For Gary Snell, collecting classic cars is more than just a hobby; it’s a way of life. For several decades, Gary Snell has been an avid car collector and has entered his cars into competitions around Europe. His pride and joy, a 1939 Alfa Romeo, has received top prizes at various Concours d’Elégance shows.

The Concours d’Elégance is a car show that features classic cars and motorcycles. The history dates back to seventeenth century Parisian society, when horse and carriage owners paraded their vehicles around Paris’ parks. After the invention of the automobile, this tradition changed to featuring elegant and classic cars.

The modern day Concours d’Elégance is hosted in various locations around the world. Cars are judged on every aspect, from aesthetics to functional components. The Concours d’Elégance has a number of categories that span various decades and types of cars. Owners have a wide range of categories to enter their cars into, although the requirements for each category are rigid.

Gary Snell has entered his Alfa Romeo 6c 2500 into several Concours events. The car’s history is almost as impressive as the aesthetics, as this model was once bought by the infamous Italian leader Mussolini. The car won top prizes in the Pre-war category. Gary Snell’s Alfa Romeo won the Best of Show at the Salon Privé competition in UK, and has been featured at Villa D’Este in Italy.

For Gary, entering car competitions is mostly for the fun of it. He isn’t focused on winning, although he enjoys having his cars appreciated. He explains, “I’m not one to get hung up about winning. It’s just for fun, and I enjoy seeing the impressive competition.”