Modern Euro Lux At the Cincinnati Concours

 The 44th Cincinnati Concours d'Elegance wanted to explore the luxury and lux of American and European cars. For what they called the modern era of European luxury, cars from between 1961 and 1990, it is easy to understand why they chose some of the automobiles they did. This 1972 Mercedes Benz 600 short wheel base sedan drips in luxury. Known as der Grosse Mercedes of Grand Mercedes, the 600 was the forerunner of the Maybach line. This example is one of only 2190 of these cars ever built. It runs on a 6.3 L single overhead cam M100 V8 engine that generates 250 horse power.

This 1969 Mercedes Benz 280 SE Cabriolet was fully restored in Stuttgart, Germany by famed Arthur Bechtel Classic Motors in 2020. It is powered by a 2778 cc M130 SOHC inline six cylinder engine that puts out 160 horse power.

This 1961 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud II is one of only 2716 of these machines ever produced. This example has had some impressive owners including the owners of the Singer Sewing Machine Company and Yankee Candles. It has a 6.2 L V8 engine that generates 185 horse power.

Modern American Luxury In Ault Park

As the world tumbled into the 1960s luxury in automobiles was becoming more widespread. As part of their feature of European Lux vs American Luxury the 44th Cincinnati Concours d'Elegance held in beautiful Ault Park held a class for what they called Modern American Luxury cars, meaning from cars from 1961 until 1990. Among that class was a 1967 Cadillac Sedan Deville. The car came with just about every option as standard including power windows and seats as well as factory air conditioning. This example boasts 34,000 original unrestored miles. It has a 429 cubic inch V8 engine that generates 340 horse power.

In the General Motors family, Cadillac sat proudly at the top of the luxury scale with Oldsmobile falling into the third slot behind Buick. But this 1968 Delta 88 four door hardtop offered up its share of luxury. This was the sixth generation of the 88 and offered plenty of luxury trappings for the time including power steering and brakes, an AM-FM eight track player, and even a tachometer. It has been in one family since new. It has a 455 cubic inch V8 engine that puts out 310 horse power.

1971 saw the last year of the Lincoln Continental Mark III and this example is completely unrestored. It has a 460 cubic inch V8 engine that pushes 365 horse power. Keep in mind, this was sold as a family car, not a muscle car.

1972 saw the introduction of the Lincoln Continental Mark IV. It was the fifth generation of the Continental. The Mark IV was a massive car measuring nearly 19 feet long and weighing in at 5116 pounds. It has a 460 cubic inch V8 engine that makes 365 horse power. This unrestored example won Best in Class at last year's Hilton Head Concours d'Elegance.
 

Post War European Luxury On Display In Ault Park

 Following World War II much of Europe was in shambles. The major automobile manufacturing countries had been rocked the most. Germany was all but leveled and had been divided in two. England had been devastated by bombings and Italy had suffered major damage from the Allied push up from North Africa. Italy was fairly quick to recover, though as is evidenced by this 1948 Lancia Aprilla Spider Pininfarina Speciale. This is one of the last of these cars produced and was discovered in pieces as part of an estate sale in 2005. It has a 1.5 liter over head valve Tipo 99 V4 engine that generates 49 horse power.

Fifteen years after the war the Italian car industry was back in shape. This 1960 Alfa Romeo 2000 Touring is a perfect example. Only 3443 examples of this style spider (convertible) were built and this is number 1417 and has been in the same family since 1966. The car has a 2.0 L dual overhead cam four cylinder engine that pushed out 113 horse power.

In England the industrial battle cry was to export or perish. The economy couldn't support the domestic auto industry so companies like Jaguar looked overseas and found a willing market in America. This 1959 XK 150S fixed head coupe (hard top to Americans) was the very first S type built with engine number 001.The engine is a 3.8 L DOVC inline six cylinder that creates 365 horse power. This car was restored for the CEO and president of the Ford Motor Company.

Here is a 1951 Jaguar Mark V 3.5. 10,500 of these were built between 1948 and 1951. With a 3.5 L straight six cylinder engine these cars became popular in road rallies and saloon racing (no that doesn't have anything to do with stopping at bars).

This is a 1957 Jaguar XK 140 fixed head coupe. It is one of 2798 built between 1954 and 1957. This model was the first Jaguar sports car to be offered with an automatic transmission. It has a 3.4 L DOHC straight six cylinder engine that puts out 210 horse power.

Post War American Luxury Showing Off At the Concours

 With the end of World War II American industry reverted from war time manufacturing back to normal. This we never more evident than in the automobile industry which had put all of its resources toward building the war machine. Add to this the fact that the economy had recovered and was soaring and it was a cry for American cars with luxury. One fine example was the 1957 Oldsmobile Starfire 98 convertible. This fifth generation Starfire 98 was one of only 750 to come equipped with the 371 cubic inch J2 Rocket V8 engine that was developed for stock car racing.

A former museum piece, this 1955 Buick Super Riviera is a past Senior Gold award winner at the Buick Nationals. It sports a 322 cubic inch nailhead V8 engine that was good for 236 horse power.

Nothing in the late 1950s said luxury like a Cadillac. This hand made 1958 Eldorado Brougham is number 103 of 304 sold that year. It features a 365 cubic inch over head valve V8 power plant.

This 1956 Lincoln Continental Mk II is one of only 1325 sold that year. Only 3400 Mark II models were ever sold. Costing $9695 it was the most expensive domestically produced automobile at the time. It made 385 horse power from its 368 cubic inch V8 engine.

Only 263 Packard Caribbeans were sold in 1956 and this is number 56. Features on this car included advanced  front and rear torsion bar self-leveling suspension. It ran on a 374 cubic inch V8 with twin barrel carburetors that turned out 310 horse power.

This 1959 Cadillac 60 Special had a body by Fleetwood. The car is completely unrestored. It has a 390 cubic inch V8 engine that turns out 345 horse power.

Starting in 1956 and running for two years, Studebaker made a halo automobile called the Golden Hawk. This first year example runs on a Packard sourced 352 cubic inch V8 the produces 270 horse power.

Here is a 1953 Cadillac Series 62 Sedan. This year marked the 50th anniversary of Cadillac. This car was designed by the famed Harley Earl and was garaged for 50 years itself. It has a 331 cubic inch over head valve V8 engine that generates 210 horse power.

This 1958 Dual Ghia is a multinational enterprise with a chassis by Dodge that was shipped to Italy where Ghia hand made the body. It then came back to Detroit for final assembly. Only 117 of these cars were made between 1956 and 1958 and fewer than 40 are known to still exist. It has a 315 cubic inch Dodge Red Ram V8 engine that generates 230 horse power.

Some Early European Luxe Was On Display At the Cincinnati Concours

The main feature at this year's Cincinnati Concours d'Elegance was Euro Luxe vs American Luxury and the organizers brought six classes to the field including this amazing pre-war European group. This strong field featured cars such as this 1935 SS Cars Limited SS One Airline. 

 The original British parent company, Swallow Sidecar, used the SS designation prior to World War II and then changed it for obvious reason. The company went on to change its name to Jaguar. This car is one of only 16 One Airlines known to exist.

 

This 1933 Isotta-Frshini Tipo 8A Dual Cowl Sports Tourer originally cost $20,000 back then and was purchased by famed radio comedian Joe Penner. It has been featured in several films, co-starring with the likes of James Dean and John Wayne. It has a 450 cubic inch straight eight cylinder engine that turns out 160 horse power. It features a one off body by Ercole Castagna.

The winner of this year's Best of Show is this 1936 Horch 853A Special Roadster. Horch was one of four companies that merged to for Auto Union which then became Audi. This is number two of only six of this model ever built. It also won Best of Show at the Seabrook, TX concours. It has a 4.9 liter SOHC straight eight cylinder engine that produces 100 horse power.

 

Few cars in the world scream luxury like a Rolls Royce and this 1927 Phantom 1 with coachwork by Windovers is a perfect example. The only one of its kind known to exist, it is a Best of Show concours winner. It sports a 7.4 liter six cylinder engine.

Brought up from Nashville's fabulous Lane Motor Museum, this 1938 Adler Type 10 is from a company in Frankfort, Germany that started making bicycles in 1896. It is an example of an early aerodynamic body design. While it only had a 2.5 liter side valve straight six cylinder engine it could hit a top speed of 78 miles per hour.

French automaker Delahaye built this 1939 135M specifically for the French Alpine Road Rally and it became known as "Coupe de Alpes." During its existence between 1935 and 1954, Delahaye only built about 2000 total cars. The 135M had a 3557 cc inline six cylinder engine that produced 115 horse power.

Famed coach builder Howard A. "Dutch" Darren built this one of a kind 1936 Packard Twelve while he was still working in Paris which qualifies it as a European car. The car has a 445 cubic inch V12 known by Packard as a Twin Six engine that turned out 160 horse power.

This is a 1939 Bugatti Type 57 with coach work by Galibier. A year after it was made the car received a factory upgrade to a superchared engine. This means it was powered by a 3257 cc DOHC superchared straight eight cylinder engine that cranked out 160 horse power.

American Luxury Shone At the Cincinnati Concours

 

The feature at the 44th Cincinnati Concours d'Elegance was Euro Luxe vs American Luxury. This six class feature brought out some of the most elegant automobiles ever made. Today features the pre-war American cars including this 1921 Duesenberg Model A. This was the first passenger car to bear the Duesenberg name and also the first sold to the public. This car was in the same family for 99 years before it was donated to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automotive Museum.

This 1936 Cord 810 sedan runs on a 289 cubic inch Lycoming V8 engine that produces 125 horse power. It has a distinctive and rare silvery-blue paint job and a rare blue Broadcloth interior.

Here is a rare 1936 Auburn 851 Boattail Speedster. The 851 was introduced in 1934 and was the design genius of Gordon Buehrig. It is powered by a 280 cubic inch supercharged L head eight cylinder Lycoming engine that put out 150 horse power.

Despite coming out during the Great Depression, the ninth series of Packard automobiles were perhaps the most opulent to be made. This 1932 Deluxe 8 903 Dual Cowl Phaeton is a prime example. This car was loaded with all sorts of standard equipment and many options, including pivoting driving lights.

In 1931 Cadillac introduced the V8 series 355 and continued it through 1935. The series was designed by then General Motors design head Harley Earl. This 1931 355 Sport Phaeton has a 134 inch wheelbase and weighs in at 4380 pounds. Powering it is a 353 cubic inch V8 engine that makes 95 horse power.

This 1937 Packard Twelve 1507 Convertible Victoria is one of about 45 ever produced and one of 12 known to still exist. It has a 139 inch wheelbase and a weight of 5345 pounds. It has a 473 cubic inch V12 engine that churns out 175 horse power.

The Model 43 was the entry level car from Pierce Arrow when this Dual Cowl example was released in 1931. This is the only remaining example registered with the Pierce Arrow Society. It has a 366 cubic inch inline eight cylinder engine which is good for 125 horse power.

The Cunningham Car Company opened its doors in 1896 as a carriage manufacturer but by 1906 had switched to producing gasoline powered automobiles.  This 1928 V5 Phaeton is believed to be the only one with this body style to exist. It has a 425 cubic inch V8 engine with an all aluminum crankcase and heads that turned out 145 horse power.

In 1937 Cadillac produced only 12 Fleetwood V12 Town Cars. This is one of only three known to still exist. It was originally owned by the publisher of the Knoxville Journal. It has won numerous awards throughout the country. It sports a 368 cubic inch V12 engine that turns out 150 horse power.

1939 was the last year that Packard equipped cars with a V12 engine they referred to as a "twin six." This 1939 Twelve Sport Sedan with a body by Bohman & Schwartz has a 473 cubic inch V12 engine that produced 175 horse power.

This 1937 Lincoln Model K with body work by Brunn is one of only four special order limousines. It won second in its class at the 2000 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. It has a 145 inch wheelbase and weighs a massive 7000 pounds. It came standard with a four piece luggage set. It is powered by a 414 cubic inch V12 engine that is good for 150 horse power.

This 1941 Packard 160 Super 8 1903 Sedan has a 127 inch wheelbase and weighs in at 3865 pounds. The 19th series of Packards are distinctive for having the headlights mounted inside the fenders. The car has a 356 cubic inch V8 engine that produced 160 horse power. It has been wearing the same paint since 1979.

In 1928 Auburn introduced its iconic Speedster. This 8-115 Boattail Speedster is a first year example and is one of only 226 produced. It won Best In Class at the 2021 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance (now called The Amelia). It has 299 cubic inch inline eight cylinder Lycoming engine good for 115 horse power.

Beginning in 1929 Cord started making the L-29. This first year Cabriolet is one of only 4000 L-29 cars ever made. It was the first front wheel drive car offered to the American public. It has a 301 cubic inch inline eight cylinder Lycoming engine that produces 125 horse power.