Great setting, classy show
Text by Wallace Wyss –
Photos by Richard Bartholomew –
For those who haven’t heard of it, San Marino is a little suburb of Pasadena, a sort of Beverly Hills-ish type of place with cute houses, well manicured lawns, nice curved driveways, wide streets, no traffic.
And they have a great concours.
This one is set up more along the Pebble Beach model with classes for prewar cars, postwar cars, and even the oddball classes (like, egad, which explains the presence of one of those modern retro cars along the lines of Excalibur).
This year I enjoyed the muscle cars. I didn’t look at them closely but was impressed that the Dodge Hemi Charger said HEMI on the side in such a modern way, 2018 style. Also there was one of those Plymouths or Dodges that was built light for drag racing, I remember how ugly those cars were but back in those days, fast was all that counted.
In the sports cars there was an Alfa two seater roadster, some model not imported to the US and I was blown away by the beautiful factory pearl blue paint job. The owner, an architect, said he bought it in Canada but it’s not quite old enough to come in without some registration problems but my feleing is, if he can get it registered, it’s an automatic go-up-in-value car because it’s so rare but any Alfa shop ought to be able to source mechanical parts for it.
A local Rolex watch dealer, David Lee, showed several of his dozen or so Ferraris, including an old 246 mid engine Dino which shook up the staid classic car world because he put in a newer Ferrari engine, and it’s a V8 to boot. So he has “resto-modded” a classic Ferrari but changed the performance markedly. Will other Ferrari owners start updating their old steeds with later model engines? (Is Enzo Ferrari reaching a high rotational speed in his grave?).
The classic cars had some interesting specimens, including a Rolls Royce with copper everywhere, copper grille, copper fenders, is there such a thing as too much copper?
Still you had to admire the styling which I would say was very elegant. Another prewar American car (Ruxton?) had the strangest paint job, alternating bands of different color paint as if it were a demonstrator car for a paint company. The car seemed low slung and you kind of wonder if it influenced legions of ’32 Ford hot rods, though I doubt it as I never heard it mentioned in hot rod circles.
Gary Wales, ie. The Prince of Wales, showed up in his “Batman”-themed Bentley custom. No car collector has more fun than Gary with his creations. He described for a little group how he envisions it in a Batman movie, like there’s an earthquake that reveals a hidden garage in the Bat Castle and zounds, there it be, an ancient artifact from an earlier Batman.
Though most of the cars are restored-to-stock classics, there were some oddball classes, which explains the “highboy” Deuce roadster in flat black primer.
The entrance fee is roughly $30 for spectators which is 1/10th of what it cost to go to Pebble Beach Concours, but in a way it’s the same feeling, the spacious lawn and the cars parked with plenty of room around them. There were a few new cars on display by sponsoring dealers, like Aston Martins but they were positioned in the outer perimeter, not disturbing the antique look of the field.
Folks go to concours for different reasons and one reason I go is not only to educate myself on why this and this special car was built but to see colors and textures (my day job is writer but my night job is fine artist) and I enjoyed the lavender Mercedes 300SL roadster. The restorer told me there was also a Gullwing made in this color new.
I like to go to these shows early, as the sun is rising, but this year was stymied by the use of car covers on several cars, the covers only coming off as the show starts. The owners should realize that this prevents their car from being photographed by those who start their trek at sparrow’s fart.
I congratulate the organizers of this show for keeping it going, and hope that it continues. I think for potential booth sponsors, it’s a good chance to meet people with refined tastes for their products and/or real estate.
Being in June, it’s a little tough weatherwise, I and my photographer left at 9:30 am when it was already getting toasty but otherwise it’s a good show with a selection committee that knows what they are doing.
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
More photos are in the two slide shows below.
Wallace Wyss
THE AUTHOR: Wallace Wyss is a fine artist, who accepts commissions for portraits of classic cars. He can be reached at Photojournalistpro2@gmail.com
The PHOTOGRAPHER: Richard Bartholomew is a photographer and artist based in Southern California. He can be reached at zeroagenow@aol.com.
WINNERS – 2018
Best In Show – Pre War
1930 Cadillac V16 Murphy Body AWP
John Groendyke
Best In Show – Post War
1947 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500SS
George Alspaugh
Best Super Car Award
1966 Shelby Cobra
Tatsuya Yagi
Most Elegant Ferrari – Bacchelli & Villa Award
1973 Ferrari 365 GTB
Bill & Linda Feldhorn
Most Elegant American Pre-War Classic Car Award
1935 Duesenberg JN Rolliston Bohman & Schwwartz
Jeannie & Rob Hilarides
Most Elegant Closed Pre-War Car Award
1933 Chrysler CL Imperial LeBaron CC Sedan
Larry & Susan Nannini
Most Elegant Closed Car – Post War
1961 Mercedes Benz 300 Model Sedan
Barry Sohnen
San Marino Rotary Trophy
1955 Chevrolet Corvette
Deanna & Chris Roth
Excellence in Innovation & Design Award
1938 Bentley 4.25 Special Speedster
Gary Wales
Chairman’s Award
1956 Studebaker Hawk
George Colvin
President’s Award
1957 Mercedes Benz 300SL Coupe
Bob & Judy Green
Pasadena Humane Society Award
1952 Allard Jax
Craig Ekberg
Most Exotic Sports Car
1963 Ferrari 400 Super America
Donnie Crevier
Muscle Car Review Magazine Award
1968 Dodge Challenger
Jack Thomas
Mayor’s Award
1927 Lancia Lambda “Airway”
The Byrd Family
Most Elegant Open Post-War Car
1964 Lincoln Continental Convertible
Jim Ayres
Garage Style Magazine Award
1930 LaSalle Phaeton
Paul & Jacqui Whitney
Meguiar’s Award For Best Paint & Finish
1948 Chrysler Town & Country Convertible
Bobby Kenz
Most Elegant American Open Pre-War (CCCA)
1930 Cadillac V16 Murphy Body Phaeton
John Groendyke
Class A – Brass & Nickel Era
First Place
1912 Simplex 50hp Touring
Rick & Lucy Rawlins
Class A – Brass & Nickel Era
Second Place
1915 Pierce Arrow Model 48 Seven Passenger Sedan
Sandy & Ron Hansen
Class A – Brass & Nickel Era
Third Place
1915 Autocar Stakebed Truck
Joe & Janice Conzonire
Class B – HVA Preservation Cars
First Place
1954 Jaquar XK120 OHC
Kevin Eld
Class B – HVA Preservation Cars
Second Place
1939 Lincoln Zephyr
Roger Morrison
Class B – HVA Preservation Cars
Third Place
1972 Citroen SM
Stewart Reed
Class C1 – CCCA – American Open
First Place
1930 Cadillac V16 Murphy Body Phaeton
John Groendyke
Class C1 – CCCA – American Open
Second Place
1935 Auburn Supercharged Boattail Speedster
Lehrman Collection
Class C1 – CCCA – American Open
Third Place
1929 LaSalle 328 Sport Phaeton
Richard Law
Class C2 – CCCA – American Closed
First Place
1935 Duesenberg JN Rolliston Bohman & Schwwartz
Jeannie & Rob Hilarides
Class C2 – CCCA – American Closed
Second Place
1933 Chrysler CL Imperial LeBaron CC Sedan
Larry & Susan Nannini
Class C2 – CCCA – American Closed
Third Place
1930 Ruxton Sedan
The Nethercutt Collection Jack & Helen Nethercutt
Class C3 – CCCA – European Open
Third Place
1930 Delage D8C
Ray & Bonnie Kinney
Class C3 – CCCA – European Open
First Place
1933 Isotta Fraschini Model B
Rich Atwell
Class C3 – CCCA – European Open
Second Place
1931 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Regent Convertible Coupe
Mark Hyman
Class C4 – CCCA – European Closed
First Place
1935 Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux
Bruce Meyer
Class C4 – CCCA – European Closed
Second Place
1939 Bugatti Aravis
Peter & Merle Mullin
Class C4 – CCCA – European Closed
Third Place
1927 Lancia Lambda “Airway”
The Byrd Family
Class D – Pre WWII American Manufacture (Non CCCA)
First Place
1942 Chevrolet Fleetline
Adrian Zagorin
Class D – Pre WWII American Manufacture (Non CCCA)
Second Place
1939 Chevrolet Master Deluxe
Benny Delgadillo
Class D – Pre WWII American Manufacture (Non CCCA)
Third Place
1931 Ford Model A Delux Phaeton
CARS USA
Class E1 – Porsche – 356 Open & Closed
First Place
1960 Porsche 356B
Stephen Hoskins
Class E1 – Porsche – 356 Open & Closed
Second Place
1962 356 Twin Grill Super 90 Roadster
Paul & Sherrill Colony
Class E1 – Porsche – 356 Open & Closed
Third Place
1964 Porsche 356
Andreas Reiff
Class E2 – Porsche – 911 & 912 Thru 1973 Open & Closed
First Place
1969 Porsche 911E
Bradley Baldwin
Class E2 – Porsche – 911 & 912 Thru 1973 Open & Closed
Second Place
1973 Porsche 911 Targa
Thomas Walper
Class E2 – Porsche – 911 & 912 Thru 1973 Open & Closed
Third Place
1968 Porsche 912 Coupe
Stephen Russell
Class E3 – Porsche – 911 & 912 Thru 1998 Open & Closed
First Place
1987 Porsche 911 Turbo
Charles Jung
Class E3 – Porsche – 911 & 912 Thru 1998 Open & Closed
Second Place
1986 Porsche 930 Turbo
Thomas Walper
Class E3 – Porsche – 911 & 912 Thru 1998 Open & Closed
Third Place
1989 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 Coupe
Matt Stone
Class F1 – American Luxury Open 1947-1964
First Place
1964 Lincoln Continental Convertible
Jim Ayres
Class F1 – American Luxury Open 1947-1964
Second Place
1957 Chrysler 300C
Ken Brody
Class F1 – American Luxury Open 1947-1964
Third Place
1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible
Richard Davis
Class F2 – American Luxury Closed 1947-1964
First Place
1958 Ford Thunderbird
Anthony Maggio
Class F2 – American Luxury Closed 1947-1964
Second Place
1960 Lincoln Continental Formal Limosine
The Calumet Collection
Class F2 – American Luxury Closed 1947-1964
Third Place
1961 Ford Thunderbird Coupe
James Powers
Class G – European Luxury 1947-1965
First Place
1965 Volvo P1800
Phillip Howard
Class G – European Luxury 1947-1965
Second Place
1954 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn
Bill & Michelle Cronkhite
Class G – European Luxury 1947-1965
Third Place
1960 Facel Vega Facilla Convretible
Michael Canyon
Class I – American Post War Orphan Marques
First Place
1960 Studebaker Lark VIII
Stanley Haveriland
Class I – American Post War Orphan Marques
Second Place
1963 Studebaker Avanti R2 4 Speed
Frank Wenzel & Kent Vandenberg
Class I – American Post War Orphan Marques
Third Place
1963 Studebaker Avanti Coupe
Kenneth Buchanan
Class J – Japanese Sports Cars 1946-1985
First Place
1972 Nissan Fairlady Z Type S
Joseph Rotz
Class J – Japanese Sports Cars 1946-1985
Second Place
1968 Toyota S800
Michael & Barbara Malamut
Class J – Japanese Sports Cars 1946-1985
Third Place
1985 Toyota Celica GT-S Convertible
Kenneth Woolcott
Class K – Chevrolet Tri Five (1955-1957)
Second Place
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible
Jack Jones
Class K – Chevrolet Tri Five (1955-1957)
Third Place
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible
James Conrad
Class K – Chevrolet Tri Five (1955-1957)
First Place
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air
Charlie Randolph
Class L – Lamborghini
First Place
1969 Lamborghini Islero S
David Young
Class L – Lamborghini
Second Place
2008 Lamborghini Murcielago
Doug Greene
Class L – Lamborghini
Third Place
1969 Lamborghini Espada
Mike Trivich
Class M1 – Mercedes Benz 300SL Roadsters and Gullwings
First Place
1957 Mercedes Benz 300SL Coupe
Bob & Judy Green
Class M1 – Mercedes Benz 300SL Roadsters and Gullwings
Second Place
1957 Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing
Thomas Burniston
Class M1 – Mercedes Benz 300SL Roadsters and Gullwings
Third Place
1957 Mercedes Benz 300SL Roadster
Jeff Wu
Class M2 – Mercedes Benz 190SL and Pagoda
First Place
1964 Mercedes Benz 230SL Roadster
Roger & Susan Rousset
Class M2 – Mercedes Benz 190SL and Pagoda
Second Place
1969 Mercedes Benz 280SL Roadster
Jeff Wu
Class M2 – Mercedes Benz 190SL and Pagoda
Third Place
1970 Mercedes Benz 280SL Roadster
Roger & Susan Rousset
Class M3 – Mercedes Benz Post War Thru 1975 Luxury
First Place
1961 Mercedes Benz 300 Model Sedan
Barry Sohnen
Class M3 – Mercedes Benz Post War Thru 1975 Luxury
Second Place
1965 Mercedes Benz 220SE Cabriolet
Roger & Susan Rousset
Class M3 – Mercedes Benz Post War Thru 1975 Luxury
Third Place
1953 Mercedes Benz 220A
Gust Nelson
Class N1- American Big Block Muscle Cars 1962-1972 General Motors
Third Place
1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396
Delco Hagen
Class N1- American Big Block Muscle Cars 1962-1972 General Motors
First Place
1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396
Tim Munyer
Class N1- American Big Block Muscle Cars 1962-1972 General Motors
Second Place
1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396
Delco Hagen
Class N2 – American Big Block Muscle Cars 1962-1972 Non GM
First Place
1968 Shelby GT500
Christopher Sullivan
Class N2 – American Big Block Muscle Cars 1962-1972 Non GM
Second Place
1969 Mercury Couger
Dann Allen
Class N2 – American Big Block Muscle Cars 1962-1972 Non GM
Third Place
1968 Dodge Challenger
Jack Thomas
Class N3 – Pony Cars – Ford Mustang
First Place
1966 Ford Mustang GT Convertible
Kenneth Woolcott
Class N3 – Pony Cars – Ford Mustang
Second Place
1965 Ford Mustang GT Convertible
Clyde Widrig
Class N3 – Pony Cars – Ford Mustang
Third Place
1966 Ford Shelby Mustang GT 350
Margaret Alley
Class N4 – Pony Cars – Various Manufacturer
First Place
1970 Dodge Challenger T/A
Tom Gipe
Class N4 – Pony Cars – Various Manufacturer
Second Place
1969 Chevrolet Camero
Jim Mikkelson
Class N4 – Pony Cars – Various Manufacturer
Third Place
1968 American Motors AMX
Mark Melvin
Class O – Italian Sports Cars – 1946-1974
First Place
1947 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500SS
George Alspaugh
Class O – Italian Sports Cars – 1946-1974
Second Place
1973 DeTomaso Pantera
Buddy Pepp
Class O – Italian Sports Cars – 1946-1974
Third Place
1963 Alfa Romeo
Arthur Russell
Class P – Station Wagons – 1946-1972
First Place
1959 Chevrolet Parkwood Station Wagon
Kenneth Zander
Class P – Station Wagons – 1946-1972
Second Place
1970 Buick Estate Wagon
Brad Prescott
Class P – Station Wagons – 1946-1972
Third Place
1967 Ford Country Squire
Michael Klyde
Class Q – Corvette Thru 1967
First Place
1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window Coupe
Mike Vietro
Class Q – Corvette Thru 1967
Second Place
1955 Chevrolet Corvette
Deanna & Chris Roth
Class Q – Corvette Thru 1967
Third Place
1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split Window Coupe
Dennis Pagliano
Class R1 – Ferrari – 12 Cylinder Cars Thru 1990
First Place
1966 Ferrari 275 GTS
Vance Shapley
Class R1 – Ferrari – 12 Cylinder Cars Thru 1990
Second Place
1963 Ferrari 400 Super America
Donnie Crevier
Class R1 – Ferrari – 12 Cylinder Cars Thru 1990
Third Place
1965 Ferrari 275 GTB
Don & Carol Murray
Class R2 – Ferrari – 8 Cylinder Cars Thru 1999
First Place
1998 Ferrari 355 F1 Berlinetta
Peter Riley
Class R2 – Ferrari – 8 Cylinder Cars Thru 1999
Second Place
1982 Ferrari 308 GTSI
Jim Hunter
Class R2 – Ferrari – 8 Cylinder Cars Thru 1999
Third Place
1985 Ferrari 308 GTB-QV
Joey Brauer
Class R3 – Ferrari Dino Thru 1980
First Place
1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS
Ian Wayne
Class R3 – Ferrari Dino Thru 1980
Second Place
1972 Ferarri Dino 246GT
Akram & Rana Awad
Class S1 – Jaguar XKE Thru 1969
First Place
1961 Jaguar XKE Roadster – Outside Bonnet Latch
Tom Krefetz
Class S1 – Jaguar XKE Thru 1969
Second Place
1968 Jaguar XKE Coupe
Frank Tillman
Class S1 – Jaguar XKE Thru 1969
Third Place
1962 Jaguar XKE Coupe
Roy Chiarot
Class S2 – Jaguar XK120
Third Place
1951 Jaguar
Arthur Lacerte
Class S2 – Jaguar XK120
First Place
1963 Jaguar XKE Roadster
Robert & Virginia Huntington
Class S2 – Jaguar XK120
Second Place
1953 Jaguar XK120 Fixed Head Coupe
David Walmsley
Class U1 – British Sports Cars – 1946 Thru 1975
First Place
1964 Triumph Spitfire
Barry Connally
Class U1 – British Sports Cars – 1946 Thru 1975
Second Place
1938 MG Tickford Drop Head
Bob & Donna Hanselman
Class U1 – British Sports Cars – 1946 Thru 1975
Third Place
1967 Aston Martin DB6 Saloon
Tony & Laureen Hart
Class U2 – Morgan
First Place
1952 Morgan Plus 4 Drophead Coupe
Larry Guzin
Class U2 – Morgan
Second Place
1962 Morgan 4 Passenger Roadster
Michael Hattem
Class U2 – Morgan
Third Place
1967 Morgan SuperSport 4
Dennis Glavis
Class V – Volkswagen Thru 1974
First Place
1953 Volkswagen Beetle
Karl Schuler
Class V – Volkswagen Thru 1974
Second Place
1962 Volkswagen Bug
Nancy Kyllingstad
Class V – Volkswagen Thru 1974
Third Place
1963 Volkswagen 23 Window Delux Micobus
Billy Davila
Class W – Woodies Thru 1974
First Place
1948 Chrysler Town & Country Convertible
Suzanne & Tom Tomkins
Class W – Woodies Thru 1974
Second Place
1948 Oldsmobile Model 66 Delux
Lisa and Daniel Jobe
Class W – Woodies Thru 1974
Third Place
1942 Ford Super Delux Station Wagon
Brad Owen
Class Y – Bantam & American Austin
Third Place
1932 American Austin Panal Truck
John Larson
Thanks for the pictures, like you said they needed that early morning pose.
Everyone gets a trophy!