Awarded each year, the prestigious distinction recognizes the rarest and most exquisitely designed classic vehicles from around the globe
The Peninsula has announced the seven finalist vehicles which will vie for its distinguished The Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award 2025. The award, which annually selects the world’s most exceptional classic car from a shortlist of major worldwide-concours event winners, will be presented at The Peninsula Paris on 26 January 2026.
Crafted by renowned manufacturers, and honoured at notable concours around the globe, each of the seven finalists represents the pinnacle of automotive design and performance. Only one, however, will be selected to win the Best of the Best Award – and the title of the world’s most exquisite classic motorcar.
“This award is more than a celebration of engineering excellence – it is a tribute to the artistry, heritage, and cultural significance of the automobile,” said The Hon. Sir Michael Kadoorie, chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited, and co-founder of The Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award. “Each finalist represents a chapter in the story of motoring history, crafted by visionary designers and preserved for future generations.”
The Peninsula Paris, a century-old landmark that beautifully blends timeless glamour with French heritage near some of the world’s most famous landmarks, will set the stage for the annual award ceremony. In the storied venue, the winning car will be announced surrounded by automotive enthusiasts from all over the world. Following the award ceremony, in partnership with Rétromobile, the winning car will be on display at the event, one of the world’s celebrated classic car shows, from 28 January to 1 February 2026.
The nominees for The Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award 2025 are:
- 1926 Rolls-Royce Phantom I “Phantom of Love”, coachwork by Charles Clark & Son Ltd. Best of Show, 2025 Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace
- 1934 Alfa Romeo Tipo B, coachwork by the Factory. Best of Show, 2025 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este
- 1936 Mercedes-Benz 500K Spezial Roadster, coachwork by Sindelfingen. Best of Show, 2025 Salon Privé
- 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B, coachwork by Stabilimenti Farina. Best of Show, 2025 Amelia Concours d’Élégance
- 1951 Bentley Mark VI Cresta II, coachwork by Facel Metallon. Best of Show, 2025 Goodwood Cartier Style et Luxe Concours d’Élégance
- 1954 Ferrari 375 MM, coachwork by Ghia. Best of Show, 2025 Cavallino Classic
- 1996 Ferrari F50 GT, coachwork by Pininfarina. Best of Show, 2025 The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering
This year’s judges for The Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award 2025 include celebrated comedian and acclaimed television host Jay Leno, sports car racer and builder Gordon Murray, and influential automotive designer Gorden Wagener. They will be joined by acclaimed automotive architects, former industry leaders and international royalty, creating one of the most prestigious and diverse judging panels in the motorsports world.
The Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award 2025 Nominees
1926 ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM I “THE PHANTOM OF LOVE”
Coachwork by Charles Clark & Son Ltd.
2025 Best of Show, Concours of Elegance Hampton Court Palace
- 7,668cc OHV inline 6-cylinder engine
- 108 BHP at 2,300 RPM
- 4-speed manual transmission Semi-elliptical front suspension, cantilever rear
- 4-wheel servo assisted drum brakes
Background:
The 1926 Rolls-Royce Phantom I won Best of Show at the 2025 Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace. Known as “The Phantom of Love,” the vehicle was meant to be an extravagant gift for the original owner’s wife. Coachbuilders Charles Clark & Son created the French-inspired Brougham bodywork, drawing inspiration from a sedan chair once owned by Marie Antoinette. The final design is one of the most extravagant and decadently exotic bodies ever built, featuring the finest materials and unique accessories. Remarkably, the car remains entirely original, presenting exactly as it was intended nearly 100 years ago.
1934 ALFA ROMEO TIPO B
Coachwork by the Factory
2025 Best of Show, Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este
- 8-cylinder in line engine, 2,905 CC, twin supercharger, twin OHC
- 255 HP at 5,000 RPM
- 4-speed manual gearbox
- Dubonnet axle front, live axle with quarter elliptic springs rear
- Drum brakes front and rear
Background:
This 1934 Alfa Romeo Tipo B is one of only nine examples. Awarded the 2025 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este Best of Show honor, it features an innovative drivetrain with a split transmission system and two angled driveshafts. This configuration allowed for more efficient power delivery and easier gear ratio changes to suit various racing circuits. Featuring a rich racing history, the vehicle won 18 races in 1934 with notable drivers such as Antonio Brivio, Louis Chiron and Achille Varzi at the wheel. It continued to be raced for many years following private ownership and remains one of the most complete examples in existence, serving as a true icon of pre-war Grand Prix history.
1936 MERCEDES-BENZ 500 K SPEZIAL ROADSTER
Coachwork by Sindelfingen
2025 Best of Show, Salon Privé
- Straight 8 engine, 5,018 CC, supercharged
- 100/160 HP at 3,400 RPM (100 HP normally aspirated, boosted to 160 HP when supercharger engages)
- 4-speed manual gearbox
- Suspension, rear: independent, swing axle and coil springs
- Four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes
Background:
Introduced in 1934 and first displayed at the Berlin Motor Show, the 500K stands as a masterpiece of pre-war automotive craftsmanship, with only 12 Spezial Roadster examples ever produced. The 1936 Mercedes-Benz 500K Spezial Roadster finalist won the Grand Prix d’Honneur at the Cannes Concours d’Elegance in 1936 before being lost to private ownership. The 2025 Salon Privé marked the first time it had been seen in public since its reappearance at Pebble Beach in 1997.
1938 ALFA ROMEO 8C 2900B
Coachwork by Stabilimenti Farina
2025 Best of Show, Amelia Concours d’Elegance
- Straight 8-cylinder engine, 2,900 CC, supercharged, twin OHC
- 180 BHP at 5,500 RPM
- 4-speed manual gearbox
- Double wishbone independent front suspension, swing axles independent rear suspension
- Hydraulic drum brakes front and rear
Background:
The second Alfa Romeo finalist includes a 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B, the fastest and most exclusive Italian car of the late 1930s. This particular example was originally owned by famous Italian race-car driver Giuseppe Antonio “Nino” Farina, the first official Formula One world champion, and the only 8C 2900B ever fitted with Stabilimenti Farina coachwork. Designed by Nino’s uncle, Giovanni Battista “Pinin” Farina, it features elegant lines reminiscent of Pinin Farina’s celebrated Lancia Astura “Tipo Bocca.” The current owner purchased the car in a partially restored condition and completed the restoration in 1996, receiving the top honor at the 2025 Amelia Concours d’Elegance.
1951 BENTLEY MARK VI CRESTA II
Coachwork by Facel Metallon
2025 Best of Show, Goodwood Cartier Style et Luxe Concours d’Elegance
- 6-cylinder in-line engine, 4,257 CC
- “Adequate” power (the manufacturer refused to disclose a horse power value for the car)
- 4-speed synchromesh manual transmission
- Independent suspension with coil springs front, live axle and leaf springs with adjustable shock absorbers rear
- Drum brakes front and rear, servo-assisted
Background:
The 1951 Bentley Mark VI Cresta II was crowned Best of Show at the 2025 Goodwood Cartier Style et Luxe Concours d’Elegance. It is a unique, one-off coupe created by French designer Jean Daninos, who sought to push the boundaries of modern luxury using the Bentley Mark VI chassis. Expanding on an earlier Cresta prototype, Daninos crafted a lower, more streamlined body distinguished by its twin paired headlights, refined grille and elegant proportions. It underwent a comprehensive restoration from 1993 to 1999 to preserve its unique features and has since received several awards.
1954 FERRARI 375 MM
Coachwork by Ghia
2025 Best of Show, Cavallino Classic
- 4,522.7 CC V12 engine
- 340 HP at 7,000 RPM
- 4-speed manual non-synchromesh gearbox
- Independent front suspension with double wishbones, live rear axle
- Drum brakes front and rear
Background:
The first Ferrari among finalists is a 1954 Ferrari 375 MM. It was crowned Best of Show at the 2025 Cavallino Classic and came to be after Enzo Ferrari was requested to commission a competition Ferrari for the road. Using a Ferrari 375 MM racing chassis and a 340-horsepower, F1-derived Lampredi V12 engine, the original owner then had it clothed by Carrozzeria Ghia, making it the final Ferrari built by Ghia.
1996 FERRARI F50 GT
Coachwork by Pininfarina
2025 Best of Show, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering
- V-12 engine, 4,699 CC, 5 valves per cylinder
- 750 HP at 10,500 RPM
- 6-Speed sequential gearbox
- Independent suspension, unequal A arms, coil springs, koni dampers, push rods front and rear
- Disc brakes front and rear
Background:
The second Ferrari finalist is a 1996 Ferrari F50 GT that took home Best of Show at this year’s The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering. This F50 is one of the rarest and most extreme Ferraris ever built, a prototype created to take the F50 into top-tier GT1 racing. Chassis number 001, the only factory-assembled test car, pairs a 750-horsepower evolution of Ferrari’s 4.7-liter V12 with a carbon-fiber monocoque, period-perfect aerodynamics and race hardware worthy of a Formula 1 grid. With purposeful carbon bodywork, black Speedline wheels and timeless proportions, the F50 GT1 stands as one of the iconic brand’s most desirable and formidable sports racers.
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