Tag Archives: Classic Cars

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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Cars We've Seen

Spotted! 1948 Tucker Torpedo, Carmel, CA

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1948 Tucker Torpedo in Carmel CA

While at Monterey Car Week, we saw this incredible 1948 Tucker Torpedo numerous times. This was the first time that either Al or myself had seen a Tucker on public roads, so we made sure to get photos.

The first time we saw it was in Carmel, right as we were arriving for the Tour d’Elegance. We saw it cross the street a block down, realized it was a Tucker, and then I proceeded to sprint a block and a half to catch it. After that, Al was able to shoot it while we were in the car a few times, once in Monterey and once in Carmel.

Only 51 of these masterpieces were ever produced. They were way ahead of their time technologically, with a rear-mounted flat-6 engine (yes like a Porsche), and a center headlamp that turned with the steering wheel, among other things. They made a movie about Preston Tucker and his car, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in a great story. The Tucker is a legendary piece of American automotive history, and it was beyond thrilling to catch one out in the wild. Enjoy.

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Cars We've Seen

Spotted! Cadillac Lasalle Scraper Hot Rod, Carmel, CA

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Cadillac Lasalle Scraper Hot Rod

 

We saw this hot rodded Cadillac Lasalle Scraper in Carmel during the Tour d’Elegance. Hoards of people came to see the Concours cars drive into Pebble Beach, and this gem was parked off on one of the side streets. Other than the owner dubbing it “Low Salle”, I don’t know any details on this Lasalle gone Bad (yes, with a capital B). I just love the quality of the workmanship though, and the whole idea of taking a well-mannered luxury car and turning it into a “Bad Mofo” is extremely appealing to me. Enjoy the pics.

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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

2013 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance: 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Alloy

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Green 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Alloy

The Ferrari 275 GTB is my favorite variant of classic Ferrari road car. the 250 cars were obviously fantastic, but with the 275 I feel like Ferrari road cars were starting to truly come into their own. Keep in mind that Enzo Ferrari didn’t really care for road cars, and only saw them as a means to fund his racing efforts. In my opinion, the 275 GTB stands as the true precursor to the Ferrari Grand Touring cars we know and love today. The likes of the current F12 Berlinetta, all the way back through the 599, Maranello and 365 Daytona can all trace their lineage as road-specific GT cars back to the 275.

The car you see here is a series two coupe with a two-cam V12. The four-cam version of Ferrari’s 3.3L Colombo V12 would come out in 1966 in the 275 GTB/4. The two-cam V12 made around 280hp compared to the four-cam’s 300hp, but either 275’s performance is still impressive today, capable of speeds in excess of 160mph.

This particular car, fitted with an alloy body, caught my eye among the three or four other 275 GTBs at this year’s 2013 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance. The reason was its stunning and uncommon color scheme. The stereotypical Ferrari is red with a tan interior, whereas this 275 was a gorgeous teal-green with red leather inside. It just took my breath away.

I really love when cars are adorned in uncommon colors because it makes them more interesting to look at. Seeing my favorite type of classic Ferrari in such an uncommon specification really made this year’s Greenwich Concours that much more special. I hope you all enjoy this car as much as I do.

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