisine at their accommodations before reaching the finish line in Tokyo's Nihonbashi on the 8th.

The participants, who came from Italy, Europe, and America, seemed to greatly enjoy experiencing Japanese culture beyond Kyoto.

In Nihonbashi, they joined the Japan Classic Automobile event, held annually as part of the Spring Nihonbashi Festival. Along with other participants, the cars were displayed on Nihonbashi bridge, where the road marker is located.

Regarding the next "Concorso d'Eleganza Kyoto," the organizers plan to hold it on April 13th-14th, 2019, again at Nijo Castle, Kyoto Imperial Villa.

The theme will be Carrozzeria Zagato, celebrating the company's 100th anniversary in 2019, with numerous cars featuring Zagato bodies expected to gather from around the world.