Best In Show
From century-old, steam-powered autos that drip water from their engines to ultramodern hyper cars that devour 93-octane fuel with their 16 cylinders, upscale car shows are virtual museums on wheels. Outstanding and well-cared-for examples gather periodically across the country to showcase the never-ending variety that has always defined automobile design.
Drawing enthusiasts and casual fans alike, expositions of fine cars range in size from the modest to the massive. Some have themes: cars of a certain era or genre (such as muscle cars) or even makes (e.g., Ferrari.) Most showcase all manner of vehicles. The finest are steeped in luxury and held in tony locations—Pebble Beach, Miami, Newport, Rhode Island and the Hamptons. Good food, fine wines and spirits are often castmates. And, as these are typically open-air events, cigars are frequently welcome guests. Peruse these pages and you’re sure to find something you’ll want to drive home.
Audrain Newport Concours And Motor Week
The Gilded Age, 70-room, oceanside “cottage” known as The Breakers, built by Cornelius Vanderbilt, sets the scene for this weeklong event, held in October. Above, vintage cars line the vast lawn of The Breakers during the show. At left, a 1937 Graham Supercharged Coupe, with its distinctive array of functional vents. The vehicle, owned by Thomas Tkacz, won the American 1935–1945 class.
Cavallino Classic
This Ferrari-only car show, known as the Concorso d’Eleganza, is held on the grounds of Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. This January, Best of Show Gran Turismo was won by this 1955 Ferrari Gran Turismo 375 MM (above).
at the show.
The Bridge
The Bridge is a spectacular golf course in Bridgehampton, New York, built on the grounds of the old Bridgehampton Race Circuit. At The Bridge VIII, held last September, more than 300 cars were on display, among them a 2017 Aston Martin DB4 GT Continuation (left) and a 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider (above). This car show has no awards—but plenty of Champagne and caviar.
Miami Concours
Miami is a flashy city with an emphasis on the new, so it’s fitting that the Miami Concours focuses on more modern vehicles. Above, a 2016 Pagani Huayra, one of 100 in the world, sits amid a waterfall of roses on Valentine’s Day weekend, the setting for the three-day event. A 1953 Ferrari 250 mm (left) was one of the older cars found at the show this year, while a 1999 Lamborghini Diablo SV—with its distinctive scissor doors—seems tailor-made for South Beach.
Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
It’s rare when golf takes a back seat at Pebble Beach, home to six U.S. Opens, but last August all eyes were on the 1934 Packard Twelve 1106 LeBaron Runabout Speedster (above), part of a celebration honoring the 125th anniversary of the innovative American car brand, which was last made in 1958. At left, jubilant Swiss car collector Fritz Burkard celebrates his Best of Show victory for his 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports, a storied vehicle that was once owned by King Leopold of Belgium. He was the first European to ever win the show.
