Coming soon
Keep up to date with all that is happening in the auction world including results from our very own https://halcyonauctions.com
To preorder please contact james@marinamarini.com.au
Happy Birthday to Salon Privé
This 20th birthday party was a truly memorable event, a truly special occasion, and one I was proud to be a small part of.
Salon Privé’s 20th Anniversary Concours on Thursday 28th August named its 2025 Class winners following an intense day of judging at Blenheim. With 60 of the world’s rarest and most historically significant motor cars, the event showcased pre-war icons, post-war thoroughbreds, and modern masterpieces in breathtaking style. Twelve class titles were awarded, alongside Honourable Mentions for entries of exceptional merit. With cars arriving from across Europe, the US and beyond, this year’s line-up was truly world-class. I was honoured to be a member of the Jury, and I and my fellow judges managed to narrow it down to four cars from this incredible field to be nominated for Best in Show.
The 1936 Mercedes-Benz 500K Spezial Roadster took out the top honour ahead of the amazing, jaw-dropping 1956 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Coupé ‘Super Fast” Prototype by Pinin Farina, the 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C Monza by Touring, and the bewitching 1933 Duesenberg SJ Dual Cowl Phaeton by LaGrande – incredible motor cars all. The 1936 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Spezial Roadster by Sindelfingen was shown by The Auriga Collection, the rare pre-war Roadster also received the Most Exceptional Coachwork Award, impressing the judges with its sweeping long-tail design and concours pedigree. Sixty cars from 13 countries competed across 12 classes, with Anne Brockinton Lee’s Ferrari 410 Superamerica Coupe “Super Fast” Prototype named Runner-Up and also People’s Choice.
Bragging Rites!
In my last post I was waxing lyrical about my latest little book celebrating the Citroën DS. Having just received the review copy of another book on a French marque from my good friends Dr Peter Larsen and Ben Erickson, I now, like my book offering, feel rather humble.
What a truly incredible work is Joseph Figoni, Le Grand Couturier de la Carrosserie Automobile: Bugatti. Having taken more than four years of intense research it is a signed and numbered limited edition of just 600 copies.
Brace yourself for the fascinating story about how the Carrosserie Joseph Figoni worked closely with Bugatti in Paris in the 1920s as well as the first showings of Figoni coachwork at the Paris Salons and concours d’élégance. It is an absorbing account of how French luxury cars were built, sold and marketed in the City of Light before the tsunami of the Great Depression. Who the movers and shakers were, and the conflicts that arose when business interests clashed.
Also explored is the Bugatti sales empire built by businessman Étienne Bunau-Varilla, an empire that for some crucial years regarded the Carrosserie Joseph Figoni as a favored coachbuilder, thereby putting Figoni on the map as a leading carrossier in Paris. But it was also an enterprise that grew to the point where Ettore Bugatti could no longer live with the power that Bunau-Varilla exerted over the factory in Alsace.
The resulting divorce is described in detail, including how things subsequently fell apart in Paris due to the rickety sales structure which Ettore Bugatti then established. The casualties were many. Not least Joseph Figoni and his coachbuilding operation, as well as a number of his competitors. All copiously illustrated with period images, documentation and brochure material.
Extraordinary source material from the Figoni and Bugatti archives has provided a wealth of new information. As a result, many previously unknown Bugattis have been identified. Many never-before-seen images are included, including engaging and detailed profile renderings by the late Gerrit-Jan Caviët.
It is a gripping panorama across three volumes with chassis-by-chassis descriptions of 113 Bugattis that passed through the Figoni works from 1925 to 1939. Born of the jazz age, these were extraordinary cars of a bygone era. Figoni finished the last Bugatti carrosserie mere months before the outbreak of World War II. Nothing would ever be the same.
PLEASE NOTE: in the Figoni series, Volume I was Alfa-Romeo. The three volumes in the Bugatti set are therefore numbered Volume II, III and IV.
Published by Moteurs! the books can be purchased directly at https://www.moteurs.dk/bugatti
Machine – Goddess – Myth
Well, it has taken me a while but just in time for the 70th anniversary of its launch and a half century since the final one rolled off the production line here is my latest book, MACHINE – GODDESS – MYTH, THE CITROËN DS!
Published by Vivid Publishing, the book featuring some 100 images, with many of the photographs taken by myself, takes a different look at the motoring icon that is the DS. Not an ordinary book about a car by any means, it is part personal recollection, part social commentary, and always an homage. Priced at Aus$35 plus postage and packing to any where in the world, pre orders are available directly by sending an email to james@marinamarini.com.au
Kickstarter
Life After Man – A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller
The infected roam. But monsters hide in plain sight!
Check out this fabulous teaser for award winning independent cinematographer and my good friend Gareth Carr…Writer, director, and cinematographer Gareth Carr is an English filmmaker based in Australia. His debut feature Saving Grace was released in 2022. His latest film, Life After Man, is now in post-production and marks his most ambitious project yet.
🎬 The Story Behind the Film
Life After Man is a completed feature film — fully shot, edited, and now deep into post-production. What started as a bold indie vision has become something raw, cinematic, and emotionally grounded.
We’re now raising funds to cross the finish line and give this film the final polish it deserves.
With your help, we can complete:
🎧 Dialogue Editing – Clean, crisp dialogue that carries every beat of tension
🔊 Sound Design – The eerie, immersive world of the infected, brought to life through layered atmosphere
🎨 Colour Grade – A rich, cinematic look that captures the haunting beauty of post-collapse Australia
🌿 Why This Film?
Set against a collapsed world, Life After Man follows two sisters fighting to survive — and trust each other — in isolation. It’s a story about family, fear, and holding onto hope when everything else is gone.
Think The Road meets It Comes at Night, with a uniquely Australian lens — and a grounded sibling bond at its emotional core.
🎥 Where We’re At
This isn’t a “maybe someday” project — Life After Man is already shot, edited, and story-locked. Your support will directly fund the final post elements needed to complete the film and prepare it for release.
All funds raised go toward the last essential steps:
✅ Dialogue Editor
✅ Sound Designer
✅ Colour Grading
🙏 Why We Need You
Independent filmmaking doesn’t come with safety nets. We’ve stretched every dollar to get this far — now we’re asking for your help to bring the final vision to life.
If you love slow-burn post-apocalyptic stories, powerful female leads, and emotionally driven thrillers — this is your film.
Back Life After Man and help us finish what we started.
Up in Smoke
Unfortunately the Anantara Concorso Roma had to be understandably postponed due to the passing of Pope Francis whose funeral took place the weekend that the event was due to be held. Such a lot of hard work had been put in to the proposed event which I am sure will come to fruition when it is held next year on 16 – 19 April. Having just had a small taste of what to expect whilst I was in Rome I am already champing at the bit, and looking at this pre-event publicity shot I think you can see why I cannot wait to return to the fabulous grand hotel that is the Anantara Palazzo Naiadi.
Screenshot
All Roads Lead to Rome
Having driven on some incomparable roads in New South Wales and Victoria recently during the wonderful seventh edition of the Targa Classica (of which I have taken part in five) this month sees me taking a road less traveled as Tutti Le Strade Portano A Roma for the inaugural Anantara Concorso Roma where I am honoured to be a member of the Jury led by Adolfo Orsi of Maserati fame. For just three days in 2025, 24-27 April, Rome will be the capital of the historical car world. The Centro Storico, arguably the greatest open-air museum there is, will showcase the very best rare historic cars in the world, from around the world. An impressive concorso d’eleganza amongst the magnificent ancient Roman antiquities and Renaissance treasures.
This new motoring spectacle will offer a gathering of the rarest and most significant historic Automobili Italiane from around the globe, for a vibrant three-day celebration of the very best in Roman hospitality, Italian cuisine and luxury style—la dolce vita!
Uniquely, the Anantara Concorso Roma will only feature Automobili Italiane. A curated line-up of the very best Italian masterpieces of every age—from the early pioneering days, through the heroic decades of racing supremacy, the era of power, performance and style, up to the modern era of the first supercars. The story of the Italian sports car featuring all the great marques: Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, to include Bugatti—an Italian car by birth.
I am very excited and look forward to bringing you news and images of the Caput Mundi of the Motoring World but until my next post here are a few mages from https://targaclassica.com
Magnificent 7th
INTERNATIONAL JUDGES CROWN THE FINEST AUTOMOBILES AT 2025 SYDNEY HARBOUR CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE
Link to official video – https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1CnB4W-iWEdpLx8EuBUbsFohZJfCR1A9F
An esteemed international jury of automotive experts has crowned the finest vehicles on display at the 2025 Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance, held this weekend on Sydney’s iconic Cockatoo Island.
More than 80 rare vintage and classic cars, high-performance super and hypercars, and cutting-edge sustainable new energy vehicles – collectively valued at over $100 million – were showcased at the seventh annual event, which welcomed more than 2,000 motoring and luxury lifestyle enthusiasts.
From the extraordinary display, the coveted Best in Show awards were determined by a panel of international judges led by Alfa Romeo expert and Vice President of the Registro Internazionale Touring Superleggera, Alessandra Giorgetti from Milan.
The prestigious winners, all privately owned by passionate collectors – including four vehicles on display from Clive Palmer’s personal collection – were announced at a gala dinner at the Royal Automobile Club of Australia on Saturday evening.
Event Founder and Curator, Mr James Nicholls, said this year’s Concours marked a milestone in the event’s legacy.
“This is the biggest and best Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance in our seven-year history,” Mr Nicholls said.
“With more than 100 years of motoring heritage on display, the event is a celebration of engineering excellence, timeless design, and craftsmanship – all set against the breathtaking backdrop of Sydney Harbour.
“The extraordinary vehicles showcased, alongside curated luxury lifestyle experiences featuring haute couture, fine food, designer jewellery, Champagne Pommery and Château la Gordonne, continue to elevate the Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance as one of the world’s leading luxury lifestyle events.
“We are already looking forward to the 2026 Concours and the continued growth of this globally recognised showcase.”
Renowned businessman and collector Clive Palmer praised the event’s growing international profile.
“What a wonderful international event for Sydney, bringing the world’s leading judges of classic cars to the city,” Mr Palmer said.
“The Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance is a major development on the global motoring calendar. Well done, Sydney!”
BEST IN SHOW OVERALL: 1933 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Figoni
MOST SPECTACULAR: Porsche 917/30 (1973)
BEST IN SHOW (PRE WAR): Bugatti Type 57 Aravis (1939)
BEST IN SHOW (POST WAR): Lamborghini Miura (1967)
BEST ITALIAN CAR PRESENTED BY ASI: Lancia Flaminia GT Convertible (1962). PASSION POST WAR: Fiat Abarth 750 GT Zagato (1959)
PASSION PRE WAR: Ford Roadster (1932)
SENSITIVE RESTORATION: Jaguar E Type OTS Series 1 (1963)
BEST ALFA ROMEO PRESENTED BY RIAR: Alfa Romeo 6C 17540 GS Figoni (1933)
POST WAR PRESERVATION: Alfa Romeo 6C Sport Freccia D’oro (1948)
PRE WAR PRESERVATION: Alvis Speed 20 SC (1935)
CLASS 1 ICONS: Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Figoni (1933)
CLASS 2 WIND IN YOUR HAIR: Mercedes Benz 190 SL (1963)
CLASS 3 ITALIANISSIMO: Lamborghini Miura P400 (1967)
CLASS 4 FAST & LOUD: Brabham BT23E (1968)
CLASS 5 100 YEARS OF FRENCH REVOLUTION: Bugatti Type 57 Atalante (1935)
CLASS 6 SPEEDSTERS: Porsche 356 T2 Speedster (1958)
CLASS 7 PRE WAR AUSTRALIA COACHBUILT: Rolls-Royce Phantom (1926)
Special Offer
The oo7 Edition of the Sydney Harbour Concours d’Elegance is the leading event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and notable for ‘haute automobilisme on the edge of the Pacific’. Taking place on Cockatoo Island on 28th February to 2nd March you can obtain a 25% discount on ticket pricing by going to the website https://sydneyharbourconcours.com.au and using the code COF&F
To give you a feel check out last year’s event https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71SZiEgRzYo
As the Founder and Curator of the Sydney Harbour Concours I look forward to welcoming you to Cockatoo Island to view such marvels taking part as this 1933 Alfa Romeo 6C by Figoni pictured below in Nice in the South of France in 1934 and when it swept the board at the 2012 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on the shores of Lake Como in Italy (bottom).
Welcome 2025
Happy New Year, and let us hope it is the best it can be for anyone and everyone.
On Boxing Day once again I was out on Sydney Harbour photographing the start of the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
Herewith half a dozen images from a wonderful day on the water to whet (or should that be wet) the appetite!
