The Kingdom’s first-ever Royal Concours brought together more than 370 collector and club cars, celebrating nearly a century of automotive design in spectacular fashion.

The much-anticipated inaugural Royal Bahrain Concours, which took place last month amid much fanfare at the Royal Golf Club in Riffa, concluded with a triumph befitting its name.

Held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, this was not just another car show. The two-day celebration of automotive excellence brought together over 70 of the world’s rarest and most significant automobiles, all set against the stunning backdrop of Colin Montgomerie’s championship golf course.

Best of Show

Among an extraordinary gathering that included pre-war masterpieces, legendary race cars and cutting-edge hypercars, one machine captured the hearts of fellow collectors. The 1972 Lamborghini Miura SV ‘Shah of Iran’, chassis 4870, was awarded Best of Show.

This car has a story few can match. It was originally ordered new in 1971 through the Iranian Embassy in Rome for Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the final Shah of Iran. It is an exceptionally rare example, one of only 147 SVs ever built, finished in Bleu Ischia Metallizzato with white leather and air conditioning. After the 1979 Revolution, the car disappeared for 12 years. It reappeared in Italy, where it was restored in the 1990s, winning ‘Best Miura’ at the 1993 Lamborghini Days. It was purchased by its current owner, Dr Khalid M. Abdulrahim of Bahrain, in 2009.

The Region’s Car Community Comes Together

The Royal Bahrain Concours offered far more than exceptional machinery. Over the weekend of November 7 and 8, more than 60 additional collector cars joined 300 club vehicles from across the GCC, transforming the Royal Golf Club into the region’s premier automotive gathering. Guests enjoyed gourmet dining, luxury boutiques and live entertainment, getting the chance to witness everything from a 1913 Clément-Bayard to the latest Mercedes-AMG One hypercar. Honouring excellence across the full spectrum of concours classes, owners judged their peers across each category, creating a uniquely inclusive atmosphere.

Standout Award Winners

The Crown Prince Award went to a 2008 Ferrari Zagato Nibbio, owned by HRH Prince Faisal A. Al Faisal from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This is a modern masterpiece of Italian coachbuilding, a bespoke reinterpretation of Ferrari’s 599 GTB Fiorano. Commissioned in an ultra-limited series of just six examples, each was individually handcrafted at Zagato’s Milan atelier. It uses the 599’s aluminium space frame chassis and a 6.0-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine producing 611hp, capable of 0-100km/h in just over 3.5 seconds.

Another highlight was the Modern Classics winner: the 2006 Pagani Zonda F Clubsport, owned by HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. This car, one of only 25 coupés made, was hand-built in Modena. It features a naturally aspirated 7.3-litre Mercedes-AMG V12, producing 650hp through a six-speed manual gearbox and weighs 1,230kg. In 2008, it set a Nürburgring lap record, becoming the fastest production car at the time.

The Hypercars award went to the 2025 Mercedes-AMG One, owned by HRH Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal Al Saud. This is Formula One technology adapted for the road, and one of just 275 built worldwide. Not to be outdone, the Supercars award went to a 2006 Porsche Carrera GT, owned by Abdullah Alibrahim of Saudi Arabia. It represents Porsche’s analogue engineering pinnacle with a 5.7-litre V10 engine derived from Le Mans technology, producing 612hp, revving beyond 8,000rpm.

The event showcased an amazing range. The European Classics winner was a 1988 Lamborghini LM002, owned by Adel Rajab of Saudi Arabia. The ‘Rambo Lambo’ redefined off-road vehicles by using the Countach QV’s 5.2-litre V12. Capable of 210km/h and limited to just over 300 examples, it’s seen as a spiritual forefather to modern performance SUVs. The British Classics was won by the 1988 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante ‘Prince of Wales’, owned by Dr Jörg Wolle from Switzerland. Chassis 15746 is one of just 22 ‘Prince of Wales’ cars built, born from HRH The Prince of Wales’s request for Vantage power without flared arches. The 5.3-litre V8 was later upgraded to 7.0 litres, restored to factory Balmoral Green over tan leather and frequently rallied across Europe.

The Sports & Race Classics winner, a 1959 Ferrari 250 TR owned by Michael and Barbara Malone from the US, has a serious racing pedigree. Chassis 0606 began life as a 1956 Ferrari 290 MM and was later upgraded to a 3-litre V12 Testa Rossa and re-bodied by Scaglietti. It raced for Scuderia Ferrari and Equipe Nationale Belge before racing in Brazil until 1962. It underwent a multi-year restoration to return it to its exact 250 Testa Rossa specification.

The Flat Tops class was won by the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss, owned by Dr Adel Esmat Quttainah from Kuwait. This ultra rare speedster pays homage to the 1955 SLR racers with a roofless, windscreen-free design.

Its supercharged V8 produces 650hp and accelerates 0-100km/h in under 3.5 seconds, reaching 354km/h. Only 75 units were produced exclusively for existing SLR owners. American innovation was well represented across the decades. Winning the American Class was the 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis, a futuristic one-off coupe with ‘jet age’ aesthetics, owned by Fritz Burkard. Powered by a 5.5-litre V8, it was completed in five months, reportedly purchased by Henry Ford II and is now part of the Pearl Collection in Switzerland. The Steering Committee Award went to a 1930 Cord L-29 Roadster, owned by Gautam Hari Singhania from India, restored in 1992 using only period-correct components. Powered by a 298-cubic-inch straight-eight with front-wheel drive, the L-29 is noted for its innovative drivetrain and low stance. Meanwhile, the AirX Award was won by a 1963 Shelby Cobra, owned by Malcolm and Christina Welford from the US, which impressed as a very early production chassis (CSX 2055) retaining rare, distinctive details from its first build.

For those who appreciate older history, the 1937 RollsRoyce Phantom III, owned by Saad Mohammad Awad Binladen of Saudi Arabia, won the Pre-1940 class. This was the final model overseen by Henry Royce and the first Rolls-Royce V12. Its 7.3-litre V12 delivered near silent performance. Each was hand-built, with only 727 produced before WWII.

Special Feature Class awards also recognised emerging collectors, with a Porsche 911 SC winning the 30 Under 30 category. Engineering innovation was celebrated with a 1951 Ford F-1 winning the Restomod/Modified class and a Range Rover L322 Six-Wheeler taking the 4×4 Award.

The inaugural Royal Bahrain Concours, organised by Thorough Events in collaboration with the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), was a huge success, showcasing nearly a century of design and performance and establishing itself as Bahrain’s premier celebration of all things automotive. ✤

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