2017 Concorso Ferrari

Old Town Pasadena had more than the usual hustle and bustle this Sunday.  It had the roar and scream of 150 Ferrari's arriving for the 10th Annual Concorso Ferrari.

It was really a pretty incredible show.  I was amazed at the collection of vintage and collectible Ferrari at this years show.  This year there were more than half dozen F40's and TWO La Ferrari...care to venture the value of those cars alone?

More pics from the 2017 Concorso Ferrari are in a flickr album.

10th Annual Concorso Ferrari returns to Old Town Pas Sunday 4/23

Mark your calendars, get up early Sunday 4/23 and head on over to the Concorso Ferrari in Old Town Pasadena.  This tightly curated show of vintage to nearly new, rare and important Ferrari's consists of 150 cars located on Colorado Boulevard between Pasadena Avenue and Raymond Avenues.

The cars start to arrive about 7:30AM and are all in place and ready for their kodak moment when the show opens at 10:00AM.  Don't dawdle about at the show is over at 3PM and there is plenty to see.

MAP HERE

2016 Concorso Ferarri in Old Town Pasadena

What an awesome show this was today...but then again one can throw superlatives all day at cars as incredible as the Ferrari.  This years show had increased considerably over the year prior...so much so they had to move on down and over further east on Old Town Pasadena's famed Colorado Blvd.  How much of an increase?  76 cars were put of for judging and another 140 showed up for the show for display purposes by individual owners.  Roll in the restorers, lessors and others and there were easily 200+ cars here today.

To pick a favorite is a bit impossible.  I've always been enamored with the Enzo, a beast capable of 211mph that is sheer sexy on wheels.  They had  one similar to THE ONE split in half by a knucklehead who underestimated its abilities and was saddled with shady/questionable import history with the help of an equally unusual small security company in the SGV.  Once that scandal ridden accident and news rumor mongering died down it was restored.  Beautifully.  Sadly it remains in the EU.

After that its hard to pick among the numeric alphabetic soup that is the story of Ferrari in racing and road cars here in the U.S.  After the jump you can see a few of my favorites of the day.

Concorso de Ferrari set for April 24, 2016

Also know as "Ferraris on Colorado" this Ferrari Club of America sanctioned show will have 140+ pristine drivable Ferraris from their first introduction to the Americas to a top notch or two uber expensive and rare La Ferrari.  The show will take place in Pasadena on Colorado Boulevard between Raymond and Pasadena Avenues Sunday April 24, 2016.

The video featured here was shot by me at last years Concorso Ferrari.

Press release after the jump.

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.

2015 Concorso de Ferrari

What a most excellent car show this was.  A Ferrari for every budget.  From fixers at 40K (Yes, some were for sale) to a  $15M La Ferrari, the gamut was covered quite nicely.  Very nicely.  Not being a high volume manufacture there were an awful lot of one off models here.  All told the 140 cars here for the day covered the gamut from the curvaceous sexy 50s to the current sinister, evil, menacing La Ferrari.

Also at this show were a few other super cars, exotic and downright sexy performance sedans.  I'm talking Saleen S7, Maserati Quattroporte and Ghibli and a selection of Aston Martin.

But enough of the other makes, lets focus on the main event, Ferrari.  This is a storied brand, the lustful dreams of young men and old alike.  It history on the race track was translated in to road cars for the public, or at least those in the upper incomes.  Its a brand that exudes speed, style, class, and wealth like no other.  Its pure sex appeal with 4 wheels planted firmly on the ground sweeping ess curves.

My absolute favorite car of the show, wasn't one of the super cars, but this 1952 212 Export Coupe. Right hand drive and flawlessly restored.  Not a dimple in the paint, a pit in the chrome.  The leather on the seats seductively draped, tucked and folded.  I want one just like it.  Or just a ride in it up the 1 from SaMo to Port Hueneme.  Am I asking for too much in life?

Engine where a back seat would be in any other car.  The 458 Speciale V8 screams and sings like nothing else I've ever hear before.  Trust me, I'd rather have that next to my ears than a whining toddler in a car seat kicking my seat back.  Any.  Day.

I wish I had scribbled more information on this car onto the old note pad or had the foresight to snap a pic of its information placard.  This was one of the true beauties of the show.  All curvaceous sexy curves.  Voluptuous even.  Something about the cars from the 50s and 60s that I prefer over the new models. These cars were sex on 4 wheels, something few other manufacturers have ever really duplicated.

And what's a Ferrari show without a few Dinos to illustrate what really put the brand on consumers radar in the late 60s into the early 70s.  Produced for a few short years it was the "affordable" Ferrari sub brand with potent V6 or V8 motors.  They had everything to offer in term of fun to drive spirited handling, sexy bodies of a Ferrari only no V12 or high price tag.  It was a hit for the brand.  By 1974 they decided to brand all as Ferrari and with it the demure spitfire that was Dino went with it.

1984 Ferrari launched the Testarossa..the world took notice.  Fast, incredibly fast and powerful for the era...while everyone else was mired in the the malaise era they did something about it. Made a fast, powerful car, MPG be damned, CAFE be damned car and put the world on notice that those regulations didn't mean the end to fun cars.  They sold and sold well in spite of its nearly 185K price tag and gas guzzler tax.  I think this car and its subsequent variations lit the imaginations of designers and started the super car craze that we are riding right now.  Even 30 years later this is a drop dead gorgeous automobile.  It has stood the test of time.

And I end this post with the top dog of the Ferrari line up today.  A road going super car like few others.  The La Ferrari.  Batman only wishes his car looked as evil wicked mean and nasty.

All pics and video by me.  More high res pics in my flickr album 2015 Concorso de Ferrari.

April is all about the Car Show

First show is April 19 adjacent to Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park.  Its the Fabulous Fords Forever show that covers everything Ford made from 1905 to the current model year.  Sometimes there are even teasers for coming production cars.  There will be a huge showing of Mustangs.  Without a doubt this is by FAR the best single manufacture show in So. Cal.

I can tell you parking is tight in the area later in the day. Arrive early to beat the crows.

Time: 10am-6pm.  Location:Beach Blvd at La Palms, Buena Park, CA 90620  MAP HERE.  WEB SITE

The following weekend is the Concorsco Ferrari '15 held in Old Town Pasadena.  Its open free to the public and will included hundreds of Ferrari's along the stretch of Colorado from Raymond Avenue to Pasadena Avenue.  Quite the collection of cars.

Also known as Ferraris on Colorado, this signature event hosted by the Ferrari Club of America Southwest Region delights over 5,000 owners, enthusiasts and spectators each year. Impressive Ferraris from around the country will line Colorado Boulevard from Pasadena Avenue to Raymond Avenue. Adding to the entertainment will be a vast array of sponsors and partners displaying exceptional sports and luxury cars, offering quality accessories & fine apparel and introducing various automotive related services. This Ferrari exclusive annual concours is free and open to the public. Ferraris from 2004 and earlier are eligible for judging. Judging will follow FCA National Guidelines IAC/PFA (International Advisory Council for the Preservation of Ferrari Automobiles). Awards in up to ten classes will be made at the conclusion of the event by an esteemed panel of Ferrari experts.

Date April 26, 2015, 10AM - 3PM West Colorado Blvd, Pasadena CA MAP HERE  WEB SITE