The 7th annual Cobble Beach Concours d'Elegance was held near Owen Sound in the Township of Georgian Bluffs at the Cobble Beach Waterfront Golf Resort Community in Canada. It is a luxury four-season resort nestled on 574 acres with an 18 hole links style golf course designed by Doug Carrick. Guests to the concours passed by a Nantucket-style clubhouse as they proceeded onto the concours lawn. The very luscious and well-manicured golf course lawn was damp, as it had rained for a few of the early morning hours. The rest of the day was delightful. The show field provided ample space for the hand-selected classic and vintage vehicles which were carefully arranged into 19 different classes. Each class housed either 4 or 8 vehicles which were judged against other vehicles in their class by a panel of 48 judges. Each class winner was eligible for one of either the Best of Show, the Most Outstanding Pre or Post War awards. This year's special classes included Microcars, GM Motorama, and Corvair Concepts.

The Outstanding Pre-War Trophy was awarded to John and Mary McAlpin for their 1917 Locomobile 48 TYPE M Series 7. The Locomobile Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut built some of the finest automobiles during the first part of the twentieth century. Unlike most companies that built cars in all price ranges, the Locomobile Company produced only high-priced luxury cars. Interestingly, the company garnered much of its earliest publicity from racing. In 1908, a specially built racecar, which would become known as Old 16, was the first American racecar to win the prestigious Vanderbilt Cup Race.

Most Locomobiles were touring cars and limousines, however a few Locomobiles were fitted with sportier roadster and speedster bodies. Locomobile was perhaps most famous for the sportif design, considered to be the first dual-cowl phaeton. The Model 48 was introduced in 1911, and endured as long as the company produced automobiles. Prices originally began at $4,800 and increased to $9,600 by the end of production. Locomobile became a part of Billy Durant's empire in 1922, building its final car in 1929.

The McAlpin's Locomobile is finished in Pacific Coral with Deep Slate Blue Gray body and fenders. It is powered by a 550 cubic-inches, 82 horsepower 6-cylinder engine and is one of three known to survive. It was designed by J. Frank deCausse and built at Farnham-Nelson Wagon Works of Brookline, Massachusetts. This car is believed to have been built for the Leggett Family (of Rexall Drug Frame) and was delivered to their estate in Newport, Rhode Island. The exterior colors of the Locomobile match those used on Rexall Drug signs.

The Outstanding Post-war award went to the 1954 Siata 200CS owned by Walter Eisenstark. The 200 and 208 models were produced from 1952-1954 and came about largely because Siata was able to buy 2.0-liter V-8 powertrains from Fiat (which built another 114 for its own short-lived and ill-fated sports car, the Otto Vu). Mr. Eisenstark's car is one of only 18 Siata coupes powered by the 1996cc Fiat 8V engine capable of producing 110 horsepower. It is one of only 11 bodied by Balbo. It was imported into the United States and arrived in New York in 1952. After a few owners, several of whom raced it in SCCA events, it came into the care of the current owner's father in 1959 and has remained in the family ever since. On June 8, 2017 the car was being road tested by a technician when it was hit from behind by a driver who was texting. Damage was extensive. In the ensuing nine months the car was given a total restoration. During that time, the red exterior was found to be incorrect, and it was repainted in its current blue livery.

Everyone agreed that the 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet owned by Robert S. Jepson, Jr. was the most elegant vehicle on the field. It won the People's Choice award and Best of Show. This was the second year Mr. Jepson won the coveted Best of Show, winning last year with his Delahaye 135MS.

Between 1936 and 1940 Mercedes-Benz turned out 419 540K chassis before World War II intervened. Most were swathed in one of 11 standard body designs from Mercedes-Benz's in-house coachworks in Sindelfingen. A handful were bodied by outside coachbuilders, including Mr. Jepson's Swedish example by Norrmalm, designed by Johan Oscar Olbager, the firm's chief of design. Just three cars are known to exist with Norrmalm coachwork.

The chassis was delivered to Max Gumpel in Stockholm on September 30, 1937. Gumpel had the car fitted with two batteries and an oversized fuel tank for extended travel, along with Marchal headlights, spotlight and running lights. His most prominent personalization was the oversized goddess Diana mascot. Legend has it that Gumpel was a close personal friend of Greta Garbo and that she frequently rode with him in this car.

The three-day event featured a Saturday Cars & Coffee event, a tour through the surrounding countryside, lectures, art and automobilia, and Hagerty ride and drives. Proceeds from the event help support the Sunnybrook Foundation Garry Hurvitz Brain Sciences Centers and the Owen Sound Regional Hospital Foundation fund. Over the past six years, the Concours has raised over $440,000 for these charities.

Please enjoy some of the photos of the event. A more detailed report and additional photographs will follow shortly.