Category Archives: Car Shows

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

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1930 Cadillac Series 353 Cabriolet at the Elegance at Hershey 2014

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Rothschild Cadillac Left Front

Anyone who has read up on their European history over time has probably heard of the Rothschild family.  They’re known today as being much more low-profile than most would expect for being as wealthy as they are (the family is supposedly worth 500 billion dollars), but their control over the world’s wealth is known as a staggering truth.  However, I’m not here today to talk about the entire family’s history.  I just want to talk about this absolutely stunning car.  This is a Cadillac–but it’s not just any old pre-war Cadillac.  This particular French-market Cadillac 353 Cabriolet was owned by Baron Edmund James de Rothschild for a number of years.  This custom-bodied behemoth is a four-door cabriolet with a full-folding roof, in separate sections for the chauffeur or the passengers.  These versions are known as closed car (both sections closed), sedanca de villa (front section open), or an open tourer (all sections open).

Cadillac sold 14,995 cars in 1930, but less than one percent of them were bodied by custom coach builders (less than 150).  This car is an aluminum-bodied, long-wheelbase, three position double cabriolet, a truly unique body style.  The bodywork was performed by Georges Kellner et Filis and is the only known Cadillac he penned.  Unfortunately, the Baron passed away just four years after the car was ordered, and it was kept thereafter at one of the chateaus owned by the family and used just for special occasions.  In 1969, a noted collector named James C. Leake purchased it and had it restored ten years later. The current owner, the Richard Driehaus Collection, has not changed the car since acquiring it in 1998.  Despite being an older restoration, this Series 353 looks absolutely stunning on the field at Hershey and I would be overjoyed to see it again soon, whether that be this year or in the future.  Enjoy the photos of this legendary automobile. Continue reading 1930 Cadillac Series 353 Cabriolet at the Elegance at Hershey 2014 →

Car Shows

Highlights from The Elegance at Hershey 2014

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1931 Minerva AL convertible sedan at the Hershey Concours

We made it out to The Elegance at Hershey 2014 in Hershey, PA where Hershey’s chocolate is made. It is a great event at a wonderful venue, the five star Hershey Hotel. With beautiful gardens and fountains supplementing all of the stunning cars, it is surely a great place for photos.

There were many rare cars this year, everything from a French-market Cadillac built for the Rothschild family to the best-in-show winning Duesenberg “Mormon Meteor” Speedster. Enjoy the highlight gallery of the event and check back for features on some specific cars.

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Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1958 Chevrolet Impala at the 2014 Greenwich Concours

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1958 Chevrolet Impala Front

The Tri-Five Chevrolets of the 1950s are legendary, but I feel like the model produced just one year later is better than its three older brothers.  1958 marked the appearance of the top of the line Impala for the first time, and the name would stand as Chevrolet’s standard-bearer in the full-size market until 1985.  The name is still of course used today (despite being dragged through the mud since my pre-teen years) as Chevy’s full size car.  In ’58, the lineup got a redesign which brought quad round headlights across the board and marked the appearance of the three taillights per side that would stick to Chevy’s top of the tree models until 1966.  Six-cylinder and small-block V8 engines were available as they were for 1957, but the ’58 brought with it the debut of the big-block V8 option.  Although it only displaced 348 cubic inches at the time, this top V8 option was available with a set of three two-barrel carburetors and mechanical lifters, which increased output to 315 horsepower–32 more than the fuel-injected 283 that topped the lineup a year earlier.

This one on display at the Greenwich Concours at the end of May was a very straight example, sporting a rear antenna with the correct rearward slant, flashy chrome, and a clean set of knock-off style hubcaps.  The Tropic Turquoise paint finish shined brightly against the cloudy but still bright daylight sky, and the white roof set everything off nicely.  The ’58 chassis was a one-hit wonder and for 1959, the lineup got revised again, making this car a bit more unique than it would be.  It stands to reason that the 1958 Impala and its lesser models of the year are becoming more and more collectible as time goes on–prices are beginning to rival what the 1957 models have been going at lately.  I’m a sucker for the ’58 Impala, as it was a classier and more filled-out car than the 55-57 series, but not as over-the-top as the 1959 and 1960 cars.  The earliest Impala strikes a great balance between the outlandish style of the late Fifties and the reserved taste of the early part of the decade.  Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1958 Chevrolet Impala at the 2014 Greenwich Concours →

Car Shows

Highlights from the CF Charities Supercar Show

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Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera CF Charities

We showed you the American hypercars last week, but there were many more awesome cars present at the CF Charities Supercar Show as well. Everything from a Bugatti Veyron to an Ultima GTR to a full-on dragster, the crowds were stunned repeatedly.

Enjoy the highlight gallery of this fantastic show!

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Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

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

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Minerva 80138 AL Front Left Awards

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 →

Car Shows

Fast & Exotic American Things At The CF Charities Supercar Show

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Saleen S7, Mosler Raptor GTR and SSC Ultimate Aero at CF Charities Supercar Show

We went to the CF Charities Supercar Show this past weekend, and there was some serious American metal there. Not muscle cars, as you might expect, but an array of hyper-exotic supercars from US manufacturers, oh, and of course an imposing Black Hawk helicopter courtesy of the US Army. It was a very exciting event  with eye candy in many forms, fast cars, deadly aircraft, and beautiful women — our founding fathers would be so proud!

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Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

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

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Plymouth Road Runner 440+6 Front Left

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 →

Car Shows

Exotic Supercars of the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance

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Pagani Huayra at the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance

Here are the exotic cars from the 2014 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance. There was quite a spectacular display of some very rare supercars and hypercars on display this year, everything from the $1.9 million Pagani Huayra you see above, to a Ferrari Enzo, to the world-speed-record-setting Hennessey Venom GT, to Jim Glickenhaus’ P4/5 Competizione. It was surely a sight to be seen.

The Pagani Huayra really stood out, though. It spent both days of the show tucked away in the corner of Miller Motorcars’ display tent, but it was completely swamped with people the entire time. When it left the field, people literally lost their minds, jumping around in a reckless frenzy to try and snag the perfect shot of it.

Is easy to see why people go completely nuts over the Huayra when after a decade of grueling depravation for American car enthusiasts, it is the first Pagani to finally make it stateside. But the Huayra is also an exceptionally magnificent object, even by seven-figure supercar standards. Every aspect of the car seems so “full,” right down to the finest detail — nothing has been overlooked or under-thought.

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Car Shows

Pre-War Cars at the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance

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1935 Duesenberg SJ562 at Greenwich

“They don’t make them like this anymore…”

That is a phrase I must have heard uttered over a dozen times during the weekend of the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance by people gazing at the magnificent pre-war automobiles on display. And they definitely don’t make cars like these anymore. In fact, most manufacturers of these majestic machines have long been defunct. The likes of Duesenberg, Packard, Minerva and Delage are all absent from the vocabulary of modern automobillia, and it’s a real shame because the cars they made were nicer (relatively) than even the top-of-the line Rolls Royce today.

In fact, as I’ve said before, Rolls Royce is really the only company from this era that still makes the same type of cars today as it did back then. Cadillac and Mercedes-Benz still exist, but have both moved their base of operation far down market. Yes, the pre-war era was a different time, when the automobile was a blank canvass for craftsmen to as they pleased. There was a lot of art-for-art-sake in these cars, and that’s something that is mostly absent from modern cars now that accountants and health and safety people run the show.

So the relative gray-scale of the cars we know today makes ogling over these pre-war gems an activity to be savored. I am really hoping for a renaissance of creativity in the auto industry, where the artistry will come back and add to all of the modern technology and design. The cookie-cutter designs of modern cars have gotten extremely old, and a design that aims to please anyone is also boring to everyone. So I’ve got my fingers crossed.

For now, though, just enjoy gazing at these incredible pre-war machines. The attention to detail, and the sheer craftsmanship is simply breathtaking to behold. Enjoy the cars!

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Car Shows

Classic American Muscle and Majesty at the Greenwich Concours

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Dodge Challenger RT 440 Convertible

These are the American classics and muscle cars that stood out for us at last weekend’s Greenwich Concours d’Elegance.

The rumble of many V8 engines ran thickly through the air as the award ceremony began. First the rare Shelby GT350 R came to life, then the furious Roadrunner fired its 440 six pack, all as they prepared to parade in front of excited show-goers. Muscle cars sure have a mighty amount of presence, you can feel it in your bones.

After the Muscles were flexed, we were treated to some 50’s metal in lively colors. Everything from the cliché pink Cadillac to a turquoise Chevy Impala paraded through the show, and I felt a sudden urge for a burger and a nice big milkshake.

Enjoy the photos of all this classic iron!

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Car Shows, Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE

1982 VAZ 21033 at the 2014 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance

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VAZ 21033 Front Right

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.
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Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1956 Ferrari Superamerica at the Amelia Island Concours, 2014

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Ferrari Superamerica Front Left

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 →