Each year, a handful of automobiles rise above the concours lawns to claim something far greater than silverware: a place in history. The Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award exists to celebrate exactly those machines. The rarest, most exquisitely designed classic cars on the planet, and for 2025, the finalists have just been revealed.
Seven extraordinary automobiles, all former Best of Show winners at the world’s most prestigious concours events, will compete for the ultimate accolade. From pre-war elegance to modern supercar royalty, these finalists represent the absolute pinnacle of automotive design, craftsmanship, and performance. The winner will be crowned on January 26, 2026, during a glittering ceremony at The Peninsula Paris.
To win Best of the Best is to be declared the most exceptional classic automobile in the world, no small feat might we add. As The Hon. Sir Michael Kadoorie, Chairman of The Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels Limited and co-founder of the award, explains, this is about far more than engineering brilliance. “It pays homage to the artistry, cultural heritage, and historical significance of the automobile,” he says. Each finalist tells its own story, one shaped by visionary designers and careful preservation for generations.
The backdrop for this celebration could hardly be more fitting, with over a century of history at its heart. The Peninsula Paris blends timeless glamour with French heritage, just moments from some of the world’s most iconic landmarks. Following the ceremony, the winning car will enjoy a second moment in the spotlight, displayed in collaboration with Rétromobile at one of the world’s most revered classic car fairs from January 28 to February 1, 2026.
So, who’s in the running? The 2025 nominees include everything from the romantic 1926 Rolls-Royce Phantom I “Phantom of Love” to the fire-breathing 1996 Ferrari F50 GT. Along the way, we encounter Alfa Romeo’s legendary Tipo B and 8C 2900B, a jaw-dropping Mercedes-Benz 500K Special Roadster, a Facel-bodied Bentley Mark VI Cresta II, and a Ghia-penned Ferrari 375 MM — each a former Best of Show winner in its own right.
Judging these rolling masterpieces is a jury worthy of the task, including Jay Leno, Gordon Murray, and Mercedes-Benz design chief Gorden Wagener, supported by an international panel of designers, industry leaders, and automotive tastemakers. Only one car will take the crown, but for now, the countdown begins!
