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Danville Concours d’Elegance 2015 – Report and Photos

1963 Ferrari 250 GTO, chassis 4757GT DennisGray
1963 Ferrari 250 GTO, chassis 4757GT

The Danville Concours d’Elegance 2015 was held September 19-20 on the historic downtown streets of Danville, California. The 11th annual event included a traditional Concours and Tour d’Elegance rally.

This year’s Danville Concours had a selection of over 180 automobiles on display, with a wonderful collection of Ferraris showing the history of the marque over the years. The standout vehicles included a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO, serial number 4757GT, and a recently restored 1953 Ferrari 250 Europa Vignale Berlinetta enjoying its second public appearance after the Pebble Beach Concours. On the other end of the spectrum, attendees also enjoyed the opportunity to see the 2015 Ferrari La Ferrari in person.

Best of Show at the 2015 Danville Concours d’Elegance was awarded to Phil White’s 1959 Maserati GT 3500 Vignale Spider, the prototype for the Maserati 3500 GT. Other winners included the wonderful 1928 Packard Series Six Convertible owned by Fred Hill that won Best in Class in the Pre-1950 Non-Sports Car category. Fred Hill discovered this car in a chicken coop and restored to its original condition including its Goddess of Speed hood ornament that was the object of many photographs throughout the day. He has owned the automobile for forty years and he performed the Best in Class restoration himself.

British automotive enthusiasts enjoyed the beautiful selection of Jaguar XKs and E-Types from over the years, in addition to a number of vintage Land Rovers that added a sense of adventure to the day. The collection of Jaguars and Land Rovers set just the right tone as displayed next to the newest offerings on display in the Jaguar Land Rover display area.

A wonderful gathering of vintage motorcycles comprised many rarely seen in the States, such as a 1962 Demm Sport 50, identical to the one on display in the Demm Museum in Bologna, Italy. This rare bike is a European model never imported to North America. Further highlights included a 1948 Malaguti Olympique, another European model never imported to the United States and a 1960 Vittoria Paperino Sprint, the only known Vittoria known to exist in North America as less than 500 were produced between 1957 and 1960.

Jim Edlund, Chairman Danville d’Elegance Foundation, said, “This really is a very special event as it brings together a wonderful collection of automobiles, motorcycles and enthusiasts, our sponsors, the greater Danville community and a truly dedicated group of volunteers that work year round to make this a very special weekend. For two days in September, this group strives to raise money for Parkinson’s research and patient care. It is an event that I have been proud to co-chair for the past eleven years.”

Kicking off the weekend was the Danville Tour d’Elegance. Departing from the Lafayette Park Hotel, the Tour winded through the wine country of Napa and Sonoma and ended at Mantanzas Creek Winery for tasting and lunch. All enjoyed the spectacular fall scenery and beautiful vistas of the vineyards along the drive. During lunch Tour participants enjoyed hearing Derek Hill speak of his inaugural year as emcee at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Phil Hill and family have been supporters of the Danville Concours d’Elegance over the years in the organization’s goal of raising funds for Parkinson’s disease.

The Danville d’Elegance Foundation is dedicated to supporting organizations in their pursuit of a cure for Parkinson’s disease, while raising funds to benefit the advancement of both Parkinson’s research and patient care. Each year the Danville d’Elegance Foundation has steadfastly increased its fundraising goals, providing funds to both The Michael J. Fox Foundation TEAM FOX and the Sunnyvale-based Parkinson’s Institute. Since 2004, the Foundation has raised more than $2.6 million for Parkinson’s research and patient care.

Similar to the 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 events, Sports Car Digest also documented the 2015 Danville Concours, with Senior Photographer Dennis Gray producing the following images from this year’s event. We split up Dennis’ pictures into two galleries. The first gallery starting below features our favorite images, all displayed in the full-width view of Sports Car Digest, while the second gallery and award winners can be found on the last page of the article and gives a comprehensive view of all the photographs. To see more from Dennis, visit HistoricMotorPrints.com/.

Danville Concours d’Elegance 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery

 

The 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO arrives and even the young ones know it's something special
When the 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO arrived, even the young ones knew they were looking at something special
1963 Ferrari 250 GTO, chassis 4757GT
1963 Ferrari 250 GTO, chassis 4757GT
Mercedes-Benz 190SL on the Danville Tour
Mercedes-Benz 190SL on the Danville Tour
The 2015 Danville Concours featured a nice collection of motorcycles.
The 2015 Danville Concours featured a nice collection of motorcycles.
Polishing and prepping at the Danville Concours
Polishing and prepping at the Danville Concours
1972 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider
1972 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider

 

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Danville Concours d’Elegance 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Two

 

This 1958 Fiat Multipla was once a taxi on the streets of Rome.
This 1958 Fiat Multipla was once a taxi on the streets of Rome.
2015 Ferrari La Ferrari.
2015 Ferrari La Ferrari.
1963 Ferrari 250 GTO, chassis 4757GT
1963 Ferrari 250 GTO, chassis 4757GT
1967 Jaguar E-Type 4.2 Open Two-Seater
1967 Jaguar E-Type 4.2 Open Two-Seater
Jaguars were early morning arrivals.
Jaguars were early morning arrivals.
MG B at the Danville Concours
MG B at the Danville Concours

 

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Danville Concours d’Elegance 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Three

 

1976 Land Rover Forward Control 101.
1976 Land Rover Forward Control 101.
1972 Lancia Fulvia 1.3 Zagato.
1972 Lancia Fulvia 1.3 Zagato.
1956 Jaguar D-Type
1956 Jaguar D-Type
1958 Fiat Abarth 750 Zagato on the Danville Tour
1958 Fiat Abarth 750 Zagato on the Danville Tour
Ferrari 328 on the Danville Tour
Ferrari 328 on the Danville Tour
Porsche 912 on the Danville Tour
Porsche 912 on the Danville Tour

 

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Danville Concours d’Elegance 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Four

 

1965 Alfa Romeo TI race car
1965 Alfa Romeo TI race car
1963 Chevrolet Corvette
1963 Chevrolet Corvette
The Race Car Parade led by 1954 Jaguar XK120
The Race Car Parade led by 1954 Jaguar XK120
The 1956 Jaguar D-Type drew crowds all day
The 1956 Jaguar D-Type drew crowds all day
1972 BMW 3.0 CS
1972 BMW 3.0 CS
1956 Austin-Healey 100M 'Le Mans'
1956 Austin-Healey 100M ‘Le Mans’

 

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Danville Concours d’Elegance 2015 – Featured Photo Gallery Page Five

 

Best of Show - 1959 Maserati GT 3500 Vignale Spider Prototype
Best of Show – 1959 Maserati GT 3500 Vignale Spider Prototype
1953 Ferrari 250 Europa Vignale Berlinetta won the Award of Excellence at the Danville Concours d'Elegance
1953 Ferrari 250 Europa Vignale Berlinetta won the Award of Excellence at the Danville Concours d’Elegance
1928 Packard Series Six Convertible
1928 Packard Series Six Convertible
2006 Ford GT
2006 Ford GT
Goddess of Speed on the 1928 Packard Series Six Convertible
Goddess of Speed on the 1928 Packard Series Six Convertible
Enthusiastic crowds at the Danville Concours included many young ones
Enthusiastic crowds at the Danville Concours included many young people

 

The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Danville Concours d’Elegance 2015 – Main Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)

 

[nggallery id=851 images=15]

 

Danville Concours d’Elegance 2015 – Award Winners

Best of Show
Phil White, 1959 Maserati 3500 GT Vignale Spider

Spirit of the Danville Concours
Bill Biggs, 1986 Ferrari 328 GTS

Award of Excellence
Brian Hoyt, 1953 Ferrari 250 Europa Vignale Berlinetta

Class A: Pre-1960 Sports Car
Geoffrey Horton, 1955 Jaguar XK140 FHC

Class B: 1960 – 1969 British Sports Car
Donald Morris, 1962 Jaguar E-Type

Class C: 1960 – 1969 All Other Sports Car
Jay Cowag, 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS

Class D: 1970 – 1989 Sports Car
Kurt Delimon, 1972 BMW 3.0 CS

Class E: 1990 – 2010 Sports Car
Lee Sheldon, 1996 Jaguar XJ6 Cabriolet

Class F: 2011 – Present Sports Car
Andy Roberts, 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C

Class G: 1950 – 1980 Non Sports Car
David Nier and Joe Manarello, 1959 Autobianchi Bianchina

Class H: Pre-1950 Non-Sports Car
Fred Hill Jr., 1928 Packard 526 Convertible

Class I: Race Car
Frank Zucchi, 1965 Alfa Romeo Guilia TI

Class J: Motorcycle
Vincent Schardt, 1950 BSA D1 Bantam GPO

The unauthorized use and/or duplication of any editorial or photographic content from sportscardigest.com without express and written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to sportscardigest.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

[Source: Dennis Gray]