Category Archives: Cars We’ve Seen

Cool and interesting cars that caught our eye either at shows or on the street.

Car Shows, Obscure Autos, SHOWCASE

Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance: 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Rondine

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1963 Chevrolet Corvette Rondine
1963 Chevrolet Corvette Rondine

This comes on a similar note to the Lincoln Indianapolis Boano Coupe we featured a few weeks ago. This 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Rondine was created by, Italian design house, Pinninfarina for the 1963 Paris Auto Show. Those of you who know Corvettes know that 1963 was the first year of the iconic C2 Sting Ray. While I personally believe the Stingray is the best looking Vette of all time, especially the ’63 split window coupe, the Rondine’s Italian style is breathtaking.

The Corvette Rondine was the top-spec Sting Ray underneath, with the fuel injected 327ci V8 under its hood making 360hp. There is one key difference, though, and that is the body of the car. The Rondine had a steel body whereas the Sting Ray’s was made of fiberglass. This resulted in the Rondine being a bit heavier than the standard Corvette, however I’d say it is worth it for those beautiful curves.

The Corvette Rondine marks another fantastic example of an American car being fitted with Italian styling. Whether the Rondine looks better than the Sting Ray is entirely subjective, but it certainly is a unique and interesting automobile. The Corvette Rondine recently sold for a hefty $1.6 million back at the 2008 Barret Jackson Auction, and its value is certain to keep appreciating. It is always a pleasure to see such a stunning car as this, and the 2013 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance was the second time I’ve had the pleasure of seeing this car in person. Enjoy the photos.

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Car Shows

St. Michaels Concours d’Elegance: 1932 Auburn 12-160A Boattail Speedster

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1932 Auburn 12-160A Boattail Speedster
1932 Auburn 12-160A Boattail Speedster

We attended the St. Michaels Concours d’Elegance a few weeks ago, and right as we walked through the entrance we were greeted by this stunning machine.  It is an Auburn 12-160A Boattail Speedster, and I was told it is the same model that was used recently in the Great Gatsby. The difference is that the one in the movie was quite plain, while this one is nothing short of immaculate. Just look at the way those orange accents flow along the lines of the car, and of course, there is also the hood ornament… a naked woman made of crystal. What’s not to love? Enjoy the photos.

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Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1950 Chrysler Town and Country Newport Coupe at the St. Michaels Concours

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Anyone who knows me well will understand that I’m a sucker for Chrysler woodies.  They’re very pretty and are often worth a lot more money than one might think.  This particular 1950 model is the first one I’ve ever seen in public.  It’s a Town and Country Newport, in the final year of production for the wood-body model.  This was the only hardtop woodie ever built by Chrysler–only 698 were produced, making it a rarely-seen car with an exorbitant $4,000+ price tag in its day.  Those factors make this quite the intriguing car.  The black paint looked smooth as silk and the chrome was blindingly bright in the unimpeded sun.  The backdrop of the alluring clouds and gorgeous hotel, along with the smoothness of the Chesapeake Bay, made shooting this car, at least for me, an utter no-brainer.  It didn’t win any awards that day, but it stood proudly next to its rival wood-paneled cars.  Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1950 Chrysler Town and Country Newport Coupe at the St. Michaels Concours →

Car Shows

Bucks County Exotics Meet 10/5/2013

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Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster

I attended the Bucks County Exotics meet this past weekend with my friend, Rich. It is a “cars and coffee” style event, and often times there is a cruise afterward for those who wish to partake. This time around, the route took us through many of the scenic covered bridges in Bucks County, PA. The turnout at the meet was phenomenal, and the cruise was a great time (and no speeding tickets to boot). Surely this is one of the better ways to spend a Saturday morning. Enjoy the photos.

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Car Shows

1938 Talbot Lago T150C SS Teardrop Coupe at Radnor Hunt 2013

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If there’s one thing the French knew how to do in the 1930s, it was elegance in automobiles.  Figoni et Falaschi was a design powerhouse at this time and this Talbot-Lago was a true jaw-dropper at the 100 Cars of Radnor Hunt.  While Nick got busy snapping the Delahaye (itself a beautiful car) my college buddy Chris Azarko and I admired this piece of French automotive artwork.  Even among these beautiful classic cars the swoopy Talbot caught everyone’s attention.  Only 14 of these were made during its short production run and this one was hidden from the Nazis during WWII.  I’m glad it’s been restored and I’m even happier to see it here at Radnor.  Enjoy the photos.
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Car Shows

Rehoboth Beach Straight-Eights

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Cadillac Fins

My parents were in attendance for this year’s Straight-Eights car show in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. I had other plans that weekend, but my Dad got some solid photos of the event. Get ready for spiffy cars from the 1950’s galore! Enjoy.

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Car Shows

Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance: McLaren MP4-12C Spider

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McLaren MP4-12C Spider

McLaren had this MP4-12C Spider on display at the Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance. I really liked these photos I got of it as things were being packed up after the show. I’m a huge sucker for Papaya Orange, and it was looking so good as the light got lower in the late afternoon.  Enjoy the photos.

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Car Shows

2013 Radnor Hunt Concours: 1938 Delahaye 135M Roadster Figoni et Falaschi

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1938 Delahaye 135M Roadster Figoni et Falaschi
1938 Delahaye 135M Roadster Figoni et Falaschi

Those of you who’ve been following this blog will know that I LOVE Delahayes. I am generally a fan of all French Art Deco cars, but Delahayes have a flamboyance and a craftsmanship to their designs that make them unique.

While many Delahayes come in bright, flashy colors, this 135 M Roadster Figoni et Falaschi took a different approach. It is a rich black, and looks very sinister with its swooping lines, almost like a bat. Inside the interior is fitted with red leather, and finely crafted wood. Black and red is one of my favorite color schemes on a car, so this really hit the spot for me that much more.

The car itself is currently owned by J.W. Marriott Jr. (Yes, of Mariott Hotel fame), and it was fully restored in 1991. One detail that I particularly loved on this Delahaye was its hood ornament. At first glance it is a dragonfly, which would be great on its own, but looking closer, it becomes apparent that the dragonfly is actually a glider stretched over a beautiful, naked woman — Oh how French!

It was wonderful to see this stunning Delahaye 135M Roadster at this year’s Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance, and it wound up winning the “Best Open Art Deco Car” award. Enjoy the photos.

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Cars We've Seen

Spotted! Lamborghini Aventadors, Carmel, California

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Black Lamborghini Aventador in Carmel

We caught these two nasty Lamborghini Aventadors running around Carmel during Monterey Car Week. I maintain that the Aventador is the best looking Lambo since the Miura, and definitely one of the coolest looking cars on the market today. Bruce Wayne has arrived!

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Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

Pebble Beach Concours 2013: The Lincoln Continental and Zephyr

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I’ll be honest, I’m a complete sucker for the Lincoln Zephyr and the Continental of this era.  They get overlooked occasionally by Cadillacs and by independent marques of the Depression era, but their long-standing reputation of simple elegance, beauty, and dashes of brashness are symbols of what the Lincoln name used to mean.  They all pack V12 engines, they all have (except the ’42 model in this gallery) restrained styling, and each one was an excellent example of its year and body type.  This being a feature year for Lincoln at Pebble Beach, they had their very own class.  The cars within this class included everything from the classic 1938 Zephyr coupe in black, to an all-original 1940 Zephyr Continental Cabriolet, to a 1942 Continental Cabriolet (1 of 11 left in the world).  Some of them included all the original brass fittings in the interior, something I’ve never seen on a Lincoln.  The car pictured up top is a 1941 Continental Coupe which won the class.  In fact, for those of you with good memories (or those of you who can pair cars with movies as well as I can sometimes), that body style and year were featured in one of the most memorable mob movies ever, The Godfather.  Sonny Corleone, played by James Caan, drives a black 1941 Continental coupe to his grisly death in one of the most memorable scenes of the film.  If you don’t remember, I’ve included it at the end.  Enjoy the photos of these understated, elegant automobiles.

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Car Shows

Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance: 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis Boano Coupe

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1955 Lincoln Indianapolis Boano Coupe

At the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, every car is nothing short of immaculate. However, even among the hundreds of exquisite automobiles, some find a way to stand out in the crowd. This 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis Boano Coupe does it with a stunning color draped over a sleek, if a bit peculiar, design.

Jalopnik even said they thought this car should have won “Best In Show”, but naturally they are always into the most offbeat thing present. While I don’t agree that this car should have won “Best In Show”, I really did enjoy getting to see this Indianapolis Boano Coupe in person. It definitely brings an event with it wherever it goes, and at a big car show such as this, that is what really matters.

Enjoy the photos.

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Cars We've Seen, USER SUBMITTED

Spotted! 1981 DeLorean DMC-12, Pasadena, CA

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My brother Matt sent this photograph and some others my way while he was out driving with his colleague Nick near Caltech over in Pasadena.  It’s quite a pretty area and there’s actually a good amount of older classics and quirky old cars running around (there are lots of hipsters in old Beetles there too, if I recall correctly). What’s strange about this example is that it seems to have had its louvers over the engine cover removed and replaced by Back to the Future style fins. Matt, thanks for sending this in.

-Albert S. Davis

Spotted by: Matt Davis and Nick Cowper