Rancho Palos Verdes Concours d' Elegance 2015

The premiere auto show of So Cal took place this past Sunday. What a show it was.  From pristine restorations to meticulous "preservation" class aka survivors this show displayed the best of luxury automobiles of days gone by.  Yes, there were a few special interest cars in a class to themselves that contained more basic rides, but the bulk was the luxury tourer or sports car from days gone by.

A few of my favorites.

1919 Buick #10Tonneau

1929 Buick LaSalle Sport Touring

1942 Packard Darrin Victoria

1950 Jaguar

1950 Lincoln Sport Sedan

1950 Lincoln Premiere

1963 Ferrari 400 Super America

1960 Renault Jolly

All images and pics by me.  More in my flickr album.

1 Millionth Corvette repaired after dip into sink hole

Jim Fecht, GM News Photo - used with permission

After losing several classic, important or just damn cool Corvette's to a sinkhole at the Corvette Museum several months back GM didn't just sit around.  They fished those cars out of the sink hole and repaired them all one, by one.  The most recently finished was Corvette #1Million.  Glad it was saved and with the time put into it, prolly better than it was new.

The official Press release:

After more than four months and 1,200 man-hours of painstaking craftsmanship, restoration of the milestone 1 millionth Corvette – a white 1992 convertible – is complete and the car is unveiled Thursday, September 3, 2015 back at its home at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where it returns to the permanent exhibit. Executive Director Global Chevrolet Design John Cafaro (left) and General Motors Global Design Fabrication Operations Director David Bolognino unveil the vehicle. The car was damaged on February 12, 2014, when it and seven other rare Corvettes tumbled into a sinkhole that opened beneath the museum’s Skydome area. (Photo by John F. Martin for Chevrolet)

Executive Director Global Chevrolet Design John Cafaro addresses the gathering at the unveiling of the restored 1 millionth Corvette – a white 1992 convertible – Thursday, September 3, 2015 back at its home at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. After more than four months and 1,200 man-hours of painstaking craftsmanship, General Motors returns the Corvette to the museum's permanent exhibit. The car was damaged on February 12, 2014, when it and seven other rare Corvettes tumbled into a sinkhole that opened beneath the museum’s Skydome area. (Photo by John F. Martin for Chevrolet)

During the restoration of the 1-millionth Corvette, the 1992 Corvette damaged in the sinkhole disaster at the National Corvette Museum, Chevrolet found hundreds of workers’ signatures on the vehicle from workers during its production at the Bowling Green Assembly plant. Chevrolet was able to save all of the signatures except for one -  from retired General Motors employee Angela Lamb, who recreates her signature on a panel of the car before it is reattached - to complete the restoration process Thursday, September 3, 2015 at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. GM Global Design Fabrication Operations Director David Bolognino (left) and Executive Director Global Chevrolet Design John Cafaro hold the panel for Lamb. (Photo by John F. Martin for Chevrolet)

General Motors Global Design Fabrication Operations Director David Bolognino attaches the final panel to complete the restoration the 1-millionth Corvette Thursday, September 3, 2015 at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The historic vehicle was damaged in the sinkhole disaster at the National Corvette Museum in February of 2014. Bolognino oversaw the restoration - more than four months and 1,200 man-hours of painstaking craftsmanship - leading up to the return of the vehicle to the permanent exhibit at the museum. (Photo by John F. Martin for Chevrolet)

Thirty World Debuts Confirmed for LA Auto Show

I'm so jazzed, I absolutely love the hustle and bustle and showmanship with the manufacturers trying to one up each other with their new car or concept car reveal at the Los Angeles Auto Show.  With 30 new car reveals on tap, this year should be no different than the years prior.  Awesomesauce.

The press release:

LOS ANGELES, CA (September 2, 2015) – The Los Angeles Auto Show (LA Auto Show®) announced today that 30 world debuts, totaling 50 vehicle unveilings overall, will be introduced in front of media, analysts and automotive industry executives during its Press & Trade Days, November 17-19, 2015.  Almost every manufacturer will be making news, and while most have yet to announce details, a few manufacturers have begun to share their debut plans.  Specifically, Infiniti will have a global reveal of its all-new QX30 crossover and Hyundai will host the world premiere of its all-new Elantra.  Other debuts include Jaguar’s first luxury SUV, the F-PACE, and Kia’s next-generation Sportage. Other automakers officially confirming premieres include Alfa Romeo, BMW, Bentley, Fiat, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Honda, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru and Volkswagen. This year’s global and North American debuts will deliver production and concept vehicles representing the ever-growing performance, mid-size cross over, electric and high-technology categories.  Debut categories range from luxury SUVs and flagship sedans to new compact sedans. CNET.com, the world’s largest and most trusted online source of consumer technology news and reviews, will live-stream and provide commentary about the latest debuts and groundbreaking technology on Car Tech, CNET’s auto focused online show.  The coverage will be led by CNET Car Tech Editors-at-Large and industry experts, Brian Cooley and Tim Stevens, and will allow the excitement of Press & Trade Days to be experienced by everyone, not just industry insiders, around the world.  Brian Cooley will also serve as emcee of the LA Auto Show's Connected Car Expo. KABC Los Angeles (KABC7), is also the official television media partner of the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show.  KABC7 will broadcast event highlights in an hour-long special in Primetime November 20 at 9 p.m. PST, showcasing breakthrough auto innovations, new vehicles and interviews with industry insiders.  The show will also be streamed live and available on-demand on the “Watch ABC” app. For the third consecutive year, the LA Auto Show’s Connected Car Expo (CCE) will kick-off Press & Trade Days on November 17.  This opening day will be dedicated to the convergence of technology and the automobile and will now occupy virtually the entire JW Marriott at the adjacent L.A. Live entertainment complex. The Connected Car Expo will feature over 30 exhibitors and sponsors, an entire day of presentations, news announcements and networking opportunities.   The remaining Press & Trade Days will continue at the Los Angeles Convention Center (November 18 & 19) and will focus on vehicle debuts.  More than 25,000 auto industry executives, including 4,500 media from around the world, are expected to attend. Registration for the show is now open.  CCE exhibitors and attendees with a three-day pass will be able to witness this year’s vehicle debuts and have access to an all-new CCE networking destination at the convention center. For more information visit www.ConnectedCarExpo.com and www.LAAutoShow.com.

About the Los Angeles Auto Show and Connected Car Expo Founded in 1907, the Los Angeles Auto Show (LA Auto Show®) is the first major North American auto show of the season each year.  The show’s 2015 Press & Trade Days begin with the Connected Car Expo (CCE) at the JW Marriott at L.A. Live on Nov. 17, followed by LA Auto Show’s vehicle debuts and press and trade events at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Nov. 18 and 19.  LA Auto Show will open to the public from Nov. 20-29.  The third annual CCE will unite automotive and technology professionals in an effort to increase development and foster relationship-building in the connected car industry, providing attendees with access to the key players and top media constructing the future of the automotive mobility.  The CCE conference is where the rules for how vehicles are made, sold, serviced and owned are changing and where the playbook is being written.  Named “Best Car Tech/Connected Car Trade Show” by AUTO Connected Car News, CCE is where the new auto industry gets business done, unveils groundbreaking products and makes strategic announcements in front of media from around the globe.  LA Auto Show is endorsed by the Greater L.A. New Car Dealer Association and is operated by ANSA Productions.  To receive the latest show news and information, follow LA Auto Show on Twitter attwitter.com/LAAutoShow or via Facebook at facebook.com/LosAngelesAutoShow and sign up for alerts atwww.LAAutoShow.com.  For more information about CCE, please visit http://connectedcarexpo.com/.

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