All posts by Albert S. Davis

1930 Minerva 80138 AL: Best of Show Concours International at the Greenwich Concours, 2014

June 12, 2014 Albert S. Davis 3 Comments

This year, the second day of proceedings at the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance was an example of great weather, good vibes, and gorgeous European and Asian automobiles from Great Britain to Belgium to the former Soviet Union. The Best Of Show winner was a car that captivated everyone who came near it with beauty, style, and above all, cold hard substance. The winner of Best of Show was this stunning Belgian-crafted 1930 Minerva 80138 AL, with coachwork by Vanden Plas. The owner is Judge Joseph Cassini III and his wife Margie Cassini of West Orange, NJ. Cassini is a recently retired judge with an excellent car collection that has won multiple awards. For instance, his 1934 Packard won Best of Show at Pebble Beach last summer, and his Horch 853 Special Roadster won Best Of Show at Greenwich just two years ago. He’s also shown a beautiful 1933 Duesenberg SJ at Hershey, which I had the pleasure of seeing last summer (it won Most Elegant American Closed Pre-War).

The Minerva, however, was the star of this show two Sundays ago. Finished in a pearl earth paint color, the bodywork is paired with a 6.6L straight eight sleeve-valved engine. Cassini claims that this is one of 8 surviving “AL” models with that engine left. Cassini’s opinion on winning the award with the Minerva was, “It’s pretty humbling to see it recognized for the work of art that it is.” He purchased the car at the Gooding auction at Amelia Island only a few months ago (fully restored) and is showing it for the first time at Greenwich. According to the auction house website (goodingco.com), this is a Pebble Beach and Amelia Island class winner and has won Best Of Show at other Concours events previously. After receiving his award, Mr. Cassini mentioned that he will be bringing another Minerva to the Elegance at Hershey this coming Sunday–specifically, a Rollston-bodied 1931 cabriolet sedan which I am eager to see up close. Many congratulations to Joseph and Margie Cassini for winning Best Of Show in the Concours International. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1930 Minerva 80138 AL: Best of Show Concours International at the Greenwich Concours, 2014 →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1969 Plymouth Road Runner M-Code at the 2014 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance

June 10, 2014 Albert S. Davis 1 Comment

The Plymouth Road Runner was a legendary car in its own right. It launched in 1968 as a stripped out Belvedere with plenty of performance extras as standard equipment, an optional 426 Hemi V8, and a price low enough for a teenager to enjoy. In 1969, Plymouth improved the breed with a new front end, new taillights, new trunk trim, and new side marker lights.

However, halfway through the year, Plymouth decided to stop toying with the competition and dumped the 440-cubic inch V8 into the Road Runner coupe and hardtop. The M-Code package, as it was known for the VIN code, or the A12 package (on the fender tag), included the 440 V8 with a trio of two-barrel Holley carburetors and a bunch of go-faster goodies attached to the chassis. A Super Track Pack could be optioned alongside the 440 Six Pack to make this Mopar even more formidable on the street.

This engine also came with a sinister appearance package that added a flat black lift-off fiberglass hood with integrated scoop, hood pins, a set of black steel wheels with chrome lug nuts, and most of the brightwork deleted. This is probably one of the meanest looking muscled cars that Plymouth ever made and it happens to be a huge favorite of mine. Only 1,432 440 six barrel Road Runners left the factory in 1969, and this automatic-equipped one is a one-owner car that appeared at the Greenwich Concours earlier this month. So far, this is the first real 440+6 Road Runner I’ve had the pleasure of seeing in person. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1969 Plymouth Road Runner M-Code at the 2014 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance →

Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars, Luxury Cars

Porsche 911 Carrera S Review, Al’s Take (Grade: B)

June 5, 2014 Albert S. Davis Leave a comment

Porsche is one of those brands that hasn’t changed much, despite their appearances. The company may have a lot of great fans, but there are a lot of traditionalists too. This mix of fans is pretty eclectic, ranging from autocross nuts (who love their 944s), Sunday drivers (who could be driving anything from a 914 to a fire-breathing Turbo S), executives (to some, a 911 Carrera is a real symbol of success), to wealthy soccer moms (Cayennes). The traditionalists fume when you bring up the Cayenne or the Panamera and I know what they are all about–Porsche should be about sports cars, not everyday “boring” vehicles. Well, it doesn’t matter what Porsche makes, because they are a company that wants all of their product to have the same message. That message hasn’t changed since the birth of the company, which is that Porsches aren’t ever supposed to feel like a normal car. They should touch the soul, and reward the owner with dynamics and driving feel that excite the senses. I took out this 911 Carrera S around Amelia Island to find out how the flavor tastes in Porsche’s most familiar formula: RWD, a flat-six engine, and a rear axle with that engine hanging out behind it. I wasn’t disappointed.

Continue reading Porsche 911 Carrera S Review, Al’s Take (Grade: B) →

Car Shows, Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE

1982 VAZ 21033 at the 2014 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance

June 3, 2014 Albert S. Davis Leave a comment

In 1982, the vast majority of the USSR’s general population didn’t own a car. An automobile was considered a genuine luxury thanks to the high cost and the waiting lists. I’m not talking about waiting lists for something like a Mercedes, Porsche, or perhaps even a Cadillac. I’m talking about a waiting list for just a car that one could drive to work every day.

Into this void steps this 1982 VAZ 21033. This is a car that cost almost 5 times an average factory worker’s salary in 1982. It can count among its features a radio (optional and very expensive to buy), an overhead valve engine, thick metal in the fenders, and even a hand starter to make sure the car would start up during Russia’s genuinely fearful winters. The VAZ wasn’t a particularly glamorous car, but this particular one has a great history. It was originally won for 1 ruble in a lottery in 1982, then spent the next thirty years under wraps, until the owner’s grandmother purchased it and helped ship it to the United States, where it lives today.

The owner, Roman, is very proud of his work (he restored this car himself) and his hard work paid off on Concours Sunday at Greenwich, when the little VAZ-21033 won the Best Special Interest Car award, beating out a Russian Volga, a rather straight Volvo 262C, and a very clean 1984 Toyota Supra. Congratulations on your award, Roman–the VAZ looked excellent in the strong June sun. Enjoy the photos.
Continue reading 1982 VAZ 21033 at the 2014 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1956 Ferrari Superamerica at the Amelia Island Concours, 2014

May 29, 2014 Albert S. Davis 1 Comment

Blue and white is a fetching color combination. On a Ferrari, it’s usually a great combination no matter what. The Superamerica series was a fantastic piece of artwork, with lines by Pininfarina, a Colombo V12 engine, and even a set of tail fins on this show car. This one has been featured at numerous Concours events over the past few years or so and is the show car from the 1956 Paris Motor Show. The distinctive blue and white two-tone finish has been painstakingly well-kept and in the bright sunlight of Amelia Island, this Ferrari Superamerica caught my eye over the course of the entire day. It didn’t hurt that this car stayed on the course until it was time for Nick and I to leave the show for the day. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1956 Ferrari Superamerica at the Amelia Island Concours, 2014 →

Car Shows, Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE

1949 Chrysler Town and Country at the New Hope Auto Show

May 27, 2014 Albert S. Davis Leave a comment

In 1949, Chrysler redesigned their entire lineup for the first time since the end of World War II. The postwar era was officially in full swing, but the Town and Country would continue to sell for a few more years despite its existence as one of the last wood-bodied cars that the Big Three would sell. This was the second to last year for the Town and Country, and the sales proved that buyers weren’t swayed by its attractive wood panels since the price tag was rather high. In fact, only 993 convertibles were built last year.

List price for this car was $3,765 in 1949, which translates to a new price of just about 40 grand today. They’re worth far more than that–in fact, one sold at a Christie’s auction a few years ago for over $150,000. Someone was kind enough to bring one of these 1949 models to the New Hope Car Show last summer and I took some time out at the end of the show to photograph this green one, which is still the only 1949 model I’ve ever seen. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1949 Chrysler Town and Country at the New Hope Auto Show →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE

1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance

May 22, 2014 Albert S. Davis Leave a comment

Cadillac was pretty bold back in the 1950s. They started the craze with tail fins in 1947 and didn’t eliminate them until 1964, years after the competition. They had the mainstream luxury car market in the palm of their hands, with only Lincoln as a volume competitor (Imperial was there but sold in far fewer numbers at the time). Even though the glory days were to fade in the future, they were still the “Standard of the World.”

They were also fully intent on capturing the ultra-luxury market in that decade by making an ultra-sumptuous sedan based off of the new Eldorado. The Eldorado Brougham was only produced until 1960 and was a genuinely expensive car when new–in fact, it cost over $13,000, more than twice the price of the Eldorado hardtop coupe and more than the Rolls Royce Silver Cloud at the time. It had a number of never-before-seen features at the time for a General Motors product. They came fully loaded, with superb paint, interior equipment like a full set of shot glasses, tissue and cigarette dispenser (try finding one of those on a Rolls-Royce today), perfume, air conditioning, memory seats (ahead of its time in 1957), a stainless-steel finished roof, a choice of 40-plus interior colors, and a twin-quad V8. These were all hand-built–General Motors, unsurprisingly, lost money on every single one sold.

Despite the fact that it’s a Cadillac, the high price, rarity, and over-the-top equipment standard reminds me of the recently-departed Maybach. Only 400 of these were built in 1957 and they are a very rare sight today. Seeing one is a thrill for a Fifties Cadillac nut like myself and I was not expecting to see one at a Concours, no less Amelia Island. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1939 Delage D8-120S Coupe at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance

May 20, 2014 Albert S. Davis 3 Comments

The French are not known these days for timeless, elegant styling. Wind the clock back 75 years, however, and they had the honor of calling companies like Delage and Delahaye home, two manufacturers that could lay claim to some of the most beautiful Depression-era automobiles ever produced. This particular Delage is one of the last D8s built before the Germans invaded France in 1940 and with its Vanvooren coachwork looks absolutely stunning. It is a shame that this striking car did not win any awards at Amelia this spring. Notably, it’s the only car I felt obligated to photograph after the rest of the show field had left for the evening at the close of the Concours. Although the starting rod failed, it did not have any problem making my heart skip a beat that day in Florida. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1939 Delage D8-120S Coupe at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance →

Cars We've Driven, Exotic Supercars, Luxury Cars, SUVs and Crossovers

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Review, Al’s Take (Grade: B)

May 15, 2014 Albert S. Davis 1 Comment

Out at Amelia Island, ride and drives last year were few and far between. Luckily for me, SRT was there and proudly offering a few cars to test. The Chrysler 300 SRT was available, but as most of our readers know, I tested that last summer and found it underwhelming. On Nick’s persistent recommendation, I took the the other option they had, this Billet Silver Metallic Grand Cherokee and asked myself this question: What makes this better than the Chrysler, and what elements does this vehicle have that I want to see in others? The surprisingly substantial drive I took allowed me to answer more than just those questions.
Continue reading 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT Review, Al’s Take (Grade: B) →

Car Shows, SHOWCASE

Classic NYPD Patrol Vehicles at the New York International Auto Show

May 13, 2014 Albert S. Davis 2 Comments

Although this site tends to focus largely on performance cars, I feel that it’s time to give those who serve and protect a bit of time in the spotlight. At the New York Auto Show last month, the NYC Police Museum was grateful enough to provide a collection of cars, along with some privately-owned police cars, to put on display in the back of the basement room during the week. The quality of the cars gathered for the display was impressive, and all three of the Detroit Three were proudly represented, with examples of New York City’s finest chariots from the 1950s all the way up to 2014. Here are some of my favorites from the display. See the photos after the jump for a bit more information about each car featured. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading Classic NYPD Patrol Vehicles at the New York International Auto Show →

Cars We've Seen

Corvette, Baja Bug, Mustang, Kit Cobra spotted in Monterey, CA

May 8, 2014 Albert S. Davis Leave a comment

Towards the end of the day on the Saturday we were in Monterey, I was completely tired out. Running on fumes, Nick went to go shoot a Ferrari Enzo and F50 outside the Monterey Marriott while I went to a nearby Subway to get a few drinks. After recharging and ignoring the shooting pain in my left knee, I hobbled outside to the street corner and started taking pictures. It didn’t take long for a few cars to show up. Hit the pictures for more thoughts on each of these cars. The Baja Bug came first, then I quickly shot the red Mustang while that light was still red. Once the light went green, I snapped the lime-green Cobra kit car crossing the street and the Corvette a moment later. They certainly didn’t draw the crowds the Ferraris on the Marriott entrance were, but these four cars never once looked out of place. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading Corvette, Baja Bug, Mustang, Kit Cobra spotted in Monterey, CA →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1935 Duesenberg SJ 509 Roadster at the 2014 Amelia Island Concours

May 6, 2014 Albert S. Davis 1 Comment

Deusenbergs are an example of a truly bygone era when cars were truly built to order. There is an air of royalty to the history of this particular car, although it’s not just in the styling. Barbara Hutton, heiress to the Woolworth fortune, ordered this SJ, but not for herself. She was married to Alexis Mdivani at the time and actually ordered this car for her brother-in-law, Serge Mdivani. The Mdivani family was the Georgian royal family, which fled their home country after the Soviets indvaded, and indeed married well. Hutton’s generosity was apparent in giving this gorgeous automobile to her brother-in-law, who passed away after a polo accident a short time later. This is one of the most unique Duesenbergs Id have seen in some time and the dark red finish looked great along the golf course amongst its rivals. In fact, this stunning convertible won Best in Class this year. I hope to see more of this car at various Concours events down the road. I doubt I’ll tire of it. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1935 Duesenberg SJ 509 Roadster at the 2014 Amelia Island Concours →