We attended the The Elegance at Hershey this past weekend. It was actually our second show of the day, so time was precious to begin with, but the rain wound up cutting the event even shorter. It actually turned out to be favorable for us because most people left the show, leaving the cars largely unobstructed for photographs. The clouds also made the lighting fantastic for shooting classic cars, by both reducing glare and making to colors more striking. Our time in Hershey was a bit rushed, but I like how the pics came out. There were some really fantastic cars there too. This is an overview gallery of the event. There will be specific features to follow. Enjoy. Continue reading The Elegance at Hershey 2013→
James Glickenhaus at the wheel of his Ferrari 159S Spyder Corsa at the 2013 Greenwich Concours d’ Elegance
This 1947 Ferrari 159S Spyder Corsa, chassis number 002C, is believed to be the single oldest Ferrari automobile existence. It also happens to be owned by James Glickenhaus, who is well known for his one-off Ferrari P4/5 and his P4/5 Competizione privateer racing program. I had a chance to talk to Mr. Glickenhaus briefly and he’s a very nice guy, happy to talk cars with any curious enthusiast who passes by.
With a car like this, he was definitely getting a lot of attention at the Concours this year. It certainly isn’t hard to see how this thing took “Best In Show”, being the oldest Ferrari left. This 159S is also in truly immaculate condition, and that’s a good thing because from what I’ve found, it was the only 159 ever produced. You need to remember that Ferrari only built racing cars in their early years, and the 159 turned out to be a stopgap model between the Ferrari 125 and the Ferrari 166. The racing life of this car was short-lived, but that may well be the reason for its survival.
Under the hood lies an enlarged version of Gioacchino Colombo’s V12, at 1.9L. It makes around 125hp, but keep in mind how featherlight the car is. Back in its day, this thing was quite rapid. I just love looking at old racing cars because they show how the design of the automobile has evolved over the years. Racing cars of this era are so simple and functional, and that often makes them beautiful in a very pure way. Just look at the details of this 159 and you will see that it as much a work of art as it is a mechanical tool for speed.
It was such a treat to see this car in person and be able to take these photos of it. Congratulations to Mr. Glickenhaus on the “Best In Show” win. Enjoy the gallery.
Jerome, Arizona is a small town that sits up on a mountain. It is a classic wild west sort of place, turned tourist destination. My family and I regularly visit when we are in the area, and I am always delighted at the number of old car that seem to be scattered around the town. This time around I came across this Volkswagen Beetle. It seemed to have just the right level of patina, and was parked in a spot that would make for some interesting pictures, so I took these shots. Enjoy. Continue reading Spotted! a vintage Volkswagen Beetle, Jerome, AZ→
This is one of two Lamborghini 3500 GTs to be fitted with a Zagato body. The 3500 GT was the first automobile Ferruccio Lamborghini made after his storied dispute with Enzo Ferrari. Underneath, this 3500 GTZ has the same 320hp 4.0L V12 as the standard car, but that gorgeous body it wears is nearly one of a kind. This white car, chassis 0310, is the only one of the two that is currently accounted for. The other car, a red one, has all sorts of rumors swirling around its whereabouts, and state of condition. I’ve heard some people say it is just fine, safely locked away in a private collection. But I’ve also heard the story of someone who claims they saw it sitting in sorry shape in a barn in Arizona, and that he even saw bullet holes in it. The thought of the latter just kills me, so I will hope for the former. Either way, though, the owner of the white GTZ has done well to keep his car in immaculate condition, and I was privileged enough to happen upon it at this year’s Amelia Island Concours d’ Elegance. I had heard about this car, and of course had seen pictures of it online, but seeing it in person was truly breathtaking. I have yet to see anything from Zagato that I don’t like, and this 3500 GTZ is among my favorites. The standard Lamborghini 3500 GT was a great looking car to begin with, but Zagato turned it into something even more elegant. Classic Italian curves galore. Enjoy the gallery.
James Glickenhaus taking “Best in In Show” in his 1947 Ferrari 159S Spyder Corsa…. believed to be the oldest Ferrari automobile in existence.
We were in attendance for the 2013 Greenwich Concours d’ Elegance this past weekend in Connecticut. It was a fantastic event, and we saw, and drove, many awesome cars. Like most Concours events we go to, we have come back with months of material that we will be sharing with you over time, but this is a highlight reel to wet your appetite. Enjoy.
I found this Citroen SM in the parking lot of a hotel yesterday. The SM is a very interesting car. After Citroen purchased Maserati in 1968, they began development on a flagship grand touring car. The SM debuted at the 1970 Geneva Motor Show, and they produced it through 1975. The SM is remains one of the only true gran touring cars to have front wheel drive, with the same Maserati V6 found in the original Quattroporte and Merak under its hood, producing between 170-180hp. Thanks to its sleek aerodynamics, the Citroen SM could reach 140mph, and onwers said it had no problem cruising at a steady 120mph on the autobahn. Today the SM exudes a level of class and style rivaled by few other cars on the road, and that is why I took the time to shoot these pics. Enjoy.
This beautiful Lotus Europa S2 caught my eye at the recent British Motorcar show in Lewes, DE. There were other Europas around it, but this S2’s tri-tone color scheme really set it apart from the crowd. I just love looking at Lotuses because they’re purpose of lightness and handling is clearly evident in their design. Just look at that rear camber…. o yea. Enjoy the pics.
I saw this exquisite 1934 Rolls Royce Phantom II at the British Motorcar Show in Lewes, DE. Like the Triumph I featured last week, this Rolls had been retired from judging because it had won so many times. I really wish the new Rolls Royces had as much class as this one does. Now days everything is just about tastelessly showing off. Back in the pre war era things were far more interesting. Just look at that side lantern on the 5th picture down…. awesome detail. Enjoy the gallery.
Yes, this is a little BMW Isetta 600 with a supercharged V8 strapped to the back of it. I saw this car a few times over the course of my summer in Detroit, Michigan, and it was a showstopper every time. I finally caught up with the owner at the Woodward Dream Cruise, and he was hppy to tell me about the car. From what I can remember it has a supercharged Rover V8 and puts down around 300rwhp. That is a staggering amount for such a small car, and even more staggering for those tiny tires. The owner said he doesn’t really drive it fast because it cannot handle well with all that rearward weight, but as a cruiser it turns more heads than anything on the road. Obviously this BMW hot rod is completely unique, with custom airbrushing on top of its custom mechanical setup. This is just a fun car all around, and it was awesome to see in person. Enjoy the gallery.
Take a virtual tour of Auto-Salon Singen, one of the biggest collector car showrooms in the world, in Germany. You will be drooling as you look through their inventory. Few places on earth can you see so many such cars in one place, so it is definitely worth taking the tour if you have some free time. Enjoy.
Mind Over Motor 