We try not to drive our prized cars through the snow on a regular basis. Losing traction is fun; losing metal to rust, less so. But there are exceptions to every rule, and The I.C.E. St. Moritz is a perfect example. It also helps when the snow is of the fresh alpine variety and not the salt-infused slush that most of us plow through each winter.
All of the trappings of a world-class concours are present in St. Moritz—millions of dollars of cars, a destination location, etc.—but this event separates itself from the typical show season’s events by taking place in the dead of winter on a frozen lake, rather than on the grounds of a royal residence on a bright summer day. With last year’s edition cancelled due to the virus, this year’s I.C.E. was a more-than-welcome excuse to spend a weekend around cars and people who appreciate them.
The fifty-odd cars that officially participated were grouped by theme—cinema, motorsport, and the ever-vague “lifestyle”—and despite this relatively small number, there was plenty of variety on display, from Meyers Manx dune buggies churning snow instead of sand, to the iconic 1960s Ferrari GTs, all the way to the modern side of the spectrum with a selection of recent and current supercars. Porsches, Maseratis, Lamborghinis, Minis, Fords, Jaguars, and more took to the snowy circuit this past weekend, many of them hauling a set of skis, a sled, or some spares on their roofs and trunks.
The 2022 jury, chaired by Marco Makaus, author, historian, collector’s expert, “voice” of the Mille Miglia, as well as creator and Patron of THE I.C.E. St. Moritz, is made up of experts and representatives from various sectors—not only from the world of cars, but also from the fashion, arts, design, and horology spheres.
Some of the notable vehicles in attendance included a one-of-four long-nose alloy-bodied Ferrari 275 GTB, the Lamborghini Miura that starred in the original The Italian Job, a Jaguar C-Type that’s been in the same family since the 1970s, an ex-works Mini Cooper S with period rally wins, a 1939 Maserati 4CL Grand Prix car, the Meyers Manx that Steve McQueen drove in The Thomas Crown Affair, a real Jaguar XKSS, a Polizia Ferrari 250 GTE, a 250 GTO for good measure, an Aston Martin DB5 kitted out with Q division gear, the lifted and desert-ready Jules-livery Rolls Royce Corniche, Simon Kidston’s purple Countach, the streamliner-esque Mercedes 300SL Porter Special, and a gorgeous Maserati A6GCS.
The weather for the event was a typically beautiful bluebird day in the Swiss Alps, and above the din of engines and happy conversation the sounds of tire chains, cold starts, and the underfoot crunch of snow characterized the soundscape of the weekend on the lake. There is a reason that most classic-car-centric events pick the summertime months, but this Swiss take on a concours is a refreshing change of scenery, and proof that even the rarest and most coveted cars don’t need to hibernate for the full season.
