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This article is from our archives and has not been updated and integrated with our "new" site yet... Even so, it's still awesome - so keep reading!

Published on Sun, Jun 17, 2007

By: The LACar Editorial Staff

LOS ANGELES CONCOURS d'ELEGANCE By Reed Berry Everyone enjoys looking at classic cars. Seeing your own reflection in a highly polished chrome bumper or simply staring in fascination at the elegance and unique design of a luxury car older than most of the people in attendance, one quickly realizes that these are not just cars. Each is a timeless work of art that continues to be admired and appreciated. Over 300 classic vehicles are on display at the Second Annual Los Angeles Concours d'Elegance.

1925 Rolls Royce And to give collector cars even greater eye appeal, you display them in a beautiful natural setting on a picture-perfect Southern California day. The site of the Concours is the Brookside Golf Course at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The impressive array of vehicles covers 25 acres and is separated into 32 different categories, ranging from Horseless Carriages and Vintage to Euro / American Hybrids and classic Musclecars.

The centerpiece of this year's Concours is a 1925 Rolls-Royce with a body built in 1934 by Jonckheere of Belgium. The unique design features round doors, a large fin, a sloping radiator shell and two sunroofs. As legend has it, the original owner didn't like the car and, in the years that followed, the car had several owners. In the early 30's the car was fitted with its aerodynamic body. Following a period of neglect in later years, the car was discovered and has been restored from top to bottom. The car now resides at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. Of the numerous classic car shows I have attended, I find this Concours to be very well organized and easy to navigate. The cars are categorized and each class of vehicle is spaced slightly from the next. As I look to my left, I see an outstanding collection of pre-1950 race cars and midget racers; as I glance to my right, I notice an impressive variety of classic convertibles. Straight ahead are the classic woodies.

1942 Chrysler Town & Country wagon (above) Woodies have always been my favorite part of any car show. It's hard to beat the contrast of the rich wood tones against the lustre of a beautifully designed automobile. Among the woodies at the Concours are a 1948 Packard Station Wagon, a 1946 Ford V-8 Super Deluxe Wagon, and a 1942 Chrysler Town & Country.

1941 Commodore 8

With so many cars on display at the Concours, a number of them have already caught my eye. A 1941 Commodore 8 with a bright red interior and an even brighter yellow exterior is not only an attention-getter here, but may also fit in nicely if they ever decide to hold a car show at Disneyland's Toon Town. Just a few feet away, a shiny red 1936 Auburn Boattail Speedster 852 is a stylish car I definitely would not mind parking in my driveway.

1936 Auburn Boattail Speedster 852 The sleek, sporty automotive design theme of the 50's is apparent in several of the cars in todays concours. The 1954 Hudson Italia, a limited production automobile based on the Hudson Jet platform, looks as great now as when it first rolled out of the showroom. The 1954 DeSoto Adventurer II has a unique shape and must have been a strikingly modern design in it's time.

1954 Hudson Italia (above)

1954 DeSoto Adventurer II While I haven't run into any celebrities today, one of the cars is a TV star of sorts. A long-wheelbased, chauffer driven 1959 Rolls-Royce has appeared in such classic television programs as "Murder She Wrote", "Columbo" and "The Thornbirds".

The Los Angeles Concours d'Elegance is about more than just admiring classic cars, however, as all proceeds benefit the services of the Assistance League of Southern California. Founded in 1919, Assistance League cares for those with critical needs, including children and the elderly.

For additional information on the Los Angeles Concours d'Elegance: www.laconcours.com For additional information on the Assistance League of Southern California: www.assistanceleague.net

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