Chantilly could also be recognized for its well-known whipped cream, lace, and horse racing, however since 2014 this city in northern France, an hour’s drive from Paris, has performed host to essentially the most lovely vehicles on the planet.
The brainchild of Patrick Peter, founding father of status automotive occasion organizer Peter Auto, Chantilly Arts & Class Richard Mille is a automobile lover’s backyard get together uniting each traditional and up to date vehicles. This concours d’élégance has not solely established itself because the equal of these at Pebble Seashore in California and at Villa d’Este on the shores of Lake Como, but additionally renewed the good custom partnering excessive trend with the artwork of coachwork.

Château de Chantilly is residence to the Chantilly Arts & Class Richard Mille
Again for the primary time in three years – the 2021 present had been postponed as a result of pandemic – the sixth version on September 25, 2002 supplied a powerful spectacle that may stay etched in my reminiscence for a really very long time. Set within the Château de Chantilly – as soon as residence to the princes of Condé, cousins of the kings of France – and its French-style park full with canals and ponds designed by André Le Nôtre (the gardener of Versailles), the collectors’ automobile occasion attracted a document 20,000 spectators and 800 cars.
“Along with my pal Richard Mille, now we have created not solely a contest for lovers of classic vehicles, however what is basically additionally a real celebration of the French artwork of dwelling by way of gastronomy and ornament,” acknowledged Peter. “This yr, we significantly wished youngsters to participate, and there have been numerous points of interest particularly geared toward them.”

2022 Chantilly Arts & Class Richard Mille
Imagined as a enjoyable household time out, youngsters loved conventional video games, pétanque, rides on a classic merry-go-round, horse-drawn carriages, ponies, sailboats, a hot-air balloon, a puppet theater present, live shows by strolling musicians, and clown and acrobatic performances. There was even an indication of sheepdog rounding up flocks of sheep and geese. However the primary points of interest have been the three motoring competitions: the Concours d’Élégance, by which 9 producers participated with an idea automobile matched with a trend home, the Concours d’État for near 100 historic vehicles from the world’s best collections, and the Grand Prix des Golf equipment honoring the most effective of the 40 taking part automobile fanatic golf equipment.

2022 Chantilly Arts & Class Richard Mille
“France was the birthplace of the concours d’élégance within the Twenties, creating these extremely widespread gatherings the place distinctive vehicles of the time, usually personalized by well-known coachbuilders, have been displayed within the firm of stylish ladies dressed within the newest garments of the good names of French trend,” described Peter. “One of many first ambitions of Chantilly Arts & Class Richard Mille was to resurrect this wonderful period by inviting automobile producers and designers to point out the general public their idea vehicles, interpretations of their model’s future fashions, by associating them with fashions dressed within the trend homes’ most lovely outfits for a novel trend present that was extremely acclaimed by the general public.”
Judged for his or her magnificence and wonder, the competing idea vehicles paraded across the central fountain escorted by mannequins dressed to the nines. The aggressive Bugatti W16 Mistral topless roadster was paired with a black Dylan Parienty robe; the 18-piece limited-edition Bentley Mulliner Batur grand tourer, the corporate’s strongest highway automobile and inheritor to the Bacalar, partnered with Balmain; and the royal blue-and-white De Tomaso P72 teamed up with Gemy M.

Concours d’Élégance and Better of Present winner Aston Martin DBR22 paired with Ozgur trend on the Chantilly Arts & Class Richard Mille
In the meantime, McLaren Automotive’s current launch, the next-generation Artura hybrid supercar designed by Rob Melville, was given a rainbow-colored remedy by British summary artist Nat Bowen and matched with a mannequin in a black Lanvin tailor-made go well with. Nevertheless, the true showstopper of the competition was the muscular Aston Martin DBR22 – a V12-engined, two-seater, coach-built design idea created to pay homage to the marque’s distinctive lineage of open-cockpit sports activities racers – accompanied by a glittering silver night gown by couturier Ozgur, which took residence the coveted Concours d’Élégance and Better of Present prizes.

The “outdated” on the Chantilly Arts & Class Richard Mille . . .

. . . and the “new” on the Chantilly Arts & Class Richard Mille
“Richard Mille and I’ve recognized one another for nearly 40 years, earlier than the Richard Mille model existed, and now we have at all times labored along with the utmost confidence,” stated Peter. “That is what allowed us to create Le Mans Traditional after which, naturally, Chantilly Arts & Class Richard Mille, then the Rallye des Légendes, and eventually the Rallye des Princesses.” Reflecting his ardour for vehicles since childhood, Richard Mille has been title sponsor of Chantilly Arts & Class since its inception eight years in the past.
“Chantilly is a celebration of over a century of automotive designs and it unites each classic and the newest idea vehicles over a weekend for all to see,” famous Timothée Malachard, Richard Mille’s advertising director. “Gathering such uncommon vehicles in public is the centerpiece of Chantilly as immediately many of those vehicles are saved in personal collections.”
As well as, as Richard Mille helps the charity Les Hérissons au Coeur d’Or in assist of girls and boys within the hospital and their households – established in 2021 from the encounter between Anne-Olivia Berthet, Amanda Mille, and Alexandre Mille – it welcomed youngsters for a day of tea and video games with Chantilly Arts & Class’s rivals. Symbolizing the affiliation’s mascot, small hedgehogs known as Fortunate product of paper from recycled books and folded by the disabled and containing comforting messages of hope written by well being professionals have been bought to boost cash to construct “Fortunate Homes” in France, medically outfitted facilities the place severely ailing youngsters can include their households to relaxation and get better between remedies. The gross sales proceeds additionally serve to supply toys and child-friendly areas in hospitals.

The 2022 Chantilly Arts & Class Richard Mille gala night featured equestrian spectacles, acceptable as a result of the Château de Chantilly is legendary for its stables
Chantilly Arts & Class Concours d’État
Composed of 17 all-new competitors classes, the Concours d’État featured vehicles that have been hand-picked by a variety committee, then judged by a world jury of over 60 personalities from the fields of cars, artwork, trend, design, cinema, and theater amongst others. Standards for scoring included traceability, authentic configuration, authenticity, historical past, rarity, design, magnificence, inner/exterior situation, and operational standing.
As a part of festivities main as much as celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023, two lessons linked with the world’s best endurance race have been launched. A 1971 Ferrari 512 M and a 1956 Panhard Monopole X86 drove away with first prize in these two classes. On show was the 24 Hours of Le Mans centenary trophy in bronze measuring over one and a half meters tall, which was manufactured by the Paris Mint, France’s oldest establishment answerable for the manufacturing of the nation’s forex.

Better of Present award on the 2022 Chantilly Arts & Class Richard Mille went to this silver 1938 Hispano-Suiza H6C Dubonnet Xenia
The last word Better of Present award for pre-war vehicles went to a silver 1938 Hispano-Suiza H6C Dubonnet Xenia – an aerodynamic, retro-futuristic transferring sculpture impressed by aviation and Artwork Deco owned by revered American automobile collectors Peter and Merle Mullin – whereas a 1950 Talbot Lago T26 GS Barchetta Motto received Better of Present for postwar vehicles.
The highest two accolades of the Iconoclastic Automobiles class have been conferred to a 1966 Ferrari 365 P Berlinetta Speciale “The Posti’’ and a 1968 Lamborghini Miura P400. Bugatti, Alpine, De Tomaso, and Touring Coachwork obtained their very own classes. Conscious of a milestone, Chantilly Arts & Class feted the platinum jubilee of the legendary Bentley Continental with its personal class, and a 1953 Bentley R-Sort Continental took first place.

Shady Richard Mille hospitality space on the 2022 Chantilly Arts & Class Richard Mille
“After the COVID-19 interval all of us skilled, this occasion is firstly about spending time with all our clients who’re very loyal and completely engaged within the model’s universe,” Malachard concluded. “Chantilly Arts & Class is about sharing the values and spirit that the model embodies and its ardour! Traditional automobile occasions akin to this unite like-minded people who find themselves captivated with vehicles and, for us, it makes full sense to create and activate such occasions, particularly within the spectacular gardens of the Château de Chantilly.”
After an unforgettable, elegant automotive Sunday within the French countryside, we already can’t watch for the following version in 2023.
For extra info, please go to www.chantillyartsetelegance.com.
You might also get pleasure from:
Pebble Seashore Traditional Automotive Week 2014: The Fanatic Collector Goes To Automotive Heaven
Richard Mille And Arts & Elégance Chantilly: Now This Is Trendy