Performance and Muscle at the Cincinnati Concours

 

Performance has always been a staple of automobiles. From the beginning, people worked at getting more power and performance from their vehicles. But it was in 1949 when Oldsmobile introduced the Eighty-Eight, a car flush with a 303-horsepower V 8 engine that they called the Rocket V 8. This was a street legal car with racing aspirations. By the mid-1960s, American car magazines had coined the term "muscle car" and an era of high performance was born. This high-performance muscle car era was recently celebrated at the Cincinnati Concours d'Elegance with the American Performance class. This group included a 1967 Oldsmobile W-30 442 coupe. With a 425 cubic inch V 8 "Ram Air" engine that generates 450 horsepower, this is a higher performance version of an already high-performance car. This particular car has been in the same family for 46 years.

Central Office Production Order or COPO designation on a Chevrolet meant that this was the most power packed performance version of a car. Here is a 1968 Nova SS COPO. These cars were built to compete in NHRA drag racing. With a 396 cubic inch V 8 engine that puts out 375 horsepower, this is essentially a street legal dragster. This is number 15 of 50 such cars ever built.

Carroll Shelby had a habit of taking cars to the next level of performance. He famously did so to the AC Cobra but also to the Ford Mustang. This is a 1965 Shelby American GT 350. It started with the standard Ford 289 cubic inch V 8 engine that Shelby tweaked to 306 horsepower. Only 562 of these were produced in 1965.

Back in the 1960s, a number of manufacturers were creating racing versions of their standard cars. For the Chevrolet Camaro, that was the Z/28. Created to spec for SCCA Trans-Am racing, these Camaros, like the 1969 seen here, has a 302 cubic inch V 8 that makes 290 horsepower.

Here is a 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle SS or Super Sport. The SS designation indicated a higher performance model. Originally made as a mid-sized family car, Chevelle soon became a staple in the muscle car scene. This model has a 396 cubic inch V 8 engine that fires out 325 horsepower.

For much of its early life, Pontiac was a lower level "family" brand for General Motors. That is until a guy named John DeLorean showed up. He managed to wedge high power engines into family cars and helped usher in the muscle car era. Perhaps Pontiac's most famed muscle car was the GTO. This 1965 model has a special option 389 cubic inch V 8 engine the cranks out 360 horsepower. It also has a "Tri-Power" special option which gives it three two-barrel carburetors.

Carroll Shelby didn't stop with the GT350. In 1967 he wedged Ford's new "Cobra Jet" 428 cubic inch V 8 into a Mustang, enhancing it to give it 355 horsepower. The GT 500 was born. With some re-designed body work, these helped Shelby American sales increase six times over.

Often called a "gentleman's muscle car," this 1967Plymouth GTX convertible is one of only 680 ever produced in that year. With a 440 cubic inch V 8 engine, this car turns out 375 horsepower.

High-Performance Mercedes at the Cincinnati Concours

 

Established in 1967 as a developer of racing engines, AMG became known as a performance specialist for Mercedes-Benz automobiles. Since 2005 it has become a wholly owned subsidiary and is responsible for creating the high-performance models of the Stuttgart automobiles. There was a special AMG class at the 48th Cincinnati Concours d'Elegance which included a 2026 G63, a hybrid luxury vehicle with off-road capabilities. It combines a four-liter twin turbo V 8 engine that puts out 577 horsepower with a 48 volt mild-hybrid system.

Imagine a practical family station wagon with super car performance. That is exactly what this 2021 E63S wagon is. Running on a four-liter V 8 that pumps out 603 horsepower, this car can go zero to 60 in 3.2 seconds and hit a top speed of 186 miles per hour. That's getting your groceries in a hurry.

This 2016 GT-S coupe was the second sports car developed in-house by AMG. Its four-liter V 8 engine puts out 503 horsepower. It's little wonder this car was named Best Driver's Car by Motor Trend magazine.

Here is a 2019 CTC. With a twin turbo and dual clutch transmission, the CTCs were used as Formula 1 safety cars. And why not, they have a four-liter V 8 engine that generates 550 horsepower and can sprint from zero to 60 in 3.3 seconds. This car was bought used and it had all of 41 miles on the odometer.

The GT 55 Coupe was new for 2024. It uses a four-liter Biturbo V 8 engine that creates 469 horsepower and 516 foot pounds of torque. With a top speed of 183 miles per hour it flies from zero to 60 in 3.8 seconds. 

The SLS was a two-seater with gullwing doors built to honor the famed 300 SL. Only 389 were sold in the USA. This is the first car designed and built entirely by AMG who gave it a 6.3-liter V 8 engine that turns our 583 horsepower. With a top speed of 197 miles per hour it can go from zero to 60 in 3.6 seconds.

Essentially a street legal version of their Formula 1 race car, the AMG One is the record holder as the fastest street legal car to lap at the Nurburgring. Only 275 were ever produced with only three coming to the USA. It has a 1.6-liter V 6 engine that generates a staggering 1049 horsepower.

In 2018 the fastest four door sedan in the world was this E63 S. It runs on a four-liter V 8 engine that creates 603 horsepower and 627 foot pounds of torque. This car zips from zero to 60 in 3.2 seconds. At delivery it sported a list price of $120,155.

Contemporary Mercedes at the Cincinnati Concours

 

Mercedes-Benz has had a long history of making automobiles and of being successful at it. Many associate the brand with luxury and rightly so. The Cincinnati Concours d'Elegance recognized the significance of these cars at the 48th iteration of their event. One of the classes was for more contemporary Mercedes cars. This group included a 1990 300 SEL, which, at the time was the halo car in the Mercedes lineup. These were the second to have the S Class name. This car sports a three-liter inline six-cylinder engine that puts out 177 horsepower. These were one of the few cars on the market at the time to offer side passenger airbags.

This is a 1993 300 CE Cabriolet which represents the first year of this model and the first four seat convertible from the marque since 1971. Seven hundred, sixty-six were sold in the USA. It runs on a 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine that generates 217 horsepower.

The 1986 190 E 2.3-16 was a homologation car for rally racing. The 2.3-litre inline four-cylinder engine was co-developed with Cosworth and puts out 167 horsepower. This single-family car with 65,000 miles was one of about 2500 sold in the USA.

Post War Mercedes at the Cincinnati Concours

Much of Germany was rocked and struggling following World War II. Like many manufacturers, especially automobiles, during the war Mercedes Benz turned their factories toward making materials for the military. And, like many manufacturers, Mercedes was slow to return to making automobiles following the war. Their big break came in 1958 when a deal was struck with Studebaker to sell their luxury and new sports cars in North America. Many of these post-war automobiles became luxury standards. The Cincinnati Concours d'Elegance created a class for these cars, those made between 1949 and 1980. Among the cars in this class was a 1971 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet. These were the last of the hand-built Mercedes and only 679 were ever made. The car has a 3.5-liter V 8 engine that generates 200 horsepower and reaches at top speed of 130 miles per hour.

Paul Bracq designed this 1967 300 SE Cabriolet. Bracq, a Frenchman, is credited with designing some of the most memorable Mercedes automobiles. Only 708 of these were ever built. It features a three-liter inline six-cylinder engine the puts out 195 horsepower. 

Another of Paul Bracq's designs was this 1967 250 SE Cabriolet. At the time this was one of Mercedes most expensive and exclusive offerings. In fact, only 954 were ever made. The car features a 2.5-liter inline six-cylinder engine that creates 150 horespower.

Here is a beautiful 1952 220 Cabriolet B. Only 997 of these were ever made. The current owner's family purchased the car in Munich, Germany in 1958 for $700. The car has a 2.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine that puts out 80 horsepower. This car is a previous concours Best in Class winner.

Safety and durability have always been hallmarks of Mercedes-Benz and this 1960 190B sedan helped to introduce a significant safety feature, crumple zones. Nicknamed the "Ponton" due to its pontoon shaped fenders, the car has a two-liter inline four-cylinder engine that generates 95 horsepower. 

In 1971, this 280 SE 3.5 coupe was the flagship offering from the Stuttgart based company. This year was the last time all Mercedes were hand built. The car has a 3.5-liter V 8 engine that turns out 200 horsepower. This car won a concours Best in Class title in 2023.

Here is an ultra-luxury 600 SWB. This car is the forerunner to the current Maybach models. (Wilhelm Maybach was the engineer for Carl Benz's partner, Gottlieb Daimler.)  Fewer than 2200 SWB or short wheelbase models were ever built. The car has a 6.3-liter V 8 engine that creates 250 horsepower.

This is a 1980 230 G. Also known as a G-Wagon, it was an early luxury SUV style vehicle. It was built in Austria and is a very rare two door convertible version. It sports a 2300 cc inline four-cylinder engine that creates 90 horsepower. 

Fourth of July Parade

 

Each year our township holds a parade to celebrate the 4th of July. This year marked the 20th time they had done so (with the Covid lockdown year being skipped). And every year there are some interesting vehicles in the parade. Here at the ones I could shoot this year.

Contemporary Mercedes Sports Cars at the Cincinnati Concours

 

Starting in the 1950s, Mercedes Benz has been making outstanding sports cars. In order to highlight the full range of these masterful automobiles, the Cincinnati Concours d'Elegance team has created three classes of sports cars. Today's class is for the contemporary vehicles, those from 2005 to today. While there were only two that were on the Alt Park lawn they were both amazing. One was a 2009 SLR McLaren Sterling Moss. Built in honor of Moss's 1955 victory at the Mille Miglia and only 75 were made. This car has a 5.4-liter V 8 power plant that generates 641 horsepower.

The other sports car in this class was a 2009 SL550. This version of the iconic SL series introduced some new body designs and unique L-shaped headlights. This car runs on a 5.5-liter V 8 engine that punches out 382 horsepower. 

Later Mercedes Sports Cars at the Cincinnati Concours

 

Mercedes Benz has been making sports cars since the mid-1950s. Seeing that Mercedes was the featured marque at this year's Cincinnati Concours d'Elegance, the event decided to set up three sports car classes with the one posted here running from 1972 through 2005. This class included a 1987 560 SL. This car has a 5.5-liter V 8 engine that puts out 227 horsepower. This model was the last of the R107 line.

About 100,000 of the SL 500 models were manufactured between 2001 and 2012. This is an early 2002 model. This car has a five-liter V 8 engine that puts out 302 horsepower. It has a removable hard top and a hydraulic soft top along with an automatic pop-up roll bar. 

This 1993 600 SL is one of the most expensive and powerful of its era. Originally costing $122,900, it sports a six-liter V 12 engine that generates 389 horsepower.