The Concourse d’Elegance at Pebble Beach sprawls along the first fairway of a golf course. The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este? The gravel drive of a hotel. The Amelia Concours d’Elegance is strewn about the lawn on an island just off the coast of… Jacksonville, Florida. The inaugural Concourse d’Elegance for Aston Martin’s 110th Anniversary Arcadia adorned the grounds of Asakusa Kannon Senso-ji; a nearly 1400-year-old Temple in the heart of Tokyo built to honorthe goddess of Mercy. In the words of Jimmy Valmer, “I mean, come on.”
Full Disclosure: Aston Martin of Japan wanted me to attend the Arcadia so badly they brought me to a formal Kaiseki dinner and had a geisha pour sake directly into my mouth. I’m just kidding. Geisha’s don’t do that. Please don’t ask them to do that.
Though this inaugural Arcadia Concourse was relatively modest in quantity, its quality was a bold reminder that through some ups and downs, Aston Martin has been properly cracking on for almost every one of their eleven decades. The modern era is an easy win. The red-lipped Valour on display nails the homage to the 70’s era Vantages. Aston has never struggled with proportions so of course their first mid-engine forays with the Valhalla and Valkyrie are elegant beasts. The Valkyrie AMR Pro on display defies what a civilian automobile can be. Granted it’s another billionaire’s buy-in track toy, but even Ferrari’s FXX-K looks pedestrian in comparison.
Look to the respective donor cars for more proof – LaFerrari next to the ‘standard’ Valkyrie. I say that as a Ferrari die-hard that proudly chugs Maranello’s Kool-Aid by the gallon.
Less than thirty feet from these modern marvels sat three prime examples of Aston’s early dominance in beauty and speed. The crown jewel; a 1940 Speed Model Type C LMF385. Concourse Judge, Steve Waddingham – Aston’s in-house historian – announced the Speed Best in Show for the weekend. In the ultimate testament to the quality and rarity of cars that find homes in the Japanese car community he exclaimed the one-of-five ever built and one-of-three remaining cars was an immaculate example of a car he had not seen in his lifetime, and the thing was built at his office!
Across the rest of the Concourse were shining examples from each of Aston’s eras. James Bond’s Q’d-out DB5 was part of the welcome committee ahead of Senso-Ji’s famous gate. A DB7 Zagato and DBs 4-6 guided the public to the main entrance of the show. Three Cygnets (three!!) were tucked in behind a row of some of the quirkier offerings from the 70s through 90s. A black Lagonda on questionable wheels and the V8 Vantage V550 with nothing to question stood out amongst the standouts.
The weekend got off to a bit of a rough start with Aston committing to the bit so authentically they even brought British weather to Japan (you better believe I made that joke to at least six people on site). Eventually the clouds parted and the weather in Tokyo was just as beautiful as the cars on display. On Saturday afternoon the corral made its way to Fuji speedway for Parade laps for the classics, passenger hot laps for the DBX 707, and eargasm laps for the Vulcan and AMR Pro. Aston came out swinging for their most ardent owners and enthusiasts in Japan. The only place to go from here is the Imperial Palace for 2024.
