New Highlight for Classic Car Enthusiasts: Concours of Elegance Germany Debuts on Lake Tegernsee
Mark your calendars for July 26 and 27, 2024, as the international classic-car community anticipates a new landmark event: the Concours of Elegance Germany, making its debut on the stunning shores of Lake Tegernsee. Organized by the team behind the esteemed British Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace, which has enjoyed sponsorship from A. Lange & Söhne since 2018, this vintage car extravaganza will now captivate audiences in Germany, showcasing not only rare automobiles but also the sophisticated timepieces of the renowned Saxon manufacture.
A Historic Setting: Gut Kaltenbrunn on Lake Tegernsee
Nestled in the Bavarian Alps, Gut Kaltenbrunn, a 14th-century manor, provides a picturesque backdrop for this inaugural event. Against the breathtaking vista of Lake Tegernsee, visitors will have the opportunity to admire approximately 50 of the world’s most exceptional and valuable cars up close, with an additional 150 rarities from the Specialist Concours and various car clubs adding to the spectacle.
An International Celebration of Automotive Excellence
Much like its British counterpart, the Concours of Elegance Germany aims to attract a diverse international audience, uniting prominent collectors from around the world in a celebration of automotive heritage. Setting it apart from traditional car shows, the event places the power of selection in the hands of car owners themselves. On Friday, the prestigious “Best-of-Show Award,” featuring a certificate adorned with a hand-engraved balance cock in gold-plated German silver, will be presented by Wilhelm Schmid, CEO of A. Lange & Söhne. Additionally, Schmid will honor the winner in the “Thirty Under 30” category on Saturday. These awards, generously donated by the manufacture, underscore its appreciation for the tireless dedication invested in preserving automotive masterpieces, reflecting a shared commitment to safeguarding cultural heritage for generations to come.
The Fascinating Connection Between Timekeeping and Motorsports
The event also serves as a platform to showcase A. Lange & Söhne’s watchmaking artistry. Spectators will have the opportunity to explore selected models from all six watch families of the Glashütte-based manufacture, with chronographs taking center stage. Symbolizing the historical bond between timekeeping and motorsports, these precision instruments have been a cornerstone of A. Lange & Söhne’s offerings for 25 years. Notable among them is the widely acclaimed DATOGRAPH, which debuted in 1999, paving the way for a series of 13 groundbreaking models. In celebration of this legacy, A. Lange & Söhne unveiled two captivating interpretations of the DATOGRAPH at this year’s Watches & Wonders trade fair in Geneva: the DATOGRAPH UP/DOWN in white gold with a blue dial and the DATOGRAPH PERPETUAL TOURBILLON HONEYGOLD “Lumen.”
“Our horological works of art splendidly complement the automotive masterpieces that will be exhibited on the shores of Lake Tegernsee,” emphasizes Wilhelm Schmid. “We are honored to participate in the very first edition of the Concours of Elegance Germany as the main sponsor. Thus, we are resuming the successful partnership with the Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace, where our timepieces were already greatly appreciated,” says Schmid. “We are particularly delighted that the new edition of the Concours of Elegance will be staged in the country where our manufacture’s roots lie, especially as Germany is world-renowned for its engineering artistry and automotive passion.”
For more information, visit ALange-Soehne.com.