The driving gloves are off

A tower defence game is cruel by definition. But when you throw automotive jewels of the likes of Bentley Blower, Jaguar XKSS, Porsche 959 or Lamborghini Countach from the tower, to name four of the 16 eliminated in the first round of our TCCT Classic Car Trophy, one can’t help but feel like we’re exaggerating! But it was you who voted, so onwards we proceed. With 16 eliminated, now the fight begins between the 16 survivors and it will be even more difficult to accept those “scrapped” along the way.

But which models made it through? Among them, the Mercedes 300SL Gullwing, Lancia Stratos and Bugatti Atlantic stand out for the decisive wins over their adversaries. Interestingly, these are three models of very different eras, from the pre-war for the Atlantic to the 50s for the 300SL right up to the 70s for the Stratos. Ferrari lines up three models in the new group: 166MM, F40 and the strongest runner of the team, the 250 California.

How will they be matched? While the first round pitched models from similar eras against one another, for the round of 16 about to start on Instagram, where everyone can vote, eight seeded cars (those with the greatest distance from their opponents in the first round) will face the remaining eight which will be drawn by lots. And we can be sure that there will be surprises after seeing the legendary Isotta Fraschini eliminated by the Delahaye 135, the Aston Martin DB4 Zagato beaten by a bumper’s length by the Miura and the Cisitalia, the doyen of Italian design and the first car to be permanently on display in the MOMA in New York, eliminated by the Alfa 6c Villa d’Este.

What more can we say? Just one thing: Cast your votes so that you have both the pleasure and the merit of determining the car that in this unpleasant and troubled year, will be elected Queen of the TCCT Classic Trophy 2020.

Here are the 16 models admitted to the round of 16: