Celebrating automobiles

Tokyo’s First Concours d’EleganceClassic cars are the direct inheritors of the romance, passion and skills of those pioneer designers and carriage makers who gave them life. They still seem to carry the aura of the celebrated, wealthy, men and women who owned or rode them. Amongst them is the famed Isadora Duncan, the pioneer of modern dance, who found her untimely end riding a Bugatti. Between these great prototypes and special models there are some vehicles who have entered history intact and that today form part of great private and public collections. They have altered themselves into gleaming sculptures by the alchemist powers bestowed on them by their creators whose abilities time has respected and perhaps enhanced. Each of these magnificent machines symbolises an era in history and a particular style, and recreates its allure.
A British entrepreneur, Paul Goldsmith, is a long-standing resident of Japan and lover of classic cars. It is Goldsmith who has the passion to bring to Tokyo the excitement and pleasure of a Concours d’Elegance to be held similarly to other concours taking place in Pebble Beach, USA and Villa d’Este, Italy. Be prepared for this autumn against the backdrop of some of the most well known and newest Tokyo’s landmarks, an unforgettable story is about to unroll.
In a recent interview, Paul Goldsmith expresses his passion for luxurious cars where he turned a ‘boyish dream’ into reality.How did your interest in classic cars developed?
“A boyhood dream”, Goldsmith replies laughing, “but I only started to think seriously about classic cars when a few years ago I went somewhere near Kamakura to look at a type A Jaguar Series 1 for sale. Although I found it extremely beautiful I ended up not buying it for fear of not knowing enough about various matters involved in owning old cars. “
Eventually Goldsmith felt sure enough to buy his first antique Jaguar and after fully restoring it he became a full fledge member of the classic car world in Tokyo.
“In Japan, there is a subculture of classic cars. People who love their cars and get together, primarily running them through Nagano and Niigata ken from Karuisawa where there are countless, empty roads with stunning landscapes and first-rate hotels. Indeed, with these surrounding factors, it works suitably well. It is remarkable to see people taking pleasure in driving a Ferrari 275 GTB through mountain roads.”
As the story goes the Concours d’Elegance is the result of Goldsmith’s last 5 years involvement with this exclusive milieu. He expresses how he always wanted to work in the sphere of classic cars.
What cars are the participants going to show?
“A handful of cars to participate are Ferrari 166MM, Bugatti 35C, Delage Torpedo, Jaguar SS1 Airline Coupe, Delahaye 135MS Décapotable, Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet. We will invite the owners of Rolls-Royce, Bentleys, Alfa Romeo, Porsche, Cisitalia (1940’s 50’s) and Mercedes Benz. Benz gull wing 300 SL. All of the aforementioned and further cars can be found in Japan”.
And who will the judges be?
“There will be a judging team of approximately 8 people, an international mix of Japanese and foreign car experts, top car designers and bosses. Such as the Rolls Royce CEO, the Mercedes CEO and Chief of Design, and the reputed Japanese car journalist Shotaro Kobayashi.”
“Cars will be judged in different ways but following the Villa d’Este guidelines and the rules set by FIA. Categories will be divided by age, type of car and according to its origin; the best French, the best British, the best Italian etc.The criteria is imperative, for example, cars that travelled the farthest to get to Tokyo and the Ladies most desired. The quantity of participant cars is anticipated to be around forty out of which thirty will be from Japan and ten from overseas.”
“Furthermore with our event we want to adhere to the celebration of Brooklands 100th Anniversary by featuring cars that actually raced at Brooklands.“
Paul Goldsmith believes that British cars from the 30 and 40s were the epitome of elegance and sophistication. Yet he accepts it is arduous to find Japanese cars of equal grade and from similar period. For this reason it is challenging to get the Japanese car manufacturers represented on a wider scale.
“Instead”, he exclaims, “we asked the Japanese car manufacturers for celebrity racing cars. We are also negotiating with European manufacturers to bring two cars that are exclusively the latest which have never been on the Japanese market. Ideally, cars which were deliberately constrained in production to simply one or two. We are also showing the pre-concept car, meaning a vehicle that was never intended to be mass produced. These special vehicles give the viewer a real sense of the mind-set and dreams of the individuals who created them”.
For instance, a Nissan racing car from the eighties fits the bill.
In addition classic cars with interesting pasts such as the first Lamborghini ever made, which is currently in Japan, is going to be on show. Another illustration is a 1950’s Alfa Romeo of which only one was ever created.
What are you aiming at by introducing Concour’s d’Elegance to Japan?
“Somehow I’m trying to show that it is also important to focus in the aesthetics of the car without giving too much weight to its mechanical aspects. It is bringing culture, showing the car as an art object. I find that aged cars exhibit a great amount of passion and enthusiasm. Obviously when these cars came out they were leading technology, they were revolutionary, they were strikingly attractive when compared with other contemporary cars and therefore all of these factors had a huge impact.”
Which would you consider to be your dream car today?
“If I could afford it, it would certainly be a Delahaye T165 Figoni et Falaschi V12 Cabriolet. It's so Art Deco, so gorgeous and unlike anything on the roads today.
The Regimental Band of Her Majesty’s Coldstream Guards are to be flown especially for Concours d’Elegance as their performance will undoubtedly enhance and add excitement to the event. They create an elegant, slightly retro image very much in keeping with the glamour of Concours d’Elegance.”
This event represents an opportunity to look back at our heritage and reflect in how it is interpreted today in the cars we drive. In a world that is constantly evolving in values and increasing its demand for perfection, the passionate instincts and creativity of some visionary individuals is still pertinent.