Tag Archives: Classic Cars

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

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

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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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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Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance: 1967 Rolls-Royce Phantom V State Landaulette by Mulliner Park Ward

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This particular Rolls-Royce Phantom V has quite a unique history.  That it’s one of five in its State Landaulette body from Mulliner Park Ward is just scratching the surface.  It was ordered by Communists, but was sold to an American for political reasons, who used the car for political purposes.   Continue reading 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance: 1967 Rolls-Royce Phantom V State Landaulette by Mulliner Park Ward →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1956 Continental Mark II Convertible by Hess and Eisenhardt, owned by Barry Wolk, at Pebble Beach.

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At Pebble Beach this year, Lincoln was a featured marque.  In my opinion, a celebration of the Lincoln brand is not complete without mention of the Continental.  To further that point, featuring the Continental name in any way is not finished without mention of the famous Continental Mark II of 1956-1957.  This particular car has a heck of a history to it.  Barry Folk of Farmington, MI collects cars with the Continental nameplate and owns this Continental Mark II convertible.  3 convertibles were built out of examples which were damaged during delivery.  Two of them were built by Hess and Eisenhart, and one other was built by Durham.  This particular car is one of the two Hess and Eisenhardt cars.  It won 3rd in class at the Concours (and I’ll be honest, I wanted it to win first place, it was a stunning example), and participate in the Tour d’Elegance as well, where I first discovered it while Nick was busy photographing the Ferrari 275 GTB NART Spyder.  Enjoy the photos of this unique Continental Mark II. Continue reading 1956 Continental Mark II Convertible by Hess and Eisenhardt, owned by Barry Wolk, at Pebble Beach. →

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