Tuning in to Tonneins

Images: Ville de Tonneins, Jean-Pierre Moga, Gautam Sen

The day following the La Baule Concours d’Élégance, on 15^th August, while India marked the conclusion of its 78^th Independence Day celebrations, some of the rarest and finest cars in the South of France took centre stage at the 13th Tonneins Concours d’Élégance.

Situated 135 kilometres south of Bordeaux, Tonneins may not have the same storied history as La Baule Concours d’Élégance, but for the past 13 years, it has attracted over a thousand cars and several thousand historic vehicle enthusiasts every 15^th August to celebrate the rich heritage of the automobile.

Last year marked my first experience as a jury member at Tonneins, and I was joined by fellow enthusiast T. R. Raghunandan and his wife Aditi.

For Raghunandan, it was his first encounter with a concours d’élégance à la française—a competition in the French style—and he shared his insights and impressions of this captivating form of automotive storytelling in his report for this magazine nearly a year ago (A Concours d’Elegance? What’s that? (derivaz-ives.com).

The Tonneins Concours d’Élégance has been led by former French senator Jean-Pierre Moga, who played a pivotal role in establishing l’Amicale Parlementaire, where he now serves as Honorary President. This organisation, with its 120 members of parliament and senators, actively supports and advocates for historic vehicles in the French Parliament.

15^th August, the day of l’Assomption de Marie—when the Virgin Mary ascended to heaven—has been a traditional holiday in France for decades. Whether or not the historic vehicle community is particularly concerned with its religious significance, the town of Tonneins observes the day with a morning mass at a small church dedicated to the historic vehicle movement.

Afterwards, enthusiasts gather with their cars for a grand picnic, where food trucks provide refreshments and aficionados come together to admire both extraordinary and everyday vehicles.

This year, over 1,500 historic vehicles were present, with just 27 selected to parade at the concours d’élégance. The line-up ranged from a 1908 Buick Type B to a 1993 Alfa Romeo Spider, perfectly fitting the international criteria for a historic vehicle – one that is more than 30 years old.

The variety was both eclectic and fascinating, with commonplace cars like a 1992 Porsche 911, a 1978 Citroën 2CV, and a 1978 Peugeot 504 saloon, juxtaposed with rarities such as a Suère (one of only two remaining in the world) and a Buchet.

The event also featured several exclusive models like a Talbot, a Bugatti, an Avion Voisin, and a pair of Facel Vegas (an II and a Facellia).

However, owning a special, rare, or beautifully restored car wasn't enough. The presentation of the car, with the accompanying participants dressed to complement the vehicle’s colour, period, and character, was just as crucial in determining the winners.

Until last year, the presentation accounted for one-third of the total score, while the car's condition, design, and historical significance made up the remaining two-thirds. This year, the scoring changed to give the presentation and the car equal weight, with each accounting for half of the total score. I’m uncertain if this is a good approach, as it risks shifting the focus from the cars to the theatrics of the presentation.

The judging panel consisted of eight members, led by FFVE concours specialist Yvon Gascoin, and included Pascaline Mascitti, Corinne Cérède – who had been with me at La Baule the previous evening – Serge Bogiovanni, Corinne Boissavy, Jean-Claude Hasse, Béatrice Vidalie, and myself.

Together, our combined scores determined the class winners, special trophies, and the Best of Show, also known as the Prix d’Excellence in the French tradition.

Just like last year, everything went off without a hitch, with singers providing entertainment between the classes.

Among the class winners were a 1993 Alfa Romeo Spider for the post-1970 category, and the stylish and elegant Facel Vega II, owned by marque expert Michel Revoy. He presented the car with his granddaughter, who wore the same Courrèges jacket that her grandmother had worn when the car was first presented decades ago.

The exquisite Talbot T15 Cabriolet, owned by Souka and Pédro Gimenez, won in the post-vintage class, while the 1908 Buick Type 10 took the prize for the vintage class.

In addition to the class awards, several special prizes were also given out. The Prix de la Ville de Tonneins was awarded by Mayor Dante Rinaudo—who was so inspired by the event that he participated with his newly acquired Porsche 356—to Philippe Ladure's 1926 Avion Voisin Quadrilette.

The Prix de l’Équipage, for the most elegantly dressed participants, went to Valérie Moncéré, co-founder of Bordeaux's only women’s historic vehicle club, Talons au Plancher (Heels on the Floor, the women’s version of ‘pedal to the metal’).

The prize for the most popular car, as voted by the public, was awarded to the 1978 Citroën 2CV.

The Coupe de Coeur, the award for the car that captured everyone's admiration, was given to a Ford Fairlane Sunliner Cabriolet, which wowed the audience by dramatically – and electrically – opening its top on stage.

There was also a trophy for the most beautiful French car, a tough decision given the many stunning French vehicles on display. Ultimately, the award went to a pristine Facel Vega Facellia.

I had the honour of presenting the special jury trophy, which was awarded to the Suère. It was my first time seeing this Edwardian-era car, and we all agreed it was remarkably handsome for its time, with a restoration that struck the perfect balance – neither overdone nor underdone.

The most prestigious award, the Prix d’Excellence or Best of Show, was rightfully claimed by the magnificent Bugatti Type 57 Atalante, a genuine piece of automotive history that has remained in the same ownership for over six decades.

The challenging role of master of ceremonies was once again expertly handled by Patrick Rollet, who guided the event seamlessly.

Thanks to the ‘professionalism’ of the entire event – largely due to the efforts of Jean-Pierre Moga and the dedicated team from the mayor’s office, including Béatrice Vidalie, Anaïs Bosio, and others – Yvon Gascoin declared that Tonneins was among the top three concours events in France this year, a recognition it undoubtedly deserves.