Honouring Automotive Excellence - 2026 Award Winners

BEST IN SHOW:
1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupe

The Best in Show Award represents the highest honour of the Noosa Concours d’Elegance and is awarded to the most exceptional vehicle across the entire field. The winning vehicle will demonstrate outstanding authenticity, quality of restoration or preservation, attention to detail, and a strong sense of elegance and design harmony, supported by meaningful historical significance.

Regarded by many as the world’s first supercar, the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupe combined advanced engineering, competition-bred design and unmistakable visual drama in a way few road cars had achieved before. 

Derived from Mercedes-Benz’s 1952 W194 competition car, it brought that racing pedigree to the road in strikingly advanced form. Its lightweight spaceframe chassis gave rise to the model’s defining gullwing doors, while its 3.0-litre fuel-injected six-cylinder engine marked a major technical milestone as the first production car to feature fuel injection. The letters “SL” came from the German super-leicht, or “super-light”. 

This example was originally owned by Sir David Brown, the former owner of Aston Martin and has just completed a superficial restoration, undertaken by Sleeping Beauties.

BEST CLASSIC CAR (Pre 1945):
1932 Cadillac Series 355-B

This 1932 Cadillac Series 355-B is a rare and beautifully restored example of one of the marque’s most elegant sporting designs, believed to be one of just three survivors fitted with Fisher’s 2/4 Passenger Roadster coachwork. Delivered new through Cadillac’s premier Detroit showroom, it represents one of the most coveted body styles of the series. 

Discovered in the early 1980s by noted collector Len Immke, it later underwent an exceptional restoration by respected expert Dale Adams. 

Its quality has since been recognised on some of the world’s most prestigious concours fields, including the 2002 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where it appeared as a distinguished example of pre-war American luxury, rarity and craftsmanship.

BEST CLASSIC CAR (1945 - 1965):
1960 Lancia Flaminia Zagato Sport

The Lancia Flaminia Zagato Sport occupies a special place in post-war Italian motoring, combining Lancia engineering with Zagato’s most elegant and purposeful coachwork. 

Purchased in 1962 by Gilberto Bagnasacco, this lightweight Series 1 example was configured for competition, giving it an incredible racing provenance. It achieved first in class in the GT category at the 1963 Stallavena-Bosco hill climb, followed by appearances at the Targa Florio, Bologna Raticosa, Coppa Citta di Asiago and Cesana -Sestriere hill climbs, before the season concluded at the famed Monza race track. 

Sold in 1965 to an Australian holidaying in Italy; it was shipped to Australia some months after, where its bright red paint and loud exhaust made it a familiar sight around Sydney. 

Following decades of family ownership, it was restored to an exceptional standard by Re-creation Automotive in Melbourne.

BEST CLASSIC CAR (1966 - 1985):
1969 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage

This 1969 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage is a rare and highly desirable example of the final evolution of Aston Martin’s six-cylinder DB line. One of the last Mark I DB6s produced, it is fitted with an exceptionally rare Vantage VC competition-specification engine and is finished in seldom-seen mink metallic over red Connolly leather.

Delivered new in the UK and shipped to Australia in 1972, it was later discovered as a barn find before undergoing a comprehensive ground-up, matching-numbers restoration by Concours Sportscar Restoration.

With its rare specification, colour and provenance, it stands as a compelling example of one of Aston Martin’s most admired grand tourers.

BEST MODERN CAR:
1990 Ferrari F40

The Best Modern Car Award recognises the most exceptional vehicle manufactured after 1985. Judging for this Award considers originality, condition, design, engineering and overall presentation, with the winning vehicle reflecting the advancement and character of contemporary automotive design.

Presented in 1987 to mark Ferrari’s 40th anniversary, the F40 stands as one of the most significant performance cars ever produced. Its name is deeply symbolic: “F” for Ferrari, and “40” commemorating four decades since the first Ferrari road car was approved for public use. Instantly legendary, it became the world’s fastest production car and the first to officially exceed 200 mph, securing its place among the defining supercars of the modern era. 

This 1990 example is especially desirable as a non-catalyst, non-adjustable suspension car, now benefiting from period-correct dealer-fitted adjustable suspension for improved usability. 

Originally owned by one of Ferrari’s most prominent collectors and showing just 2,000 kilometres from new, it remains one of Ferrari’s most coveted creations.

BEST PRESERVATION: 
1971 Ford Falcon XY GTHO Phase III

The Best Preservation Award category is dedicated to vehicles that have been carefully maintained in their original condition rather than restored. The Award recognises the vehicle that has best retained its original components, finishes, and overall integrity as they were when first built, with minimal changes over time. When assessing Preservation vehicles, the principle that “a vehicle is only original once” is upheld, with emphasis placed on authenticity, originality, and sympathetic care.

The 1971 Ford Falcon XY GTHO Phase III remains one of the most celebrated performance cars in Australian motoring, developed in an era when road cars were built to win on the racetrack. 

Marketed in its day as the world’s fastest four-door production car, it cemented its place in history at Bathurst in 1971, where the model filled all three places on the podium. 

Of the 300 Phase IIIs built, only a little over 100 are believed to remain, making surviving original examples especially prized. 

Delivered new to Adelaide, this car has travelled just over 46,000 miles and remains remarkably original, with its authenticity and presentation recognised through multiple awards and appearances.

PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD:

1969 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage

The People's Choice Award holds a special place at Noosa Concours, as it allows every attendee to participate in the judging process and cast their votes for their most beloved vehicle. Throughout the day, visitors have voted for the vehicle that most captured their imagination - whether through its design, presence, story, rarity or simply the way it made them feel. This award recognises the crowd favourite of the event.

This 1969 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage is a rare and highly desirable example of the final evolution of Aston Martin’s six-cylinder DB line. One of the last Mark I DB6s produced, it is fitted with an exceptionally rare Vantage VC competition-specification engine and is finished in seldom-seen mink metallic over red Connolly leather.

Delivered new in the UK and shipped to Australia in 1972, it was later discovered as a barn find before undergoing a comprehensive ground-up, matching-numbers restoration by Concours Sportscar Restoration.

With its rare specification, colour and provenance, it stands as a compelling example of one of Aston Martin’s most admired grand tourers.

NEXT GEN JUDGES CHOICE:
1990 Ferrari F40

The Next Gen (Generation) Award is a unique accolade presented to the vehicle chosen by our young automotive enthusiasts in the Next Gen Program, celebrating the car that truly makes them go "wow". 

Presented in 1987 to mark Ferrari’s 40th anniversary, the F40 stands as one of the most significant performance cars ever produced. Its name is deeply symbolic: “F” for Ferrari, and “40” commemorating four decades since the first Ferrari road car was approved for public use. Instantly legendary, it became the world’s fastest production car and the first to officially exceed 200 mph, securing its place among the defining supercars of the modern era.

This 1990 example is especially desirable as a non-catalyst, non-adjustable suspension car, now benefiting from period-correct dealer-fitted adjustable suspension for improved usability.

Originally owned by one of Ferrari’s most prominent collectors and showing just 2,000 kilometres from new, it remains one of Ferrari’s most coveted creations.