The Schloss Bensberg Classics is an event series for vintage cars in the context of which an exclusive selection of spectacular, precious items is showcased. In a rally called Rallye Historique the participants drive through the Bergisches Land. At the Concours D’Elegance, a rare and vintage car contest, the most exquisite models are awarded a prize.

For the third time, the Leica Camera AG was a supporter of the Schloss Bensberg Classics which took place last week. Rare, vintage cars were showcased against the backdrop of the Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg (Bergisch Gladbach). This year photographer René Staud was on hand with the Leica S2 to capture the automotive beauties. “I love my Leica S2 for a job such as Bensberg” said Staud, who has been working in photography for 40 years.

At the end of the event, the large-format images were printed, framed and presented to the owners of the cars. Image processing was handled by Leica Camera AG in cooperation with René Staud Studios and Andrea Lazi of Lazi und Lazi. The photographs taken with the S2 were processed in Adobe Lightroon 3.43 and then slightly retouched and set against a background using Adobe Photoshop. This coordinated production process allowed more than 40 photos to be completed in a very short window of time.

Dr. Andreas Kaufmann, the chairman of the supervisory board of the Leica Camera AG, shared his thoughts on the event, “Thanks to Leica Camera AG’s involvement in the Schloss Bensberg Classics two worlds meet that form a perfect combination: It is the fascination with unique cars and exceptional cameras. The enthusiasm about tradition, technical perfection and outstanding aesthetics are elements classic cars and Leica cameras have in common.”

Can you identify any of the cars in the gallery above? Leave us a comment with the photo number and your guess of the car model and year.

-Leica Internet Team

You can find out more about the event on their website, www.sbc2011.de, and if you’d like to see more of René Staud’s work visit his website, www.renestaud.com.