An Automotive Feast For The Eyes In Connecticut
The Greenwich Concours d'Elegance isn't exactly your run of the mill cruise night where a bunch of guys get together in a parking lot and sit around a handful of muscle cars while a DJ plays 50's Rock & Roll–this is something much different.
Car collectors from all over the northeast bring their best cars to Roger Sherman Baldwin Park in Greenwich, CT, and the result is a completely over the top feast for the eyes, featuring the coolest cars you can imagine. Even the parking lots outside are a car show in and of themselves–driving I spotted a Maserati Biturbo, a 550 Spyder replica, and a Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 .
(Full Disclosure: I asked the folks at the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance for press credentials and they said "Sure, why not" so they gave me free admission, a commemorative pin, a sandwich, and some potato chips. It was swell)
I'd say it was sensory overload, but there was an eerie lack of sound at the show, except for the always loony John Hennessy showing off his Venom GT, and the Carrera GT that provided my lunchtime soundtrack. This is hardly a complaint, because where else are you going to see a 1957 Maserati 300S, a Aston-Martin DB4 Convertible, and a Stanguellini?
This isn't a Concours like Pebble Beach, where the cars are judged with utmost scrutiny and the winner is inevitably some obscure pre-war car that only five people have ever heard of. It's quite a bit less stuffy than that, which is a good thing for the attendees. The owners reflect both of these attitudes–some didn't want much to do with me or Jalopnik but others were absolutely lovely. Special shout-outs to woman with the 1964 Jaguar Mk.II owned since new, and the gentleman with the stunning grey on red 300SL roadster.
If you're in the northeast and you like vintage autos it's a well worth a trip, and even if you don't want to pay admission, the parking lot is as cool as the Concours.
The V12 of a Lamborghini Islero.
1964 Jaguar Mk. II.
The Husband and Wife who have owned this since new drove down from Albany, NY. I saw them earlier in the week driving around town and it sounds as good as it looks.
Jaguar XK150, XK140, and XK120 allsitting pretty together.
1947 Stanguellini 1100 CC Sport Barchetta.
Of course, the best logo featuring a man being eaten by a snake goes to Alfa Romeo
The Fiat 8V motor in a SIATA 200CS Coupe.
1949 Healey Silverstone.
1967 Lotus Mark 51 Formula Ford.
It's impossible to convey how tiny this car is.
Not sure if this was a replica, but a BMW 3.5 CSL.
Awesome livery.
Never really thought much of the 300SL Roadster until I saw this. Completley overshadowed the 300SL gullwing parked nearby.
So much red! So much chrome!
The metallic paint on this was incredible. In certain lights there were highlights of brown. One of my favorite cars of the show.
The Lusso is my favorite 60's Ferrari. It's perfect because the styling is so over the top.
Looked naked without a prancing horse.
Ferrari 250 California Spyder LWB.
Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer.
Engine of a 1984 BMW M635csi.
1959 Fiat Jolly.
Couldn't tell if this was the one used for Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee, but looked very similar.
Impossible to photograph, but a 1959 FIAT-Abarth 750 Record Monza Zagato Coupe. Probably my favorite car at the show. Sold for $200k at auction.
Love the badges.
Twin-cam 750 CC Inline-4.
This 1975 Countach was mind-blowing. So much cooler than an '80s Countach
It became the world's most expensive Countach, selling for $1.2 Million.
Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale.
Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ Zagato.
1957 Maserati 300S
Fantastic blue gauges.
Gated shifter.
1937 German made Ford Eifel Roadster.
1968 Porsche 911 Targa police car.
For some reason this Roadmaster wagon joined the party.
Porsche 356C in the parking lot. The design on these later 356s is perfection–nothing is on the car that doesn't need to be there.
Lancia Fulvia Sport Zagato.
I'm in love.
How much do these things go for?
Ferrari 250 GTE
More 250 GTE
'60s Ferraris had the best steering wheels.
Photo Credits: Chris Perkins/Jalopnik