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Successor to the Meadow Brook Hall Concours d'Elegance, the Concours d'Elegance
of America celebrated its second year by innaugurating a new venue, the Inn at
St. John's, in Detroit's western suburbs. Though it lacks the link to automotive history
that Meadow Brook Hall has (it was the home of Mathilda Dodge-Wilson, widow of
John Dodge), the St. John's complex contains a conference centre, hotel, a lush golf
course to display the cars on, has excellent road access and is close to the airport.
Like the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the Concours d'Elegance of America
has grown into a multi-day event, including a motor tour, a track day, an
auction, and the Concours d'Elegance itself. Unlike pricy Pebble Beach (tickets are
$200 per person for 2011), the $25. admission price for the concours in Michigan is
decidedly less elitest. Given the high calibre of the cars shown at the Concours d'Elegance
of America, and that many of same vehicles are displayed at both shows, the concours in
Michigan is a bargain for classic car fanciers.
Like Pebble Beach, the cars on display can't just show up; they must be invited to
attend. The cars selected--over 300 in 2011--also fit into a number of themes picked by show
organizers. Some of the special highlights for 2011 included the cars influenced by
late General Motors styslist Chuck Jordan, 100 years of Chevrolet, 125 years of
Mercedes-Benz, historic Indianapolis 500 racing cars, the Duesenberg Model A,
scooters, mopeds and pedal cars from the past.
The 2011 Concours d'Elegance of America was graced with good weather, was well
attended and, despite the potential perils of dealing with a new venue, went off
without a a hitch.
The 2012 Concours d'Elegance of America will be held on July 29, 2012.
The Inn at St. John's, Plymouth, Michigan
Vintage cars lined up for auction
This 1939 Lincoln Model K convertible sedan, built for the 1939 Royal Tour (George VI and
Queen Elizabeth), of North America, sold for $297,000 (U.S.), on July 30th.
Selection of pedal cars on display.
A selection of scooters and mopeds, including three Vespas, a Lambretta, a Heinkel
and a Cushman, ranging from 1925 to 1965, on display at the concours. These
two-wheelers are an inexpensive way to enter the vintage vehicle market.
A few of the vintage Indy cars at the show.
1903 Ford Model A rear entrance tonneau. Ford used the Model A name again from
1928-1931.
1913 Hudson 6-54 Speedster. The "Monocle" windshield was a popular accessory
when this Hudson was built
1923 Duesenberg Model A Roadster. Introduced in 1920, the A had an overhead cam
straight-eight engine and four-wheel hydraulic brakes. This A is one of the estimated
55 still in existence.
1927 Kissel Model 8-75 Speedster. Note the golf bag anchor on the rear fender and the
rumble seat. This Wisconsin built Kissel is powered by a 4.7L straight eight Lycoming
engine. Popular with celebrities, Kissel owners included Amelia Earhart, Al Jolson,
Jack Dempsey and Fatty Arbuckle.
Though electric car popularity waned after the introduction of the electric starter for
gasoline engined cars in 1912, Detroit Electric continued to build cars until 1942. This
example is a Model 95 Brougham from 1925.
While the chassis of this Hispano-Suiza H6B dates from 1926, its elegant body was created
by master coachbuilder Henri Chapron in 1932.
1931 Chevrolet (referred to as the Independence model) Landau Phaeton Convertible.
This 1932 Franklin Series 17 is powered by a 150 horsepower, 6.8L, air-cooled V-12
engine. This was the last real Franklin, as the smaller Olympic model was essentially
a Franklin-engine REO.
A quintet of 1933 Auburn 12-165s (V-12) bearing the same livery.
The 2.5L four in the 1936 Amilcar Pegasse Roadster produces 75 horsepower. The body
is by legendary French coachbuilder Figoni and Filaschi, whose creations are more often
found clothing Delage, Delahaye and Talbot-Lago chassis.
Best of Show "European" for 2011. This 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Autobahnkurier is
powered by a 5.4L straight-eight that puts out 180 horsepower when its supercharger is
engaged.
A sleeve-valve V12 powers this striking 1931 Avion-Voisin C20 Demi-Berline.
Sumptuous cabin of the Avions-Voisin C20.
The production version of the Lincoln Continental went on sale as a 1940 model (this
example is from 1941), as a response to requests for copies of the elegant one-off
special built for Edsel Ford (son of Henry) in 1939. Based on Lincoln's medium-priced car,
the Zephyr, the Continental was powered by a V-12 engine derived from Ford's flathead
V-8. With clean lines, large windows, no running boards and minimal ornamentation,
the Continental was a strikingly modern car for 1941.
1938 Cadillac Series 60 Roadster with a custom body created by Brunn.
1949 Cadillac Series 75 Custom Limousine with an unusual "Woody" body by Pasadena-
based coachbuilder, Schwarz.
Futuristic 1948 Tucker 48 is powered by a rear-mounted, flat-six Franklin
helicopter engine converted to liquid cooling. Between 49 and 51 were produced at a
former Dodge aircraft engine plant in Chicago before Preston Tucker ran out of money.
1950 Lea-Francis 2.5 Litre Sports Roadster. This was one of its last cars as production
ceased in 1953.
A trio of 1956 Lincoln Continental MKIIs once owned by members of the Ford family.
Built to exacting standards, the MKII was, at around $10,000, very expensive for its
times, and found few buyers.
1956 Buick Centurian concept car styled by GM designer Chuck Jordan. This car is owned
by the Sloan museum in Flint, Michigan. The Centurian name was used on a production
Buick starting in 1971.
1959 AC Aceca. The convertible version of this car, the Ace, was the basis for the Ford V8
powered AC Cobra. This Aceca is powered by AC's overhead cam straight six rated at 85
horsepower.
1964 Apollo 5000 GT Intermeccanica Coupe. This Ferrari-esque coupe featured an Italian
body and a Buick V8 engine. The yellow car behind, a 1970 deTomaso Pantera, follows the
same formula, but with Ford power. The Pantera was distributed by Mercury dealers in
North America.
1963 Studebaker Avanti. Renowned designer, and frequent Studebaker collaborator,
Raymond Loewy, was hired by the automaker to create this sporty coupe. The fibreglass-
bodied Avanti outlived Studebaker's demise in 1966, with production taken up by former
South Bend, Indiana, Studebaker dealer, Nate Altman.
1965 Aston-Martin DB 5/6 Volante (Aston-Martin speak for convertible)
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