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Recap: 2010 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance

Alex Nunez — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 21:20:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Coupe, Budget, Sedan, Performance, Wagon, Misc. Auto Shows, Specialty, Luxury, Racing

2010 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance - Click above for high-res image gallery

The first weekend in June is always circled on our calendar, because that's when the annual Greenwich Concours d'Elegance goes down in tony Greenwich, CT. So, instead of catching some rays at the beach, or mowing the lawn, or tending to the vegetable garden, we drop the top and head down Interstate 95 to spend the better part of two days gawking at cars exotic and otherwise, always ready for whatever surprises are on hand to add a little variety. Follow the jump for a quick recap of this year's show, after which you can hit the galleries to ogle the staggering variety of metal that the organizers assembled.

Continue reading Recap: 2010 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance

Recap: 2010 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Jun 2010 21:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorcycles at the 2010 Greenwich Concours

Alex Nunez — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Misc. Auto Shows, Motorcycle

Motorcycles at the 2010 Greenwich Concours - Click above for high-res image gallery

One thing the organizers of the Greenwich Concours do well is ensure that motorcycle aficionados don't feel left out. This year was no different, as Sunday featured row of bikes diverse in both chronology and purpose. No matter your interest, if two wheels were your thing, you were covered by a range of offerings that included everything from rarities like the Honda NR750 to a 1917 Harley-Davidson that pretty much embodied the definition of "patina."

It was obvious that the majority of these bikes weren't babied garage queens. Most appeared to see regular action, and their owners were eager to share them with the crowd. "C'mon, take a closer look!" was a common phrase uttered to anyone pausing to show interest in a particular bike. It's that kind of camaraderie that makes Greenwich feel as accessible as any local enthusiasts' gathering, even though it's a serious Big Deal concours with million-dollar vehicles littering the grounds. Hit the gallery below for a look at the motorcycles and scooters that were on hand this year.

Gallery: Motorcycles at the 2010 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance

Motorcycles at the 2010 Greenwich Concours originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Jun 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Immaculate Volga's Cold War style elicits warm smiles

Alex Nunez — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 19:10:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Sedan, Misc. Auto Shows, Russia

1976 Volga GAZ-24 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Sometimes, it's the unlikely stuff that gets the best reactions. At a show where the supercar circle boasted the likes of a Schuppan 962CR and James Glickenhaus' Ferrari P4/5, across the field, car of decidedly more modest origin was cultivating an equally-delighted group of fans for itself. Yes, it is the opposite of a supercar, but this '76 Volga GAZ-24 was easily one of the highlights of the show, if you ask us.

Wedged between a grey Facel Vega coupe and a delectable Citroen DS, the deep red Volga was beautifully turned out, with blinding whitewall tires, velour-accented seats, neat logo mudflaps, airbrushed hammer-and-sickle art on the hood, and probably the most appropriate vanity plates ever. The car was even wore its own fur hat.

When we asked the owner to open the hood for us so we could grab a quick photo, he apologetically said, "Oh, there's not much to see," as he lifted it to reveal the clean inline-four. "Besides, if I keep it open, no one can see the artwork!" Smiles all around as folks gathered to ogle this Cold War curiosity, which you're just about as likely to see on the road as any of the exotics that were parked a few hundred feet away. In its own way, it's every bit as cool.

Gallery: 1976 Volga GAZ-24

Immaculate Volga's Cold War style elicits warm smiles originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Jun 2010 19:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This is what the first-ever Porsche 911 Turbo looks like today

Alex Nunez — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 11:03:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Porsche, Misc. Auto Shows, Racing

1973 Porsche 911 Turbo factory prototype

Some people attending the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance last weekend walked past this Porsche 911 Turbo, giving it nary a glance. After all, it was tucked a little out of the way, and even with its tweaked bodywork and decals, if you've seen one 911 Turbo, you've seen them all, right? Well, no. Anyone who paused long enough to read the info card owner Murray Smith placed front of the car learned that, in fact, this Turbo is more special than others. You see, it was the prototype - the first factory-turbocharged Porsche 911 road car, period.

As the story goes, it began life as a regular '73 911S company car driven by Porsche chief engineer Helmuth Bott. From there, it won the Porsche genetics lottery when it was sucked into the automaker's experimental program to serve as the basis for the Turbo. As such, it became the first roadgoing Porsche 911 to get the turbo engine, along with the now-famous widebody treatment and whaletail.

Once its developmental role was complete, it became the 911 Turbo display car for the Paris, Frankfurt, and Tokyo motor shows, but the story doesn't end there. Following a subsequent factory RSR conversion, this 911 Turbo was raced by Aussie Porsche importer Alan Hamilton during the mid-1970s. The icing on the cake for us came at the day's conclusion, when we got to hear the car fire up and get in line for the procession past the podium. It sounded like God on speakerphone. For a 911 with this provenance, that seemed entirely appropriate.

Gallery: 1973 Porsche 911 Turbo Factory Prototype

This is what the first-ever Porsche 911 Turbo looks like today originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Jun 2010 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tupolev 007: Attention, cosmonauts - Your ride's here

Alex Nunez — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 09:31:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Misc. Auto Shows, Military, Specialty, Russia, Design/Style

Tupolev 007 aerosled at the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance- Click above for high res gallery

We'll provide a full recap of the 2010 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance later, but this morning, we wanted to share one of the cooler vehicles on display with you - and while it has gullwing doors and is as exotic as it gets, it's not even a car. While Cold War-era American astronauts were fished out of the drink by the U.S. Navy after splashdown, Soviet cosmonauts at the time faced a different set of risks when their spacecraft returned to Earth - namely, the possibility of landing in the Siberian wilderness. As such, a recovery vehicle was needed that could traverse varied terrain, operate in sub-zero temperatures, and move fast. Enter Russian aviation legend Aleksei Tupolev. His solution is seen here: the Tupolev 007 aerosled.

The shallow-draft craft is powered by a 9-cylinder Vedenyev M14P radial aircraft engine generating 365 horsepower. Its interesting double-propeller is actually fixed, with the rear prop drafting the front blades to increase efficiency and make operation quieter. At speeds above 50 mph, the driver can engage a flap to lift the nose, allowing the 007 to skim the surface, meaning it can race across lakes, marshes, and snow with equal aplomb. The design reportedly won Tupolev the Diploma of Finest Engineer in the USSR (give the Soviets this: they had a flair for super-impressive-sounding awards), and you can go see it yourself if you're within easy travel distance of Greenwich, CT.

Day 2 of the 15th Annual Greenwich Concours d'Elegance runs today from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM EDT, with foreign cars the featured element. Admission at the door is $25 (proceeds help benefit AmeriCares), and believe us, it's money well spent. We'll be there later today as well, and you can follow our tweets from the show by searching on the hashtag #GCDE.

Gallery: Greenwich Concours 2010: Tupolev 007

Photos by Alex Nunez / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Additional info on the Tupolev aerosled sourced from Gizmag, Hemmings Motor News.

Tupolev 007: Attention, cosmonauts - Your ride's here originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Jun 2010 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2009 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance

Alex Nunez — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:10:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Misc. Auto Shows

2009 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, Day 1 - Click above for a high-res gallery

The web is all about immediacy, and by that token, you should have seen these Greenwich Concours d'Elegance photos right after the event happened. Your humble correspondent, however, was juggling the Concours with his own family vacation preparations, and couldn't deliver in a timely fashion. However, like Dick Nixon, I'm now tanned, rested and ready, so follow the jump for several themed photo galleries and the annual rundown on what you missed if you weren't able to make the stop in Greenwich,

All photos Copyright (C)2008 Alex Núñez / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading 2009 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance

2009 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Event Alert: June Calendar of Automotive Events

Frank Filipponio — Fri, 29 May 2009 18:15:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Auctions, Misc. Auto Shows, Event Alert

As we approach the half-way point of 2009, the automotive industry is still in turmoil and the economy is just barely showing signs of recovery, but we still have plenty to be happy about. Dozens of concours events, cruise nights, and local shows are being held each and every weekend around the country. There's probably one close to you. Greenwich, Huntington Beach, Los Angeles, and Rodeo Drive top that list of concours in June. There will also be plenty of racing action with another running of the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans June 13 and 14. Formula 1 makes stops at Turkey and Silverstone. With the Indianapolis 500 over, IndyCar moves on to Texas, Iowa and Richmond. And NASCAR fans can see action at Pocono, Michigan International Speedway, Infineon and New Hampshire. Speed junkies will also have another go at land speed records when the next El Mirage event takes place June 14.

There will also be some auction action too, with a Bonhams sale at the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance and the Mecum Corvette Auction during Bloomington Gold in St. Charles, Illinois. One of our favorite events of the summer returns this June, the Friends of Steve McQueen Car Show in Chino Hills, CA. Other events on our Google Calendar this month include the Carlisle All-Ford Nationals, Susquehannock Trail Rally, Fleetwood Country Cruize-In, Corvettes of Myrtle Beach, Greatest Cruise on Turf, Wranglers' All Ford Show and Swap Meet, 20th Annual Orphan Car Tour, Automezzi Colorado, Red Mill British Car Day, 14th Annual San Clemente Car Show, GoodGuys Hot Rod Nationals, AutoMat's 52nd Anniversary Car Show, 24th Annual Huntington Beach Concours, UCP Concours d'Elegance, Ault Park Concours d'Elegance, Classy Chassis, Pismo Beach Classic Car Show, 45th Annual L.A. Roadster Show, British Motorcar Gathering, Challenge Rally Cinque, The Hemmings Challenge, Annie & Steve Norman Classic Motorcar Rally, GoodGuys East Coast Nationals, CAR Show at the AACA Museum, Palo Alto Concours d'Elegance at Stanford, and another pair of AW Briefing events from London.

If none of those events appeals to you, check the Google Calendar after the jump for even more listings, all with detailed info and links. Please use the comments section to add or modify listings. Oh, and Happy Fathers Day to all of you Dads out there.

Continue reading Event Alert: June Calendar of Automotive Events

Event Alert: June Calendar of Automotive Events originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 May 2009 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2009 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance to feature Terrafugia flying car among the classics

Alex Nunez — Sun, 17 May 2009 15:15:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Misc. Auto Shows, Event Alert

Click above for a hi-res gallery of the 2007 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance

If you're an Autoblog reader and plan to be in the New York metropolitan/tri-state area the weekend of June 6 and 7, you ought to be making tracks to Connecticut for the annual Greenwich Concours d'Elegance at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park. The concours is this blogger's favorite event of the year, and for good reason. The two-day showcase features American cars on Saturday, and international metal on Sunday.

Both days feature a supercar display, gorgeous wood-hulled yachts in adjacent Greenwich Harbor, and an impressive lineup of vintage motorcycles, to boot. This year, the husband-wife organizing team of Bruce and Genia Wennerstrom has arranged for the Terrafugia Transition flying car to be displayed all weekend amidst the classics. Morgan and MINI will also be featured in honor of their respective anniversaries. Bonham's has its own tent on the premises, where you can check out all the rides scheduled to go under the hammer at Sunday's auction. Finally, the public parking lot across the street from the venue becomes an impromptu show itself, loaded with classics and exotics driven in by people visiting the concours.

So, if you're available, go. You won't regret it. Admission is $20 per day, or $30 for a two-day pass, with the proceeds benefiting AmeriCares. Bring your kids -- children under 12 get in free. Parking's free, too. It's right off I-95 if you're driving and easily accessible via the MTA Metro-North railroad's New Haven Line. Complete details can be found in the press release posted after the jump, as well as the Greenwich Concours website, http://www.greenwichconcours.com. Hope to see you there.

Gallery: 2007 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance - Day 1

Continue reading 2009 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance to feature Terrafugia flying car among the classics

2009 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance to feature Terrafugia flying car among the classics originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 May 2009 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2008 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance

Alex Nunez — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Misc. Auto Shows

Click any image to enlarge

The sights confirmed that it was was Car Guy Heaven, even if the weather was more reminiscent of Hell on Earth. That, in a nutshell, sums up the 2008 edition of the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, a 2-day automotive carnival that never ceased to amaze, no matter how many times we walked around the grounds. Each pass seemed to reveal something new -- something we somehow missed just a few minutes earlier. As always, Day 1 was dedicated to American cars and Day 2 paid tribute to the Europeans. Oh, and temps were in the mid-90s and very humid both days. That didn't make it less awesome, though. Just more...sticky.

Gallery: 2008 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance Day 1 - The Americans

Gallery: 2008 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance Day 2 - The Europeans

Continue reading 2008 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance

2008 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Event Alert: 2008 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance coming this weekend

Alex Nunez — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Misc. Auto Shows, Event Alert

If you're in the New York metropolitan area and don't have any plans this weekend, you might want to shoot up I-95 (or jump on Metro-North) to Greenwich, Connecticut, where Bruce and Genia Wennerstrom will be putting on the annual Greenwich Concours d'Elegance. This is a spectacular event that's held over two days. Day 1 is Saturday, June 7, which will focus on American autos from every era. When Saturday wraps up, all the American metal drives off and the Europeans take over the premises for Day 2 on Sunday. As always, a supercar display will be on hand all weekend, as well as an impressive lineup of vintage motorcycles and one airplane.

Look for rides like the one-of-a-kind, Pininfarina-bodied 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Rondine that sold for $1.76 million at Barrett-Jackson this past January, as well as other vehicles of interest, such as living legend John Fitch's original Phoenix sports car. Oh, and Bonhams is auctioning off a few things that register on the Cool-o-meter, too. Admission is $25/day or $40 for both days, with the proceeds benefitting AmeriCares. Kids under 12 get free admission, and the gates open at 10:00 AM on both days.

Make sure you factor in time to browse the public parking lot outside the Concours, too. It's like another show in and of itself. Dress comfortably -- it's supposed to be in the upper 80s and humid this weekend. No worries, because despite it being in swanky Greenwich, the Concours is totally casual and totally awesome. I'll be there snapping away with my trusty little camera for Autoblog, hoping to provide coverage similar to what we brought you last year.

So, if you're in the neighborhood, go. The cars are incredible, their owners usually have great stories to tell, and you'll have a good time. The 2008 entrant list is published in chronological order in the gallery below, and all three photo galleries from last year's event are pasted after the jump. See ya there.

Gallery: 2008 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance Entrants

Continue reading Event Alert: 2008 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance coming this weekend

Event Alert: 2008 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance coming this weekend originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: 1950 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith by Mulliner

Alex Nunez — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 11:02:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Auctions, Rolls-Royce, Misc. Auto Shows

I saw this car at the Greenwich Concours a couple of weeks ago, where it won the trophy for Most Distinguished Rolls-Royce. The photos I've attached don't do it justice. No photo really can. It's just that kind of car. This Silver Wraith attracted people the whole time it was there, such was its innate magnetism. And now it's on eBay.

Its restoration has been performed to absurdly high standards. The finish is mirrorlike, the undercarraige is cleaner than a hospital operating room, and the engine, like the exterior, is resplendent in black, as if dipped in an inkwell. Like the rest of the car, it's a sight to behold. The red leather in the passenger compartment stands in bright contrast to the rest of the machine, and the full picnic kit stowed in the trunk contains china that's probably nicer than what's in my cabinet at home -- I'm talking about the good stuff that never gets eaten on that I got as wedding gifts. Proceeds from the sale are said to benefit an unnamed charity, whose management should be pleased to know that the current bid is already over $1.1 million. The reserve's not met yet, and the "Buy It Now" link is still active. Don't click it, though...not unless you have $2,150,000 to back up that rash behavior.

More pics after the jump. Gallery below.. Thanks to Mike for the Tip!

[Source; eBay]

Gallery: 1950 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Roadster by Mulliner

Continue reading eBay Find of the Day: 1950 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith by Mulliner

eBay Find of the Day: 1950 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith by Mulliner originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Jun 2007 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Greenwich Concours d'Elegance - Day 1

Alex Nunez — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 09:19:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Misc. Auto Shows

Click image for a huge gallery from Day 1 of the Greenwich Concours

I'd never been to a Concours d'Elegance prior to Saturday. If the Greenwich Concours is the only one I'm ever able to go to for the remainder of my days, I will consider myself to be very fortunate. It's that kind of experience. Saturday's focus was American cars, and every era of motoring was represented. From gorgeous Brass Era machinery right up to the latest and greatest from the present day, walking through the concours was like stepping into a time warp where you popped into a different decade every few hundred feet.

Follow the jump for more info.

Gallery: 2007 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance - Day 1

Continue reading Greenwich Concours d'Elegance - Day 1

Greenwich Concours d'Elegance - Day 1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 03 Jun 2007 09:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Greenwich Concours d'Elegance set for this weekend

Alex Nunez — Wed, 30 May 2007 17:32:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Misc. Auto Shows

If you're in the New York area this weekend, and have a hankering for some jaw-dropping automotive eye-candy, be sure to head up to Greenwich, CT, where the annual Greenwich Concours d'Elegance will be taking place June 2nd and 3rd on the waterfront at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park.

The Concours is a labor of love for its founders and co-chairs, Bruce and Genia Wennerstrom, and as is always the case, they've assembled a spectacular variety of classic, important and rare vehicles. Among this year's highlights are the 1955 Boano-bodied Lincoln Indianapolis concept (we've seen this car in person -- it's fantastic), a 1905 Packard, a 1948 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet, a Ghia-bodied 1956 Jaguar XK140, and much, much more. In total, some 300 cars will be displayed over the event's two days.

Follow the jump for more info...

[Source: Greenwich Concours d'Elegance]

Continue reading Greenwich Concours d'Elegance set for this weekend

Greenwich Concours d'Elegance set for this weekend originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 May 2007 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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