Luxury Experience - Greenwich Concours d’Elegance European Collection 2011

1969 Lotus Elan Drophead Coupe Race Car - Greenwich Concours d'Elegance - photo by Luxury Experience

The Greenwich Concours d’Elegance European Collection 2011 held in Greenwich, Connecticut featured exceptional automobiles and motorcycles spanning 93 years, with the earliest entry a 1907 Panhard Wagonet Picnic Body and the latest model, a 2000 Lotus Elise Motorsport Coupe.

Every June since 1996, the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance, founded by Bruce and Genia Wennerstrom, has attracted visitors from the around the world over the course of 2 days, with the first day featuring American models, and the second day featuring European models.

The European entries for 2011 were truly impressive, and the earliest entry was a French 1907 Panhard Wagonet Picnic Body owned by John William Middendorf with neon green exterior and yellow trim.

Admiring the racecars, I wanted to exclaim, “Gentlemen, start your engines” and watch these spectacular beauties in action out on a racetrack. There were many highlights including a 1923 Amilcar Voiturette Monoposto Race Car owned by Faith R. Larsen and Shaun Henderson, and a 1935 MG PA Racer owned by Lee Duran, which he still races.

Bugatti was well-represented with a 1925 Bugatti Type 35A/51 Grand Prix with a shiny aluminum body and British tan leather interior owned by Mitchell and Wendy Gross, and a 1927 Bugatti T52 Baby Bugatti (Recreation) Open, owned by Cecilia and Oliver Magnusson, which was a half-scale Bugatti Type 35 electric racing car for children powered by a single 12-volt electric motor with an integral 4-speed gearbox. I grew-up tooling around in my own child racecar, which began my lifelong enjoyment of fast-paced cars, and the Bugatti T52 Baby Bugatti brought back fond memories of my childhood.

Also interesting was a 1948 Lea-Francis 14 H.P. Sports Roadster owned by Albert F. Ridinger and Tricia. Only 109 were made of this British automobile and only 53 are still known.

There were several Rolls-Royce, and a few of the many highlights included a 1928 Rolls-Royce Ascot Phaeton owned by Russ Baird, a 1930 Rolls-Royce Springfield Phantom I Newmarket Convertible Sedan owned by Timothy Lynch, a 1935 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Four-Door Sports Saloon owned by M.S. Koly, and a 1953 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn Drophead, owned by Gene and Marlene Epstein, which received the People’s Choice Award. Rolls-Royce made only 760 models of the Silver Dawn between 1949 and 1955, and this exquisite motorcar was a stunner with its elegant lines, crimson leather and wood interior trim, and passenger drop-down tray tables.

Other “stars” from the 1950s were a 1957 AC Ace Bristol Roadster owned by Andrew Williams, a 1958 Ferrari 250 Tour de France Coupe owned by Mark J. Davies, a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder owned by Birdcage LLC c/o Marc Robinson, and a 1959 Porsche RSK Roadster.

Jaguar was well represented; a few of the highlights included a 2-door 1958 Jaguar XK-150 Drophead Coupe with a top speed of 121 mph owned by Joseph Feghali, MD, a 1963 Jaguar XKE Coupe owned by George and Elizabeth Rhein, and a rare and collectible matched set owned by the Van Horneff Collection consisting of a black 1993 Jaguar XJR-S Convertible, of which the company made only 25 black and 25 in red; and a silver 1993 Jaguar XJR-S Coupe “press car” (number 3), of which they only made 5.

1993 Jaguar XJR-S Convertible 1993 Jaguar XJR-S Coupe
"press car" #3

Lotus entries included a 1954 Lotus Mark 6 Convertible owned by Ralph Stechow, a 1962 Lotus 23B Open Cockpit owned by Tomas Papadopoulos, a hunter green 1969 Lotus Elan Drophead Coupe emblazoned with the number 44 and the name of Driver Marc F. Evans owned by Kris and Steve Becker, and the latest entry, a 2000 Lotus Elise Motorsport Coupe owned by Douglas Brown and Susan Sciotto-Brown.

Other highlights included a red and black 1964 Morgan Plus 4 Two Door Roadster owned by James F. Munsell, and a 1970 Maserati Ghibli Coupe owned by Zachary G. Schulman.

Early motorcycle entries included a 1929 Scott Flying Squirrell owned by Alan Perry and Harry Buck. British Scott Motorcycle Company produced the Flying Squirrell between 1926 and 1940, with its 3-speed with hand gear change, 596cc water cooled 2-stroke twin engine, and a top speed of 70 mph; a British 1934 Rudge Ulster produced between 1911 until 1946, with a head cast in aluminum bronze, and a radial 4-valve 250cc, owned by James Perman; a 1937 BMW R5 owned by Philip Richter and a 1937 BMW R6 owned by John Pavone.

Italian motorcycles included a 1959 MV Agusta 250 Raid owned by John Kristoff, a 1973 Moto Guzzi Eldorado owned by Robert Franciamore, and the latest entry, a 2006 MV Agusta F4 CC owned by Julia and Sasha Yeterian.

Every decade was well represented, and in total, there were over 200 automobiles and 20 motorcycle entries for the exciting 2-day Greenwich Concours d’Elegance, in addition to the Bonhams Collectors’ Motorcars and Automobilia Auction held on June 5, 2011 for those who wanted to do more than just admire.

Read about the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance 2011 Americana in the Antiques section.

Read about the Bonhams - Greenwich Concours d’Elegance: Collectors’ Motorcars and Automobilia Auction, in the Antiques section.

For information on the next Greenwich Concours d'Elegance taking place June 2-3, 2012, please contact Bruce Wennerstrom or visit the website: www.GreenwichConcours.com.