8 Best of the Best 2022 finalists revealed

By Lizzie Pope

| 5 Jun 2023

Classic & Sports Car – 8 Best of the Best 2022 finalists revealed

The eight classic cars in the running to be honoured with The Peninsula Classics 2022 Best of the Best Award have been announced.

Each of these cars has already been decorated with the highest awards at last year’s most prestigious concours events, making this grand final the ultimate prize in the concours world.

The 2022 winner will be crowned on 13 August 2023 at the Quail Lodge & Golf Club in California, and will following in the footsteps of the one-of-nine 1956 Ferrari 250GT Berlinetta Competizione that claimed the prize last year.

The Duesenberg Model J Sports Torpedo (left) was top at Pebble Beach, while the J-531 LaGrande Convertible Coupé won at Amelia

Last summer’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance champion, a 1932 Duesenberg Model J Sports Torpedo wearing Figoni bodywork is one of two from this now defunct American marque to make the Best of the Best 2022 shortlist.

It is joined by one of the last Duesenbergs built, a 1934 J-531 LaGrande Convertible Coupé that was Best of Show at The Amelia 2022.

This Delage (left) won at Hampton Court Palace and the Zagato-penned Ferrari was Salon Privé’s champion

Two of the 2022 finalists made it onto the shortlist having first triumphed in the UK.

Best of Show at Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace last September, and now in the running for Best of the Best, is a 1938 Delage Type D8-120S Cabriolet, a one-off two-seater bodied by De Villars.

Plus, the 1956 Ferrari 250GT Coupé that took home the top prize at Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace has been shortlisted for this end-of-year accolade.

This one-off Dubonnet (left) and Bugatti 57S Cabriolet are in the running for Best of the Best 2022

Another contender is the stunning 1938 Dubonnet Xenia Coupé, with a Hispano-Suiza H6B engine and unique bodywork by André Dubonnet, which claimed its place in the Best of the Best shortlist with victory at 2022’s Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille.

Also vying for the title is the Vanvooren-bodied 1937 Bugatti 57S Cabriolet which won Best of Show at the 2022 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este.

The Quail 2022 winner was this Jaguar D-type (left), meanwhile this rare ‘Tre Posti’ secured Best of Show at the 2022 Cavallino Classic

Returning to The Quail for this grand final will be the 1956 Jaguar D-type that was The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering 2022’s Best of Show, while a second Ferrari is a Best of the Best finalist, this one the 1966 365P Berlinetta Speciale ‘Tre Posti’ with its three-abreast seating that was the winner at last year’s Cavallino Classic.

“The vehicles this year exemplify the very best in automotive excellence and design,” said William ‘Chip’ Connor, co-founder of The Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award.

“The accuracy of restorations are becoming more precise and exquisite each year, making it difficult to select just one.”

Judges for this year’s competition include Ralph Lauren, Jay Leno, Chris Bangle and Luc Donckerwolke. The Best of the Best was established in 2015 by The Hon Sir Michael Kadoorie, the aforementioned William E Connor, Bruce Meyer and Christian Philippsen.

Enjoy more of the world’s best classic car content every month when you subscribe to C&SC – get our latest deals here

READ MORE

20 extinct American marques

Every car at the Le Mans centenary sale

Driving John Surtees’ BMW 503 Cabriolet