Category Archives: Car Shows

Photo galleries from places we’ve been and events we’ve attended

1970 Plymouth AAR ‘Cuda at the 2014 River Edge Car Show

January 8, 2015 Albert S. Davis Leave a comment

When it comes to homologation specials, Plymouth is not the first name that should pop into anyone’s head. However, when all three major American automakers, plus American Motors, were participants in the Trans-Am racing circuit, they all had to produce something to homologate the engine and the body of the car they chose to race. In the case of the Plymouth ‘Cuda, the AAR ended up being the car to take that burden. Unfortunately, not that many were sold in this era of big engines, big personalities, and bigger insurance policies. Only 2,724 were produced and sold in 1970, and they all had a few things in common. All of them sported a flat-black finished hood, black strobe stripes (white was available) down the sides, chrome in the grille, and a set of mean looking side pipes. Side spoilers on the front bumper and a duck tail spoiler rounded out the trim. The look was loud and mean–just the right look for the Plymouth “Rapid Transit System.”

What wasn’t visible to the naked eye, however, was a screaming Chrysler L.A. small block V8 sporting 340 cubic inches of anger, topped off with three deuces–that’s three Holley two-barrel carburetors, for those of you that are not initiated. A four-speed manual was standard, while the three-speed A727 TorqueFlite automatic was an extra-cost option. With better handling than the standard ‘Cuda, the AAR was a corner-carver in a time of straight-line performance–a true rarity coming from an American automaker of the time. This particular car sports a bright paint job (appropriately deemed Vitamin C Orange) with a black interior and the all-important four-speed manual transmission. Everyone knows about the Hemi ‘Cuda. More people need to know about its wild sister. Enjoy the photos from River Edge. Continue reading 1970 Plymouth AAR ‘Cuda at the 2014 River Edge Car Show →

Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible at the 2014 Radnor Hunt Concours

December 30, 2014 Albert S. Davis 2 Comments

The Tri-Five Chevrolets are icons of the 1950s. In 1955, Chevrolet finally gave their lineup the shot in the arm it deserved via a flurry of bright color options, great new styling, and a new set of engines. 1955 would be the first year for the V8 option in Chevrolet’s passenger car line, and it set the precedent for the next few years. While the 1955 and 1957 models are the most iconic and valuable–for being the original, and the most outlandish (respectively), the 1956 model sometimes gets left out of the mix. This particular ’56 is a Bel Air convertible, possibly the most expensive way to buy your Chevrolet in 1956. It sports the 283 cubic inch V8 with a Powerglide automatic, but the appearance is straight as an arrow. The chrome, along with the neat two-tone blue exterior and interior, stood with the clear blue sky and almost seem to blend into the daytime light. The 1956 models were the middle child–with none of the middle child drawbacks. Enjoy the photos from Radnor. Continue reading 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible at the 2014 Radnor Hunt Concours →

Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1936 Chrysler Imperial C-10 Airflow at the 2014 Radnor Hunt Concours

December 16, 2014 Albert S. Davis 1 Comment

The Chrysler Airflow was the first time, and not the last time, that Chrysler Corporation would build something that was so ahead of its time aerodynamically that the design ended up being a sales failure despite its innovation. In the mid-1930s, automakers were not necessarily looking at aerodynamic styling outside of motorsports applications. Chrysler, however, decided that even without a big racing program in the Depression, that the theory of streamlining the panels on their new mainstream model, now called the Airflow, could be a success. They weren’t just wrong, they were far enough off the mark with the American public that the endeavor nearly killed the company by 1938, and the more traditionally-styled models were quickly pressed into service to bring sales back to normal levels. Not many Airflows sold thanks to the radical, streamlined styling (with influence by Orville Wright) and seeing one at a Concours event, while not unheard of, isn’t a common occurrence. This gold example at Radnor looked incredible, with only 60,000 miles since new. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1936 Chrysler Imperial C-10 Airflow at the 2014 Radnor Hunt Concours →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

Porsche 959 at the 2014 Scarsdale Concours

December 11, 2014 Albert S. Davis 1 Comment

When anyone wants to find the origin of where modern supercars came from, the Porsche 959 is not just a great place to start looking. It is the only place to start looking. In 1985, when Porsche put the 959 on the market, most of its technical equipment wouldn’t have been out of place 25 years later. All-wheel drive, traction control, adjustable ride height, and twin-turbocharged propulsion were all on the standard features list, and almost all of those features can be found on today’s 911 in some way, shape, or form. It was a groundbreaking car not only for Porsche, but for the entire automobile industry–and it was so good that Porsche didn’t lend the NHTSA examples for crash testing, so the Reagan administration disallowed its legal sale in the United States. Luckily for us, it’s been 25 years since then, and the 959 is now fully legal on our shores without having to go through the Show and Display Act proceedings of years prior. Only 337 of these were made, and I’ve seen 3 or 4 of them since 2011, although this was the first one I’ve seen in silver in some time. In the sunlight of Scarsdale, NY, this 959’s time had come to shine for the public. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading Porsche 959 at the 2014 Scarsdale Concours →

Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1959 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible at the 2014 Radnor Hunt Concours

December 9, 2014 Albert S. Davis 3 Comments

We’ve said this a few times here on Mind Over Motor that the 1959 Cadillac is an incredibly handsome machine, in so many words. Of course, we’re going to say more every time we see one. The convertible might be the best way to show off the ’59’s enormous features, such as the too-tall tailfins, ostentatious chrome, and sharp (both to the eye and to the skin) taillights. The Series 62, unlike the Eldorado Seville we featured a few months ago from Greenwich, is the base series of the Cadillac lineup for 1959 and continued in that role until 1965. This car has the tallest tailfins ever made, coupled with the perfect body style, a noticeable color combination, and a set of gorgeous wire wheels to go with the look. In 1959, no other car would do for an executive that wanted to buy American and get noticed at all times. A red Series 62 Convertible is not a car for those with low self-esteem, and that’s perfect for standing out at a Concours event. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1959 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible at the 2014 Radnor Hunt Concours →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1957 Ferrari 250 GT Series 1 Cabriolet at the Bonhams 2014 Quail Lodge Auction

November 12, 2014 Albert S. Davis Leave a comment

White and Ferrari sometimes goes really well together, and other times doesn’t. Luckily for us all, this time, it goes incredibly well together. Clearly, it goes so well together, someone was willing to pay more than fifteen times as much my parents’ house’s worth in northern New Jersey for this magnificent convertible 250. Only 40 of the Series 1 Cabriolets were made, and this one, chassis 0759-GT, is the eighth one out of the factory and was featured at the Turin Auto Show in 1957. It made its way initially to Venezuela, but eventually was added to the Maranello Rosso collection (a feature at the Bonhams auction this year at The Quail) in 1991. The final sale price was a cool $6.9 million dollars–quite a sum for a non-California Spyder droptop 250, but a price well-paid. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1957 Ferrari 250 GT Series 1 Cabriolet at the Bonhams 2014 Quail Lodge Auction →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

Rockefeller’s Imperial Limo at the 2014 Radnor Hunt Concours

November 6, 2014 Albert S. Davis 1 Comment

When it comes to the Rockefeller family, it’s hard not to think of money, prestige, fame, politics, and limousines. This particularly extravagant limo is a 1960 Imperial with a body by Ghia and an interior to die for. 17 of these Ghia-bodied limos left the factory in 1960 and this is the only one ordered without the third set of rear-side windows (making this a 5-window model as opposed to a 7-window). Nelson D. Rockefeller ordered this car when he was elected Governor of New York back in 1960 and outfitted it with emergency lights, a fabric rear seat, and vinyl half-roof. Governor Rockefeller rode in genuine style from his inauguration in 1960 (in this car) and until the end of his time in Albany, and had a penchant for Imperials, using this and another later model in the late Sixties. To make this an even more exclusive type of vehicle, there was actually a sister Ghia-bodied limo like this one, but it was owned by the one and only Jacqueline Kennedy. Rarefied air, indeed. It’s fit for a Rockefeller, it’s fit for a Kennedy, it’s probably even fit for royalty. Enjoy the photos of this regal official car. Continue reading Rockefeller’s Imperial Limo at the 2014 Radnor Hunt Concours →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Scaglietti Spyder at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

October 30, 2014 Albert S. Davis 1 Comment

When it comes to the low and lithe 250 Testa Rossa, few other Ferraris have the same combination of sex appeal, speed, and freakish good looks. Paint one yellow and red, and a Concours judge will pay attention for quite a while. It got my attention too, considering I had to fight people tooth and nail just to get a few good snaps of this one. Pebble Beach was happy to feature the 250 Testa Rossa this past year and dedicated the end of the 17th fairway to a fleet of them for all to see and adore. This yellow and red example owned by Harry Yeaggy and Willis Murphy, Jr won 2nd in class and had ownership of an incredible history–this was a customer car, raced for an extensive period of time. It lost its engine and had to race with a Chevy V8, but 19 years ago was reunited with its original engine, which is now back in the car for the first time since this Testa Rossa was delivered in 1958. “Stunning” isn’t the right word. “Terrific” better covers it. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Scaglietti Spyder at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance →

Car Shows

1993 Ferrari F40 LM at Bonhams Auction

October 20, 2014 ndubs77 2 Comments

We toured the Bonhams auction at the Quail Lodge during Monterey Car Week, and we found this monstrous Ferrari F40 LM sitting in all of its red glory. One of just 19 F40 LMs produced, this example was basically untouched with delivery miles and no track use to date. I’m not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing, but someone wound up forking out $2.2 million for it.

The Ferrari F40 is an all-time favorite among most car enthusiasts, and getting to see a rare LM up close is always spectacular. Enjoy the photos!

Continue reading 1993 Ferrari F40 LM at Bonhams Auction →

Car Shows

1980 Ford Mustang GT Enduro at the 2014 Radnor Hunt Concours

October 15, 2014 Albert S. Davis 3 Comments

When it comes to Fox Body Mustangs, most people think of the notchback Mustangs from the later era, along with stripped-out hatchbacks packing huge V8s (often with superchargers added in) screaming down the drag strip. They’re interesting cars for the era and are slowly becoming more appreciated in the Mustang community for plenty of reasons. However, this is no ordinary Fox. This Fox has been drinking steroids through an IV bag. Thanks to the McLaren body and success Ford had in racing the Mustang in the IMSA-GTO endurance class in the early Eighties, three street display cars resulted to advertise the new 5.0L V8 engine and a new set of Firestone tires. This is the second of just three built, and the only one remaining at this time. Although it’s not a normal car to see at a Concours event, it looked quite fitting on the bottom row of cars at Radnor last month, especially against the crystal-blue sky. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1980 Ford Mustang GT Enduro at the 2014 Radnor Hunt Concours →

Car Shows, Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE

1929 Ruxton C Baker-Raulang Roadster at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

September 30, 2014 Albert S. Davis 1 Comment

Ruxtons were a featured marque this year at the Pebble Beach Concours, and what a great brand to feature at a show like this. These cars were built-to-order in a shop in Philadelphia and were incredibly expensive to buy. As the first front-wheel-drive American automobile for sale, these were exclusive in their era and very innovative for the late Twenties. The brand would sadly fail in 1931, but interest in the cars has been high in the recent past as orphan marques become more noticeable at Concours events. This particular Ruxton is the fifth Roadster built and features a truly breathtaking pink paint finish, something unique and stunning on a car from the Roaring Twenties. This car now resides in the Petersen collection and was right at the front of the line of Ruxtons in the middle row at Pebble Beach–a fitting location for such an eye-catching automobile. In terms of striving for attention, it does not get any better than this Ruxton for 1929. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1929 Ruxton C Baker-Raulang Roadster at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance →

Car Shows

Ford Rat Rod outside the New Hope Auto Show

September 29, 2014 ndubs77 1 Comment

This sweet Ford Rat Rod rolled up to the New Hope Auto Show but for some reason was denied entry… how anyone could say turn a car like this way when there were plenty of empty spots in the show is completely beyond me.

I decided to make it a point to do a feature on this Rat Rod because it was so well done and had loads of character. Just look at that microphone shifter, those crafted metal seats, and even the Sailor Jerry bottle being used as a coolant reservoir — This thing is BAD ASS.

Enjoy the photos of this beast!

Continue reading Ford Rat Rod outside the New Hope Auto Show →