The International Historic Motoring Awards celebrate the people, cars, events and publications that have furthered the burgeoning classic car movement this year.

The award categories, finalists and winners demonstrated the geographic spread and variety of areas that the multi-billion-pound historic motoring industry encompasses.

Mercedes-Benz Classic had a successful night, winning the award for best restoration for its glorious – and unique – 540K Streamliner from 1938. Only one version was made with aluminium-alloy bodywork, although it shared the standard 540K's supercharged, inline eight-cylinder engine. According to some sources, 4,800 hours of work went into the restoration.

The heritage arm of Mercedes also won the award for industry supporter, for its extensive international activities in 2014 marking 120 years of motorsport Maserati also fared well, taking the "best tour" title for its Centennial International Gathering, which brought together cars and owners from all over the world for an unforgettable celebration in Italy.

The motorsport categories were hotly contested, with finalists from a range of countries. The Rally award was won by the Royal Automobile Club's gruelling 1,000 Mile Trial, while the Stirling Moss Trophy – in which drivers compete for the actual trophy won by Stirling Moss in the 1955 British GP - took Race Series. The outstanding Le Mans Classic, which this year attracted 110,000 spectators, was named the best Motorsport event.

In the one category decided by the general public – Car of the Year – the honours went to the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum's Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe CSX2287. This prototype broke 23 records at Bonneville in 1965 and in 2014 became the first car to be accepted into the National Historic Registry of the United States.

The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award went to a name that has been familiar to rally fans for 60 years, ex-Spitfire pilot Willy Cave, who had his first works drive as a navigator in 1954. Now in his 80s, he's still rallying, making him one of the oldest – if not the oldest – continuous competitor in motorsport. And he doesn't plan to stop, telling the audience that he is due to take part in the historic Monte Carlo rally on his 90th birthday.

Another motoring veteran – in fact one even more veteran than Willy Cave – was also honoured. Former Jaguar test driver and race driver Norman Dewis, 94, received the Personal Achievement award for his role in this year's celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the D-type, one of many seminal Jaguars he developed.

The Vintage Sports-Car Club, which this year celebrates its 80th anniversary, was the Club winner, while the Haynes International Motor Museum in Somerset, which has undergone a complete transformation following a privately funded £5 million investment, was rewarded with the title of Museum or Collection of the Year. It beat four of the most prominent motoring museums in the USA.

THE WINNERS

The full list:

Lifetime Achievement Award: Willy Cave

Car of the Year: Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe CSX2287

Club of the Year (sponsored by Footman James): Vintage Sports-Car Club

Industry Supporter of the Year: Mercedes-Benz Classic

Motoring Event of the Year: Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille

Motorsport Event of the Year: Le Mans Classic

Museum or Collection of the Year: Haynes International Motor Museum

Personal Achievement of the Year: Norman Dewis

Publication of the Year: Jacques Saoutchik, Maître Carrossier

Race Series of the Year: Stirling Moss Trophy

Rally of the Year: The Royal Automobile Club 1,000 Mile Trial

Restoration of the Year: Mercedes-Benz Streamliner 540K

Specialist of the Year: HK-Engineering of Germany

Tour of the Year: Maserati Centennial International Gathering

(China Daily USA 01/26/2015 page10)