DELAGE WINS BEST OF SHOW AT 2026 SYDNEY HARBOUR CONCOURS

The best of the best has been chosen at the 2026 Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance. The eighth edition of what’s now the premier all-make concours event in Australia saw more than 50 vintage and classic vehicles entered, with the display boosted to 70+ vehicles by the latest supercar and hypercar offerings from prestige marques, along with motorcycles and boats.

In its third year on Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour, the 2026 concours (that ran from Friday, 27 February to Sunday, 1 March) saw the massive Turbine Hall in the former naval yards house the majority of display vehicles. Reconfiguring the space this year saw a new addition in the form of an undercover dining area for concours entrants and guests to enjoy produce from premium provedores. There was also wine and cheese tasting, an al fresco dining area, plus ample champagne from longtime Sydney Harbour Concours supporters, Champagne Pommery, to keep everyone refreshed.

Public Tasting

Another new addition to this year’s Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance was the “pre-show” on Thursday, 26 February. Held on Bennelong Lawn, with the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background, this event saw thirty of the concours entrants gather for a free public display before travelling in convoy to the barges that took them across to Cockatoo Island.

Presenting vehicles that ranged in age from a 1924 Rolls-Royce to a 2024 Porsche 911 Dakar, this display also showed the variety in the concours, with “economy cars” like a Bond Bug and Citroen Mehari sharing the same space as a big dollar Lexus LFA and McLaren Senna XP.

Island Life

Once on Cockatoo Island, the concours vehicles were joined by the latest from Bentley, Rolls-Royce, McLaren, Lamborghini and Aston Martin. Premium motorcycle brand, Brough Superior, were also on show. The highlight amongst this group was the McLaren Project: Endurance. A customer version of the McLaren Hypercar that’s set to race in FIM WEC competition in 2027, Project: Endurance was making its Asia Pacific debut at the concours.

As per last year, vehicles participated in parades around the island’s grounds throughout the weekend, adding a very popular “live” element to this concours.

Beyond the vehicles, other attractions included displays of bespoke tailoring by Renkhoe Jordan and jewellery from Calleija. There was also a photography exhibition by Camilla Albertini focussing on women and motoring, while painter Simon Caville created a live art piece on-site.

“The eighth edition of the Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance has seen a wonderful atmosphere as people enjoyed the vehicles on display and the car parades with expert commentary, and they love being able to talk with the owners and judges to discover more about these stunning cars,” said event founder, James Nicholls.

“The event is growing and developing each year as we add experiences and interactions. Significantly, this year we added the special public preview opportunity ahead of the official event and it was so fabulous to share amazing cars with people before a stunning convoy across the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

“Sydney continues to embrace the concours and we are excited about the future.”

Concours King

Along with themed classes that change year on year, the Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance presents ongoing classes, like Ladies Choice, Best Restoration, Pre- and Post-War Passion, a Preservation Award, and special awards created in collaboration with event partners ASI (Automotoclub Storico Italiano - Italy’s historic car club federation) and RIAR (Registro Italiano Alfa Romeo) for Italian vehicles.

Best of Show is what all are hoping for, though, with a Pre- and Post-War class as well as the outright award. This year, judging was led by Alessandra Giorgetti from Italy, with past concours winner, David Berthon, and Octane magazine’s James Elliot also on the nine-member panel.

After an extensive judging process, the winner was declared, with a 1936 Delage D6-70 Milord cabriolet beating out a 1933 Rolls-Royce 20/25 and 1954 Mercedes-Benz Gullwing, which won the Pre-War and Post-War awards, respectively.

One of the first products to come from the merger of French marques Delage and Delahaye in 1935, the D6-70 bore the Delage name but borrowed much from Delahaye mechanically. This included a modified version of the Delahaye 135’s straight six engine, aimed at increasing performance. While available with a manual, most D6-70s were fitted with Cotal preselector gearboxes that were forerunners of true automatic transmissions.

Reflective of the period, D6-70s were produced in rolling chassis form for bodywork to be fitted by the customer’s preferred coachbuilder. In the case of this particular D6-70, chassis #50607, the purchaser selected Figoni & Falaschi. Better known for their more flamboyant designs from the late 1930s, this Parisian coachbuilder produced more conventional, but no less beautiful bodies, too. The “Milord” cabriolet body on this car allows the hood to be set in three positions – fully up, fully down and open over the front seats, with the rear seats covered. In addition, a folding windshield allowed true roadster-style motoring.

Only a handful of D6-70s were bodied by Figoni & Falaschi, and the Best of Show winner was reportedly the first. Finished in stunning black and white, #50607 was first owned by the wife of a wealthy French industrialist. It passed through a succession of owners on the Continent before going back to France in approximately 2012 for a full restoration. The D6-70 then went to the US and was used regularly there before being offered at an RM Sotheby’s auction in 2022. Most recently, it was acquired by Peter Harburg, who entrusted good friend and former race driver Spencer Martin to present the car at the 2026 Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance.

This year’s win makes it three Best of Show awards for Harburg, with the other two achieved by Ferrari sports cars in his collection. It’s also the second win for a Delage, with a 1936 D6-70 Special Competition Coupe (with a reproduction Figoni & Falaschi body) taking the top honour in 2021.

For further details from the event, along with information on the 2027 concours as it becomes available, go to: sydneyharbourconcours.com.au

2026 Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance – main awards

Best Of Show: 1936 Delage D6-70 Milord Cabriolet with coachwork by Figoni et Falaschi
Best Of Show Pre-War: 1933 Rolls Royce 20/25 by Freestone and Webb
Best of Show Post-War: 1954 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing
Pre-War Passion: 1934 Bugatti Type 57 Graber Roadster
Post-War Passion: 1968 Austin 1800 Ute
Best Restoration: 1971 Toyota Celica GT
The Preservation Award: 1989 Alfa Romeo ES 30 SZ
ASI Award of Best Italian Car: 1972 Maserati Bora
RIAR Trophy for the best Alfa Romeo: 1962 Alfra Romeo 2600 Touring Spider
Touring Superleggera: 1964 Lancia Flaminia GTL
Ladies Choice: 1960 Aston Martin DB4GT