When close to 10,000 automotive aficionados gathered on the grounds of Meadow Brook Hall in Rochester, Michigan this past Sunday they were treated to a magnificent array of over 230 collector cars and vintage motorcycles from twenty-five states and Canada. There are really no losers in such a collection but tradition demands that cars be judged as best in class and best overall. This year "Best of Show" honors went to a 1934 Packard V-12 Sport Sedan by Dietrich owned by Ray Scherr of California and a 1939 Delahaye 165 Cabriolet by Figoni et Falaschi from the Peter Mullin Foundation. Mullin's Delahaye also won the "People's Choice" award. This over-the-top Delahaye is one of my favorite classics, as you'll note from the photo of a similar car in the masthead of this site.
Living on Canada's west coast with its spectacular scenery and clement weather it's not often that I miss my hometown of Toronto. But when the Meadow Brook Concours takes place, I'd love to be there. True, Meadow Brook is just outside Detroit, not a suburb of Toronto, but a 4-hour sprint down Hwy 401 is all it takes (No need to comment on border security.) Meadow Brook was a double dip of what's good in 2009 for, in addition to the Concours, RM Auctions held its 15th annual Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook event. This year 102 collector cars were entered with top price going to a beautifully restored 1935 Auburn 851SC Boattail Speedster – originally used as the Chicago Auto Salon show car. It earned its former owner $462,000. Like the Delahaye, the Boattail is another of my all-time favorite automobiles. (Me, a humble journalist who would be happy with a Morris Minor convertible just like the one I used to own.)
My first drive in a foreign car was a Morris Minor, just a few blocks around Oklahoma City, but that is what started it. My car at the time was a 1937 Ford V8-60 Business Coupe.
August 7, 2009 @ 4:08 am