Category Archives: Car Shows

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

Car Shows

2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance: Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spyder

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Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spyder

When attending Monterey Car Week, seeing incredible cars is a given. However, some cars are incredible amongst the incredible, and those are the cars you really want to see. This time around, I really wanted to finally see a Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Spyder, my favorite classic Ferrari, yes, even more than a 250 GTO. I had heard about the red 275 NART Spyder that was going up for auction, so I figured that would be the one I’d get to see.

As circumstance turned out, we arrived at Pebble Beach to pick up our press credentials right as the Tour d’Elegance was rolling by the Lodge. To my amazement, a blue 275 NART Spyder was among the grand parade, and it served as the welcoming party for what was to be an incredible weekend.

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Car Shows, MoM Vlog

Highlights from the 2013 Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance

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We were in attendance for the 2013 Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance this past weekend. Instead of our normal photo highlights, we have decided to try on a video compilation of the cars at the show. For those of you who like the photo galleries, do not worry because we have plenty of still shots from the show as well (to be used later on).  Let us know what you think of the video in the comments.

1929 Isotta Fraschini 8A SS Boattail Convertible Coupe LeBaron
Best in Show winner, a 1929 Isotta Fraschini 8A SS Boattail Convertible Coupe LeBaron

Radnor Hunt is always a wonderful show, with some fantastic cars and a great venue. It is basically Philadelphia’s major Concours event, for those of you unfamiliar with the area. The features this year were Art Deco cars, Rally cars, and Aston Martins, but there was quite a motley crew within those classes.  Some of my favorites included a pristine 1927 Rolls Royce Phantom I, a Ferrari 250 GT Boano Coupe, an Aston Martin DBR1 racing car, and a genuine Subaru STi 22B. “Best in Show” went to a 1929 Isotta Fraschini 8A SS Boattail Convertible Coupe LeBaron (seen above and at the end of the video), and yes, the cars with the longest names always wins these events.

Check out the video, and stay tuned for the features to follow. Enjoy.

-Nick

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

The 1950 Lincoln Presidential Limousine at the Pebble Beach Concours

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This year, Lincoln was a featured marque at Pebble Beach.  Back in 1950, the US Secret Service took delivery of a brand-new presidential limousine, this 1950 Lincoln Cosmopolitan.   This year, that very automobile was featured at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.  I think it’s fantastic to see these overlooked early 1950s Lincolns in general, but to see this one is a treat.  It’s a living piece of American history.  In fact, it was used until shortly after Kennedy was sworn in, making this one of the few Presidential cars to be used by three presidents (in this case, Truman, Eisenhower, and Kennedy).  And here, on the lawn of the 18th hole, it looked truly majestic.  Amazingly, the car was not armored and the glass for the bubble roof (added during the Eisenhower administration) is Plexiglas.  Enjoy the photos.   Continue reading The 1950 Lincoln Presidential Limousine at the Pebble Beach Concours →

Car Shows

2013 Monterey Motorsports Reunion: Paddock Highlights

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Porsche 962
Porsche 962

During the Monterey Motorsports Reunion, the paddock of Laguna Seca is always full of interesting and legendary things. 2013 was no exception, with drool worthy race cars everywhere you looked. In particular there were numerous Porsche 962s, monster Group Group C racing cars for those unfamiliar with them. It is always difficult to focus your attention while down in the paddock because everywhere you look there is something awesome to see. I will let the photos take it from here. Enjoy.

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Car Shows

2013 Monterey Motorsports Reunion: 1948 Delahaye 135MS Chapron Cabriolet and Bugatti Type 37

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1948 Delahaye 135MS Chapron Cabriolet

While touring the paddock of the 2013 Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca, we came across race car after race car. Then we rounded a corner and found this unbelievable green 1948 Delahaye 135MS Chapron Cabriolet. It literally “stole the show” for me with its two-tone green paint job and immaculate details. Even surrounded by some of the greatest racing cars of all time, this French masterpiece was still just breathtaking.

As we poured over the car, capturing its beautiful details, the owner rolled up, fresh from a race heat, in a Bugatti Type 37. Its bare metal finish was striking, and its exposed rivets were, well, riveting. This lineup of pre-war french cars in the paddock really made my day, and they even had coordinated the color of their table cloth with the green of the Delahaye.

There were so many epic racing cars in the paddock that day, but this combo of the Bugatti for the track and the Delahaye for the street was by far my favorite single bay. Enjoy the photos of these magnificent cars.

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Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Best In Show is…this beautiful Packard.

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This year at the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, I was overjoyed when the master of ceremonies announced the Best of Show winner from the finalists. I’d been photographing this stunning brown Packard convertible the entire afternoon, and when it drove through the confetti as the trumpets sounded, I was elated.

In fact, the owners of this car, Superior Court judge Joseph Cassini III and his wife Margie, live in West Orange, NJ–less than 20 miles from the town I grew up in (Randolph).

This particular Packard is a 1934 Packard 1108 Twelve Dietrich Convertible Victoria, and was fully restored by RM Restorations in Canada. It is a particularly rare example in that the coachwork was done partially by Dietrich and partially by the factory as a special. The 10,000 man-hour restoration was finished only recently, and this was its show debut.

Enjoy the photos. Congratulations to the Cassini family on your award!

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Car Shows

The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering 2013

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Ferrari P4/5 owned by James Glickenhaus
Ferrari P4/5 owned by James Glickenhaus

The Quail is probably the most exclusive show during Monterey Car Week. The best cars are always in attendance, many of which don’t even show up at Pebble Beach — despite Pebble Beach being the far more prestigious event. There is some political BS surrounding the event that I could address, but frankly, I only care about the cars.

Put simply, the Quail is absolutely the show to go to on the Friday of Monterey Car Week, provided you can get in. Every event on the Monterey Peninsula is worth checking out, but the comparative quality of the automotive crop at this event is staggering, even with the high standards of the other events. We got there a bit late because of prior engagements that day, but I we still managed to see most of the event. I’m going to just let the pictures do the talking from here. Enjoy.

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Car Shows

Highlights from the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

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Best in Show Winner, the 1934 Packard 1108 Twelve Dietrich Convertible Victoria
Best in Show Winner, the 1934 Packard 1108 Twelve Dietrich Convertible Victoria

We have just had a mighty few days  in the midst of the automotive Valhalla that is Monterey Car week, but the capstone event is surely the most grand of all, and that is the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

This is an event where champions compete against champions. At any other event, every participant in the Pebble Beach Concours would likely win best of show. The field of automobiles is just plain unbelievable — the second you think you’ve seen everything, something incredible catches your eye. This is a place where a Lamborghini Miura may go overlooked, a place where everywhere you look, there is something astonishing to take in. This is la creme de la creme de la creme of automobiles.

Pebble Beach was once again kind enough to grant us media passes for this event, for which we are extremely grateful. I definitely feel like we put it all to good use this year, capturing tons of material to be used over the coming months. This is a highlight gallery of the event that aims to wet your appetite for what’s to come. Enjoy the photo gallery, and check back for much more from the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

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Car Shows

2013 New Hope Auto Show Day 2

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1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS
1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS

After day two, I am convinced that 2013 has to be the best New Hope Auto Show I have ever attended. The first day had many fantastic American cars, and the second day had a barrage of phenomenal  foreign cars. The field ranged from modern exotics to classics, and I was thrilled with the sheer variety of cars; not just a bunch of the same types of Ferraris lined up.

Highlights included some truly breathtaking pre-war Rolls Royces, a variety of special Porsches, and one of the prettiest Mercedes 300 SLs I have ever laid eyes on. There is much more, including a few cars not often seen in the US, so check out the gallery (below) to see. Enjoy the photos.

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Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

2013 Greenwich Concours D’Elegance: 1932 Cord L-29

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The Cord L-29 was a revolutionary automobile for its time.  It’s one of the first cars to ever be assembled with front-wheel-drive, but uses a longitudinal engine layout, unlike every FWD car sold in America today.  The car had a 137.5″ wheelbase and the steering took 4 turns from lock-to-lock, but reports came in at the time that it was actually a very good handler.  It had inboard brakes, De Dion drive system, and and full instrumentation (including an ammeter).  In its day, it was a shock to the system.
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Car Shows

2013 New Hope Auto Show Day 1

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Chevrolet Corvettes
Chevrolet Corvettes

Shots from day 1 of the 2013 New Hope Auto Show. Saturday is always mostly American cars, and an eclectic array of muscle cars and classics were in attendance this year. Enjoy the photos.

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Car Shows

Amelia Island Festivals of Speed: Bugatti Veyron 16/4 Grand Sport

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Bugatti Veyron 16/4 Grand Sport

This stunning Bugatti Veyron 16/4 Grand Sport was at the Amelia Island Festivals of Speed event back in March. Being arguably the most popular car in the world, people were constantly crowded around the car, so getting these shots took some patience.

I love the Veyron as a technological marvel, but I have been critical of it in other ways. Being the fastest car in the world, among other things, the Bugatti is basically the Guiness Book Of World Records on wheels. Consequently, the Veyron is rather cliche in my opinion, however, that is the fault of people, not of the car in any way.

As an object the Veyron is breath taking. There are many cars that sell for seven figures these days, but not many of them actually cost seven figures to produce. Volkswagen actually takes a loss on every Bugatti they sell, and the sheer solidarity of the car’s build is apparent when perusing its details. This car’s red and black finish gave it a stark appearance out on the golf course, and would you just look at those wheels, clearly machined from a single piece of metal. All of this is, of course, on top of the Veyron Grand Sport’s 1001hp quad-turbo W16 engine and 253mph top speed — but of course you already knew those.

Despite my criticisms, seeing a Veyron in the right setting is a very special experience. The last one I saw was crammed into the New York Auto Show, and I barely gave it a second glance, but this Veyron Grand Sport was surrounded by the immense beauty of Amelia Island. Snapping a few shots was a must here, and I hope you enjoy them.

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