I had the good fortune to attend the 5th annual Concours d’Elegance in Beverly Hills at the 1920’s Greystone Mansion, organized and presented by the City of Beverly Hills and Friends of the Greystone. I wanted to share a few highlights.
There were plenty of coveted Porsche 356 Speedsters, the precursor to the 911, which arrived in 1963. There was the Ferrari Lusso, favorite Ferrari of Steve McQueen, memorialized in a book by jazz photographer William Claxton. I saw a Ferrari Dino, the first rear-engine design for the legendary Italian car maker (Enzo Ferrari is said to have remarked when being challenged by rear-engined Porsches “the horse doesn’t push the cart”). The Dino also was a memorial to Enzo’s son Dino, who died if muscular dystrophy in 1956 at the age of 24.
There was also a couple of Ferrari 275 GTB’s, one of the last of the front-engined classic V12 cars in the 1960s, before Ferrari started using six and eight-cylinder engines. I stole my dad’s 275 out of the garage one night for a joyride a long time ago. There is no sound as beautiful as a Ferrari front engine V-12. It is music to the ears.
Classic 1950s American cars included an Oldsmobile and a Pontiac. Designs of 1950’s American cars often featured jet-age elements, as you see on the Pontiac hood ornament. Another jet age reference, the Olds Rocket 88 also launched the first rock and roll R&B classic, Jackie Brenston’s song “Rocket 88.”
The Alfa Romeo emblem is a 14th century Milanese family crest (Alfa is based in Milan). Two European luxury cars popular among the elite in Europe, Hollywood celebrities and French writers. The Dual Ghia was a favorite of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra and other Rat Pack members. Albert Camus, the existential French-Algerian writer who mused on death and suicide died in the French-made Facel Vega while driving back to Paris with his publisher Michel Gallimard. Touring of Milan was the Italian coach builder for the most beautiful Alfa Romeos and Bond-era Aston Martins. Superleggera means “superlight”.
I saw a couple of Mercedes Benz 300sl Gullwings, both with matching luggage. My dad has a 300sl Gullwing with matching crimson luggage; my mother hated the car because it was so hard to get in and out of…just try it sometime! It didn’t help things that the cab always smelled of gasoline!
Then there is a classic 1963 VW Bug, complete with large accordion sunroof. There were too many other cars to mention here and also many classic motorcycles. I wish there had been a Citroen DS and maybe some classic Maseratis, as Maserati is making a comeback in the U.S. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable time for all auto enthusiasts, collectors, and spectators.
