Tag Archives: Pre War Cars

Six months back, Nick, Shane, and I were all in attendance at the 2015 Concours of America, over in Plymouth MI. Nick’s shown us all the highlights and I’ve done a few features on one or two muscle cars and a set of dry-lake race cars, as well as a very unique Corvette. However, nothing gets in front of Best of Show, and at this show, one award is given to the best American car, and one is given to the best imported car. The winners this year genuinely embody the best of what the pre-war world of cars had to offer 80 years ago. Continue reading Best Of Show Winners from the 2015 Concours of America at St. John’s →

Car Shows, Uncategorized

Various Racing Machines in the Laguna Seca Paddock

January 4, 2016 ndubs77 Leave a comment

Some more shots from the Paddock of Laguna Seca during Monterey Car Week, here is a gallery of awesome racing cars, old and new.

I always love seeing the old pre-war racecars sitting right next to more modern racecars, like Group C, because it really puts in perspective how far the automobile has come in just a few decades. That said, the drivers of those older racing cars were men among men. Those cars were not especially slow at all, reaching over 100mph, but with very primitive technology.

Enjoy the spectacle!

Continue reading Various Racing Machines in the Laguna Seca Paddock →

Auto Idolatry, Uncategorized

The History of Packard

December 21, 2015 ndubs77 1 Comment

Packard was one of the great American luxury car brands in the first half of the 1900s. Many would even dub Packard “the American Rolls Royce” because the two companies shared much in their ideological approach to building the highest quality automobile.

This is a bit of historical glamour for us all to lust over. It’ll have us wishing for Packard to make a comeback someday.

Enjoy!

-Nick

Car Shows, SHOWCASE

Bonneville Salt Flats Record Cars at the 2015 Concours of America

October 15, 2015 Albert S. Davis Leave a comment

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I’ve held a fascination with land-speed records for as long as I can remember. When I saw two belly-tank racers sitting on the show field in the Concours of America this summer, I made a beeline for the section and started looking at what was on hand. Back in the early 1930s, salt flat racing in Bonneville became massively popular, having started in 1914–and people are still out there every year attempting to set new records in an ever-evolving form of motorsport. These cars all hail from the prewar era and looked fantastic in period-correct trimmings. From belly-tanker racers to a few old-school hot rods modified for salt, the history was all in plain sight. Enjoy the photos. Continue reading Bonneville Salt Flats Record Cars at the 2015 Concours of America →

Car Shows

1938 Peugeot 402 Darl’Mat Legere Special Sport Roadster at the Concours of America

October 9, 2015 ndubs77 1 Comment

I was totally blown away by this magnificent 1938 Peugeot Darl/Mat at the Concours of America this year. A two-tone yellow paint scheme is always sure to turn some heads, but combined with such nice lines, it took me a while to pick my jaw up off the grass.

The Peugeot Darl’Mat was a sports and racing car of the era. It even saw a class victory at Le Mans in 1938. Underneath its gorgeous bodywork from Marcel Pourtout, this particular car is a Peugeot 402 Darl’Mat Legere… the lightest model with the biggest engine.

The 402 Darl’Mat was powered by Peugeot’s 2 Liter overhead valve 4 cylinder engine, which was mated to a 4-speed preselector gearbox. This was all cutting edge tech for racing back in the era, with similar designs found in other notable French racers, such as Delahayes.

As with many 1930’s French cars, this Peugoet’s visual beauty drew me in. In addition to its striking color combo, it has some stunning detail work all around.

With just over 100 Peugeot Darl’Mats built, this car is quite a rare sight, especially when you account for the coachwork.

This surely won my own personal Best In Show award at the Concours Of America this year. Enjoy the gallery!

-Nick Walker

Continue reading 1938 Peugeot 402 Darl’Mat Legere Special Sport Roadster at the Concours of America →

Car Shows

1932 Plymouth P8 Sport Roadster at the 2015 Radnor Hunt Concours

September 22, 2015 Albert S. Davis 1 Comment

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If there’s one thing I do not see at all among any Concours event I attend it is pre-war Plymouths. They aren’t hugely collectible, not very distinctive, and really weren’t a high-class sort of car during the Depression. However, they were cheap and reliable, and often more stylish then at first glance. Luckily, this little roadster got itself a spot at Radnor last weekend. Continue reading 1932 Plymouth P8 Sport Roadster at the 2015 Radnor Hunt Concours →

Car Shows

Highlights from the 2015 Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance: Part 1

September 16, 2015 ndubs77 2 Comments

We attended the 2015 Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance last Sunday, and were stunned by the array of Alfa Romeos and Packards they were featuring this year, among other things. It was a phenomenal show, with awesome cars of all types and tastes present. This is the first highlight gallery, with much more to come.

Enjoy the photos!

-Nick

Continue reading Highlights from the 2015 Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance: Part 1 →

Car Shows, Obscure Autos

1908 Browniekar at the 2015 Elegance at Hershey

September 8, 2015 Albert S. Davis 2 Comments

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Honey, I shrunk the car! Well, no, I didn’t, but it certainly applies here. This is a Browniekar, which might be the most diminutive Brass Era automobile I’ve ever laid eyes on. It’s small enough to trip over if you’ve had enough champagne at one of these shows, but just big enough to grab your attention. I’m not sure what this is, or why anyone thought it was a car for daily use, but it’s here and it’s showing up nicely. Continue reading 1908 Browniekar at the 2015 Elegance at Hershey →

Car Shows

1947 Bentley Mk6 Convertible by Franay at The Concours of America

August 20, 2015 ndubs77 2 Comments

At first sight I could’ve sworn this was a Delahaye, with its swoopy art-deco-looking lines. But no, it was indeed a slightly post-war Bentley.

More specifically, it was a Bentley Mk6 Convertible. One of the first cars to be built in the post-war era, a few Bentley Mk6s were fitted with custom coachwork, picking up the same approach as luxury cars before the war. This Bentley was styled by renown French design firm, Franay, and was featured at the Paris Auto Show in 1947. This Bentley was also the first car to win a major Concours d’Elegance after the war, as well, and went on to win many awards in the years since.

Imagine being in Paris in 1947, still surrounded by the carnage of WWII recovery, and seeing a car like this… it must have inspired people with an immense amount of hope. The world had gotten as dark as it had ever been in the years prior, but now thing were moving on, out of the catastrophe, to create a wondrous new world.

This might be the most unique-looking Bentley I’ve come across. French styling on a British car, it somehow really works!

-Nick Walker

Car Shows

1936 Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux at the Concours of America

August 18, 2015 ndubs77 1 Comment

A beautiful example of 1930’s era French car design, this Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux turned many a head at the 10 Concours of America. Another Bugatti, a much rarer Type 57 SC Atlante won best in show, but it was all black and much less fun to look at than this wild yellow and black Bug (I know, cars snobs are rolling their eyes right now). In fact, the Bugatti Atlante that won used to be a 2-tone yellow, which was 100x cooler than the all-black it is now…. sometimes there is a good reason that a car does not have the original paint job.

Either way, this Type 57 Ventoux was my favorite Bugatti at the show. It was very “Cruella DeVille.”

Enjoy the pics!

Continue reading 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux at the Concours of America →

Car Shows

New Hope Auto Show 2015 Day 1

August 12, 2015 ndubs77 Leave a comment

The New Hope Auto Show was great this year, with a wonderful turnout of some magnificent cars. Day 1 focuses on American Cars of all eras, everything from pre-war stunners to the most badass muscle cars.

Enjoy our gallery of highlights from day 1.

Continue reading New Hope Auto Show 2015 Day 1 →

Car Shows

1934 Hispano-Suiza J-12 Sedanca Drophead Coupe at the Concours of the Americas

August 5, 2015 ndubs77 1 Comment

This incredible green 1934 Hispano-Suiza J-12 took our breath away at this years Concours of the Americas.

Back in the 1930s, the V12-powered Hispano-Suiza J-12 was among the most expensive luxury automobiles on the market. The chassis alone cost around $10,000, and then it still had to have a body fitted by a coach builder. The Hispano you see here had its coachwork done by Fernandez & Darrin.

Style didn’t come much more stylish than this back in the day, and you know this would turn more heads today than a modern Rolls Royce.

Enjoy the pics!

-Nick Walker