Category Archives: Contemporary automobile photos, post war
The 63rd Annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, August 18, 2013
In what has become a tradition at this prestigious event, the organizers have chosen an extraordinarily diverse variety of marques to feature this year. Lincolns will share the beautiful grounds with fine examples of Simplex, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Porsche 911, BMW 507 automobiles. French-built motorcycles and cars with bodies by the Dutch coach builder, Vanvooren will contribute further interest to the mix.
We would be hard pressed to think of a model that could represent Ford’s luxury brand more elegantly on the show field than the Continental Mark II. The beautifully restored example seen in our feature photo today (above) is a very special example of the type. Originally ordered by Henry Ford II for his wife, Anne, who drove the car for about two years before selling it to her personal assistant for use as a daily driver, two custom features distinguish it from any other Mark II : a black Haartz cloth top, installed at the factory and the deletion of the iconic free standing hood ornament.
Photos (above) courtesy of Rick Schmidt/Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
The car currently belongs to noted collector Rick Schmidt, whose father Jim discovered it in poor condition in classified ad a number of years ago. It’s acquisition and restoration by the Schmidts complete a truly unique trio of cars in their stable. It joins a 1956 metallic mint green MK II that first belonged to Benson Ford, and a 1956 sapphire blue metallic MK II that had belonged to William Clay Ford, Sr., both brothers of Henry Ford II. A large number of pre- and postwar custom-bodied Lincolns will accompany them on show field this year.
It also stars on this year’s commemorative Pebble Beach Concours poster along with the 1939 Lincoln Zephyr created for Edsel Bryant Ford. It was printed from an original painting created by Ken Eberts, founder and president of the Automotive Fine Arts Society (seen below at his drawing table).
Portraying the Continental on canvas has been a wonderful trip through time, says Eberts. “In 1955, at 12 years of age, when the 1956 Continental MK II debuted, I was excited. In 1965, as a designer in the Lincoln Studio, I was inspired by the MK II, and today, in creating the poster art for the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, I am proud to be portraying this car’s classically simple, subtly sculptured, impeccable design. With just the right amount of jewelry in the form of chrome, it was a statement of exquisite taste and elegance.” Eberts’ final poster artwork will be featured at the show in the Automotive Fine Arts Society exhibit, sponsored by the Lincoln Motor Company.
Above, preliminary sketches for the 2013 Concours poster flank Ken and his personal 1956 Continental. Photos courtesy of Ken Eberts/Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
Information on all of the events of Pebble Beach Automotive Week and tickets for the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance are available at here. You can read more about the Continentals, and the people who love them here.
Posted in Contemporary automobile photos, post war
Tagged 1939 Lincoln Zephyr, 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Anne Ford, Aston Martin, Automotive Fine Arts Society, Benson Ford, BMW 507, Continental Mark II, Edsel Bryant Ford, Henry Ford II, Ken Eberts, Lamborghini, Lincoln, Lincoln Mark II, Lincoln Zephyr, Pebble Beach Concours d"Elegance, Porsche 911, Rick Schmidt, Simplex, Sr., Vanvooren, William Clay Ford
Patina, Provenance, Originality – Thoughtful Preservation of Collectible Automobiles
David Northey, Walter Owen Bentleys grandson, addressing the attendees.
By Maria Writesel:
The Larz Anderson Auto Museum of Brookline, Massachusetts, renowned for housing America’s oldest car collection, opened their new exhibit on May 10th: Patina, Provenance, Originality: Thoughtful Preservation of Collectible Automobiles. Preservation of important automobiles, as both historic artifacts and industrial art, provides an important window into the technological ingenuity and design acumen of the early pioneers in auto manufacturing, motor racing, and the changes that the automobile brought to America in the 20th Century.
The Larz Anderson Collection, containing some of the rarest and most original early cars in the world, will be on display. In addition, vintage racing cars and other automobiles invited to the exhibit spanning the years from 1906 to1955, also illustrate the principles that guide collectors of important automobiles.
L to R (above) : A restored and unrestored pair of early Corvettes side by side for comparison, the 1940 Wetteroth-Offy-Milt Marion Special, 1938 Sparks-Thorne Little Six.
Automobiles have had a profound impact on society since their inception, and in recent years a serious debate has begun about how to treat these antiques. Patina, Provenance, Originality delves into the collector’s perspective, which takes into account the car’s place in history, previous owners, feats and accomplishments of the car, driver or marque, technological advancements of the time, and the ability to document the originality of the car’s components. To showcase these factors, the exhibit features exceptional examples of valuable original, preserved and restored autos, including a 1915 Duesenberg Board Track Racer that finished 2nd at the Indianapolis 500 in 1916.
L to R (above); 1952 “Wolcott Special” Kurtis 500A Indy Roadster, 1915 Duesenberg 16-valve Board Track Racer, 1938 Sparks Thorne Little Six.
“Preservation involves carefully maintaining the originality of the machine, but doesn’t always produce that bright, shiny look of an expert restoration,” Sheldon Steele, executive director of the Larz Anderson Auto Museum says. “That’s where the value of patina and provenance become apparent.”
The exhibit will look at both paths, showing side-by-side examples of restoration and preservation, along with very rare, valuable and original historical vehicles, including a 1914 Mercer Type 35-J Raceabout, one of America’s first sports-racing cars, and an important example of the iconic marque.
1914 Mercer 35-J Raceabout
Nearly a dozen vintage racing cars from 1914 to 1955 belonging to Brookline, Massachusetts automobile historian and publisher Joseph Freeman will be available for viewing, that is when they are not on the track, participating in events and shows, including this year’s Indy 500 Vintage racing action!
L to R (above); 1914 Mercer Raceabout Boyce Motometer, 1915 Duesenberg Board Track Racer, a Hartford friction shock absorber on the Duesenberg.
L to R Above); Ford powered Sprint car, 1939 Koopman Offenhauser 97 Cubic Inch Oval Track Midget Racer, 1952 “Auto Shippers” Kurtis 500A Offy Indy Roadster
Passion for the automobile has also never escaped the attention of important artists, and the exhibit will also feature several period original Peter Helck drawings, one of which features the exhibit’s Duesenberg, along with Massachusetts area racing charcoal renderings by John W. Burgess. Mr. Burgess was a racer during the 1920’s and 30’s and later the curator of the Briggs Cunningham Automobile Collection.
Also illustrating the value of originality will be a true “barn find” 1937 Packard 120 convertible (below, left) from the Mary M. B. Wakefield Charitable Trust. It has been in the same ownership since new and is seeing the light of day for the first time in nearly 70 years after emerging from a barn in Milton, Massachusetts. A rare find indeed!
L to R; 1937 Packard Convertible Coupe, Packard mascot, 1922 H.C.S Touring Car, 1906 Cadillac.
Complimenting the exhibit are period spectator fashions offered by Professor Anne Vallely of Lasell College.
The educational activities of the Museum are an integral component of it’s work and will relate to the exhibit, emphasizing key concepts expressed through the Museum’s many arts and crafts activities, family fun days and community outreach programs for schools and groups.
New England Audi Dealers, longtime supporters of the Larz Anderson Auto Museum, are proud sponsors of the exhibit. Patina, Provenance, Originality: Thoughtful Preservation of Collectible Automobiles, opened to the public on May 10, 2013, and will run through the early spring of 2014. Admission is: $10.00, for adults; $5 children and active military. For information visit: www.larzanderson.org, or call 617 522-6547. Photos by Joshua Sweeney- Shoot for Details and The Old Motor.
Posted in Contemporary automobile photos, post war, Contemporary automobile photos, pre war
Tagged 1906 Cadillac, 1914 Mercer Type 35-J Raceabout, 1915 Duesenberg Board Track Racer, 1922 H.C.S Touring Car, 1937 Packard Convertible Coupe, 1938 Sparks-Thorne Little Six, 1939 Koopman Offy 97 CID Oval Track Midget Racer, 1940 Wetteroth-Offy-Milt Marion Special, 1952 “Auto Shippers” Kurtis 500A Offy Indy Roadster, 1952 “Wolcott Special” Kurtis 500A Indy Roadster, barn find, David Northey, Hartford friction shock absorber, Indianapolis 500, Joseph Freeman, Larz Anderson Auto Museum, Patina Provenance Originality - Thoughtful Preservation of Collectible Automobiles, Peter Helck, Sheldon Steele, vintage racing cars, Walter Owen Bentley
1938 Steyr Roadster Wins Best in Show at Pinehurst Concours
A rare 1938 Steyr 220 Glaser roadster captured the Best in Show award at the inaugural Pinehurst Concours d’Elegance. More than 5,000 car enthusiasts strolled the beautiful fairways at Pinehurst Resort, viewing 118 pristine vintage automobiles on the show field.
Peter Boyle of Oil City, Pa., owns the winning automobile that was entered in the American/European Classic 1925-48 Class. Boyle purchased the car two years ago, restored it in 2012 and won Second in Class at the Pebble Beach Concours last August before capturing the top prize at Pinehurst Resort.
The six cylinder model was one of just six of this type produced by Steyr in 1938. Three were destroyed in World War II, one is in a museum in Austria, one can’t be found and this one was at Pinehurst. “I’m almost one of one,” Boyle said. The event is already scheduled to run again in 2014 – 2015 and you can learn more at The Pinehurst Concours.
