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• 32nd Annual Ault Park Concours d'Elegance
  The 32nd Annual Ault Park Concours d'Elegance, held in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, had over 230 rare and historic vehicles in the scenic gardens of Ault Park. 'We had an amazing event this year, particularly considering the current economic conditions. Not only did we have record attendance for Sunday's Concours, our Friday night fundraising event and Saturday countryside tour and garage party were extremely well-attended' said Sue Willis, Executive Director of the Cincinnati Concours d' Elegance Foundation.
  This years event celebrated 'Excellence in German Design and Engineering,' land speed record vehicles, and Morgans 100th anniversary. There were five classes representing the featured theme, including racing, sports & touring, and contemporary cars from the pre- and post-War eras. In the Morgan class, were over a dozen examples representing many of the models produced during their existence. On January 2, 1904, Charles Schmidt drove the lightning-quick Packard Gray Wolf, at 1,430 pounds, to a new five-mile record of 4:21.6 minutes, in the medium weight category. The Packard Gray Wolf made a rare trip from its museum home to attend this year's concours. It was one of the oldest cars on display.
  The Vehicles
  The organizers did a superb job of assembling a wide variety of vehicles capable of capturing the interests and admiration of the young and old alike. One section of the field was reserved for Collector and Performance American cars ranging from the mid-1940s through the early 1970s. One of the highlights in the performance category was the 1969 Chevy Chevelle with the Yenko Sports Car Conversion Package. It is one of only 99 COPO/Yenko Chevelles produced. Best of Class honors went to the 1969 Dodge Coronet Hemi Super Bee owned by Tom James of Cincinnati, Ohio. It is one of 29 Hemi Super Bee's built in 1969 and is powered by a 426 cubic-inch engine offering 425 horsepower. In the Collector American category, Best of Class honors went to a 1964 Ford Mustang Convertible owned by Nick Ferry of Cincinnati. The Mustang beat several worth contenders, including a Packard 400, a Tucker Torpedo, Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz, and a Muntz Jet Sports Convertible.
  
• Le Belle Macchine d'Italia
  Nestled back in rural Pennsylvania near the towering Poconos, Skytop Lodge rests atop a scenic hill surrounded by wilderness and quiet. The Lodge, with its regal stone architecture and great size, looks more like the grandiose mansion of a wealthy Englishman than a lodge for vacationing skiers. The property surrounding it is full of lovely yards overlooking a golf course and a peaceful lake. Little cabins pepper the area nearest the main building, where resting patrons may indulge in an uncluttered existence away from the hectic hustle of city living.
  The Skytop Lodge would be the perfect venue for a flower show or a wedding reception, but for the last 23 years a group of Italian car aficionados have had another idea for the tranquil location. Le Belle Macchine d'Italia, a yearly gathering of Italy's finest automobiles, holds its concorso d'eleganza on the South Lawn at Skytop. Italian cars have a tendency to care little about being quiet or peaceful, placing a stronger emphasis on delivering striking performance and sinister looks. For this reason, Le Belle Macchine d'Italia introduces a different flavor to the reposeful land of Skytop.
  Saturday, June 20 was the day of this year's show. The morning of the event began as would any other morning at Skytop. The sun rose slowly over the hills, illuminating the picturesque scenery. It filtered through thickening clouds, streaking the colors of a foggy dawn. Everything was fine, the morning cool and the air brisk—but then they appeared. Like poisonous spiders waiting patiently to bite, ten Lamborghinis sat in their sparkling web just in front of the main building. Parked on a small plot of grass, their intimidating creases contrasted starkly with the organic and earthy shapes of trees and cabins on the property. Through the fog, the frightening bodies of these deadly arachnids established a surrealistic feeling that was to permeate through the rest of the day.
  
• Greenwich Concours d'Elegance : European Car Display
  International cars took center stage on day two of the 14th consecutive Greenwich Concours d'Elegance. Just like with day one (featuring American cars), day two was blessed with nice, warm weather. Over 150 vehicles were carefully arranged on the show field and offered a wide variety of sheet metal to impress the un-ending stream of onlookers throughout the day. From the large and stately pre-War cars from Renault, Alfa Romeo, and Lagonda to competition Porsche, Lola, and Ferrari models, the list of cars was as vast as it was diverse.
  The pre-War cars were among the finest and most elegant machinery on the show field. A pair of Lagonda's sat side-by-side just like the pair of Bugatti Type 37 racing cars parked a few feet away. The 1914 Renault was, perhaps, the most unique on the field; it received much attention throughout the day and was ultimately crowned 'People's Choice' as their most favorite vehicle in the show. Sitting just a short distance away from the Renault was an Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B. It had a similar body style to the Alfa 8C that won last year's Pebble Beach Concours and later earned top honors at the recent Villa d'Este. Granted, the 8C has a larger engine and a different history, but with similar proportions, design, and beauty, it was certainly a contender for Best of Show honors.
  As with most concours events, there were several categories reserved for sport, GT, and competition cars. Ferrari and Lamborghini occupied many of the spots in these two categories, with Porsche and Lola accounting for several of the cars in the Competition group. There were nearly a dozen Aston Martin vehicles on display, with the earliest example being a Short Chassis from 1934. The newest car on display was from 1999, the Aston Martin Vantage Le Mans Coupe. It is one of just 40 LeMans coupes ever built and one of only 2 known to be in the United States. Sitting directly in front of this car was an equally impressive and rare model, a 1998 Lamborghini Diablo SV Monterey edition. It is one of just 20 created and it originally sold for nearly $300,000.
  
• Greenwich Concours d'Elegance : American Car Display
  The Greenwich Concours d'Elegance is a two-day affair that showcases American cars on one day and International cars on the second day. Both days highlight a grand array of vintage, classic, sports, touring, competition and collectible automobiles from the turn of the century to the present. Many of the vehicles are one-of-a-kind, limited production, or were custom-built for affluent customers. The event is held at the Roger Sherman Baldwin Park, in Greenwich, CT and includes vintage motorcycles, and an in-the-water display of vintage boats.
  The 14th consecutive edition of the Greenwich Concours was blessed with nice weather. The day before the event, however, had been a steady stream of rain. This downpour was responsible for the cancellation of the Yankees game in New York and left the Concours show field very muddy in places. The area just outside of Bonhams' Auction tent also had its share of the mess, slowing down spectators as they came to view the roughly 90 vehicles up for sale.
  The concours responded accordingly, doing all they could to make the walkways passable and keep the driving lanes moving for the cars coming onto the field. Considering there were nearly 150 vehicles on the roster for day one, (some of them among the heaviest cars ever created) the event organizers did a marvelous job at rectifying the mud problem. Regardless of weather conditions, the event has taken place every June since 1996 - rain or shine.
  
• Concours d'Elegance of the Eastern United States
  1990 was the inaugural year for a modest automobile show, organized by a group of volunteers and Members of the Board of Directors of the Burn Prevention Foundation, and held on the grounds of the Penn State Berks Campus. Its purpose was to assemble automobiles and people while promoting a message of preventing serious burn injuries through education. After twenty years, the event continues, and so does it message. Over $3.2 million has been raised during that time with approximately $1.2 million going to support the charitable programs of the Burn Prevention Foundation.
  After just six years, the concours had outgrown its location and moved to Lehigh University's Mountain Top Campus. Ten years later, in 2006, it moved again to its present location at Northampton Community College.
  Over the years, the concours has evolved dramatically and reached national prominence among concours events and continues to lure top collectors and large crowds. With two decades worth of history, it is one of the oldest continuously celebrated concours events in the United States, and the oldest concours on the east coast.
  
• Keels & Wheels Concours d'Elegance
  The 14th Annual Keels & Wheels Concours d'Elegance was held at the Lakewood Yacht Club in Seabrook, Texas, and showcased an incredible array of automotive and boating classics. It is the largest classic car & boat show in the country. The featured marque was Duesenberg, considered by many as the finest American automobile ever built. The other feature was The Cars of Carroll Shelby, revered among race and muscle car enthusiasts.
  The Lakewood Yacht Club location is tranquil and picturesque. Yachts, sail boats, and motor boats rested in the peaceful marina and the large protected inner harbor. Overlooking the water is a Bermuda-style clubhouse, situated on 35 acres, with a swimming pool, patio, and tennis courts. The show cars were positioned in both the front and back of the clubhouse, taking full advantage of all available greenery.
  The Keels & Wheels Concours is similar, in many ways, to other concours events, but also very different. Most events allow only one day to enjoy the vehicles, the Keels & Wheels concours gives onlookers several days of admiration. Many of the cars were brought two days before the concours and positioned on the show field. Since this is a multi-day event consisting of a concours, boat show, and concours, it allowed visitors plenty of opportunities to leisurely enjoy and learn about the cars.
  
• NY Auto Show
  The New York International Auto Show continues to be one of the most effective marketing opportunities for exhibitors. It's the largest-attended auto show in the country; the Show represents the nation's largest DMA for most automobile brands; and the majority of visitors come to make car-buying decisions.
  Concepts
  There were several exciting unveilings with many headed for production in the months that follow. Acura's new provocative ZDX luxury four-door sports coupe is excepted to go on sale in fall of 2009. 'The ZDX is truly a luxury performance coupe - plus,' said Jeff Conrad, vice president of Acura sales. 'The emotional coupe styling coupled with a luxurious and dramatic interior and surprising versatility, allows the ZDX to define its own segment and attract an entirely new customer.'
  The production ZDX will bring a new level of prestige and sophistication when it arrives at Acura dealerships in the fall, offering the latest advancements in performance, technology and safety. The ZDX will deliver sports sedan performance on the road with its powerful V-6 engine mated to an all-new, smooth shifting 6-speed automatic transmission. The potent powertrain will be coupled with Acura's exclusive Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™ system, giving the ZDX outstanding handling and cornering capabilities in all-weather conditions.
  
• Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance
  Off the coast of Northeast Florida on a secluded island, stands the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, home to the Amelia Island Concours. The vehicles are arranged on 10th and 18th fairways of the adjoining golf course offering breathtaking views in all locations. Now in its 14th year, the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance has become one of the premier events of its kind in the nation.
  This year's concours was a resounding success and, as stated by numerous show-goers, 'keeps getting better every year.' In the current economical climate, it was natural to expect less: smaller crowds and fewer entrants. This was not the case. The numbers of entrants and the quality of their vehicles were truly remarkable. The steady stream of enthusiasts kept the well-manicured greenery covered for most of the day. It was very evident that the story of the automobile, its history, heritage, and contributions to the economy, growth and nation's freedom will continue to be told, even in these challenging times.
  This year's event celebrated the world renowned coachbuilder Bohman & Schwartz as well as a pair of 50th anniversaries for significant races at Sebring and Daytona. Veteran racer David Hobbs served as Honoree for concours. 'We've known each other for a long time and I have watched David put in some of the most spirited drives ever of any racer. His work today for SPEED is fantastic and he always manages to educate as well as entertain with his race commentary,' said Bill Warner, Concours founder and co-chairman.
  
• Automobiles of Amelia Island
  The 11th annual Automobiles of Amelia Island auction presented by RM Auctions had a very impressive 83% sales ratio with total sales over $12.5 million. The single day auction offered 107 significant motor cars and a selection of vintage memorabilia to a wide audience of collector car enthusiasts. The overflowing auction room was standing room only for nearly the entire event, plus attracting a large volume of Internet and telephone bids.
  The Amelia Island vintage car weekend is a permanent and popular fixture on the automotive calendar, and enjoyed national and international attendance,' said Ian Kelleher, President and Chief Operating Officer of RM Auctions.
  'Results from our Amelia auction indicate the market remains stable for quality collector cars with continued passion for the hobby from around the world,' he added.
  The highest sale of the day was for the 1930 Duesenberg Model J Murphy Convertible Coupe which broke the magical million dollar mark at $1,072,500. The second highest sale went to the Packard Panther-Daytona Roadster Concept Car which fetched $700,000. The 1941 Chrysler Newport DC Phaeton sold for $687,500 and a 427 AC Cobra went for $675,000.
  
• 2009 Philadelphia International Auto Show
  First held in 1902, the Philadelphia International Auto Show is no newcomer to the car show business. That said, the relatively small Philly event is not structured in the same way as the largest of international auto shows. Detroit, for instance, features cars and displays supplied directly by the manufacturers, while Philly features a network of local dealers that come in with their cars to produce the show. That local network, called the Automobile Dealers Association of Greater Philadelphia (ADAGP), has been fueling the event since 1997.
  The Philly show's reliance on car dealers has consistently limited its size and prevented the event from featuring debuts or brand new concept cars. But calling Philly a second-rate show because of this would be missing the point. At the Philadelphia Auto Show, there are no distracting displays, no scantily clad models, no dramatic lights or ostentatious presentations. There are just cars. What could be better than that for a real car enthusiast?
  Philadelphia's show is a practical one. Last year, 60% of the attendees were in the market for a new car. Of that majority, a full 90% said that the show influenced their car-buying decision. Numbers like these are due to the straight-shooting, no nonsense approach that Philly has been taking for years. This is not a show to come to for sensationalized entertainment. Even with frills like the DUB showcase's DJ and a black-tie gala, Philly is a purpose-built show with an honest demeanor and a character that's plenty endearing in its own right.
  
• Automobiles of Arizona
  The recent Automobiles of Arizona event illustrated the continued strength and stability of the global collector car market as RM Auctions presented its 10th annual auction event in Phoenix last week.
  Held January 16th at the prestigious Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa, it was standing room-only during the single-day event as 122 investment-quality motor cars were presented for auction. The eight-hour sale attracted a record number of bidders from around the world to illustrate continued enthusiasm and interest in the global collector car hobby. As the gavel fell for the final time of the day, total sales surpassed $18 million with a strong sell-through rate of 83 percent of cars sold.
  'Overall, our Arizona auction was a very strong sale in terms of sales percentage and was well attended, attracting record bidder registrations . Numerous examples exceeded their pre-sale estimates and many of the cars that some considered to be 'sensitive' in the market sold very well,' said Ian Kelleher, newly appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of RM Auctions.
  
• Arizona Auctions
  It was a spectacular array of auctions in Scottsdale, Arizona as the major auctions houses - including Barrett-Jackson, Russo & Steele, Gooding & Company, and RM Auctions -brought a vast assortment of vehicles in hopes of seducing buyers in this unstable economy. Despite the downturns in the stock and housing market, many of the auction houses reported that the number of registered bidders had increased over prior years. From muscle cars to European sports cars, from antiques to classics, modern production cars to customs, and from motorcycles to airplanes, the selection was all encompassing.
  Russo & Steele had over 500 vehicles at their multi-day, all-reserve auction. There was a very nice assembly of cars from the ‘50 – ‘70s including many high-octane muscle cars. Proving their abilities to cater to a wide audience, they assembled a plethora of European beauties, eye-catching customs, and everything in-between. A very short distance away and having a similar genre, the well-televised Barrett-Jackson auction had the largest audience and the largest number of vehicles, with about 1,050 vehicles. In comparison to last year, they accepted around 10 percent fewer cars. The six day auction moves at a rate of 17 cars an hour on average. Their first three days of sales accounted for more than $17 million dollars. Some of their top sellers included a 1989 Corvette ZR-1 for $176,000 and an Oldsmobile Custom Touring Roadster that sold for $220,000. Barrett-Jackson president Steve Davis answered the question of 'how sales were this year' with one word - 'Awesome!' Craig Jackson, whose father co-founded this event, stated that for the first three-and-a-half days of the auction, they were 'running on average about 10-percent over what we valued the cars.' Forecasted estimates for all six days were around $55 million.
  Gooding & Company and RM Auctions both had single day auctions with Gooding offering around 100 vehicles while RM having slightly more, at around 120 lots. Both had assembled an exceptional array of vehicles with many in the multi-million dollar and six-figure category. RM went first with Gooding's auction following a day later. RM had the highest bid of all auctions; their 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Roadster took those honors at $5 million dollars. Sadly this was not enough to satisfy its reserve (rumored to be near $7 million). Several of their other high ticket cars failed to sell, though further negotiations may still close the deal. The same holds true for the 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC which peaked at $4.4 million. Their Ferrari 250 GT TdF was estimated to sell for $2.0 - $2.5 million which meant the $1.8 million dollar bid was close, but not enough. A gorgeous Dodge Firearrow III Concept sold for $800,000 and a Ferrari 275 GTB old for $835,000.
  
• The Scottsdale Auction : Gooding & Company
  Gooding & Company once again delivered the top sale of Arizona Auction Week during their highly anticipated Scottsdale Auction on January 17, 2009. The extremely rare 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider from the newly-discovered VanKregten Estate sold for $4.95 million setting the record for top price of the week at all auctions in the valley as of press time. It is likely the top price ever paid for an un-restored car of its type and represents the second highest price for an individual auction sale in Arizona history.
  A very original 1937 Talbot-Lago Teardrop Coupe was the week's second highest lot selling for $3.52 million. As the gavel fell for the final time of the day, total sales neared $31.8 million, with seven cars breaking the magic million dollar mark. The average price paid per vehicle was nearly $400,000.
  Gooding & Company's other top performing lots included the coveted Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Best of Show-winning 1932 Daimler Double Six Sport Saloon at $2.97 million, a 1929 Duesenberg Model J Dual Cowl Phaeton at $1.375 million, a 1937 Bentley 4 ¼-Litre Fixed Head Sport Coupe at $1.32 million and a 2003 Ferrari Enzo at $1.265 million. The famed 1933 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A Dual Cowl Sports Phaeton featured in the film Giant starring James Dean fetched $1.089 million.
  
• Detroit Auto Show
  Autoshows are a means for the collective automotive production community to showcase their current model line-up and to highlight what they have planned for the future. What has been highly sought-after real-estate in past years, was open and vacant this year, as several prominent manufacturers were surprisingly absent. Their decisions to skip this event were many, such as financial and political reasons, and they were sorely missed. The Cobo Conference center felt vacant; the press conferences were fewer, attendance was lower, and the number of new concepts and debuts all decreased.
  Those automakers in attendance did things much differently this year. The booths, displays, high tech lights, sound systems, and amenities commonly found in prior years were no more. With many questions lingering around the multi-billion dollar bail-out, it was clear that automakers were playing it safe, and keeping spending to a minimum.
  Most of the news centered on fuel economy and small vehicles. Only a few dared to mention anything to do with super or muscle cars. Ford mentioned their Shelby Mustang GT500 during their press conference. Seated in the passengers seat was Carroll Shelby himself, who was celebrating another birthday. Mercedes-Benz had their new McLaren SLR Stirling Moss edition. This was easily the most exciting and breath-taking vehicle of the show. Lots of power, sensational looks, an impractical windscreen, and a price tag to match - it was everything one might expect from a super car.