Arturo and Deborah Keller’s stunning 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K has been chosen as this year’s recipient of the prestigious Louis Vuitton Classic Award.
Although it is understood that the competition for the coveted Louis Vuitton Annual Award was fierce, Arturo and Deborah Keller’s 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Autobahn Kurier was selected by the Louis Vuitton organization. The award ceremony took place in Monaco on April 23, 2012 where Louis Vuitton presented a specially commissioned and exclusive sculpture to the Kellers.
The list of events that may be taken into consideration for the attribution of the Louis Vuitton Classic Concours Award includes, amongst others, the Cavallino Classic (USA), the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance (USA), the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este (Italy), The Quail (USA) and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance (USA). Only automobiles that have won Best of Show at these events are eligible.
Other cars nominated were a 1951 Ferrari 212 Export Vignale (Cavallino Classic), 1933 Duesenberg ‘Twenty Grand’ (Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance), 1968 Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale (Concorso d’Eleganze Villa d’Este), 1955 Ferrari 375 America Coupe Speciale (The Quail) and 1934 Voisin Aerodyne (Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance).
These automobiles are examined by a jury of specialists and the judging criteria considers the elegance and the refinement of the coachwork, exterior and interior, the mechanical beauty, the form and function appropriateness, as well as the authenticity, the historical importance and the rarity.
