The Arizona Concours d’Elegance 2015 was held Sunday, January 11th at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix. The 2nd annual event built on the strong success of its inaugural Concours, with the historic Arizona Biltmore again providing the Art Deco backdrop. Attendance was a sellout for the 2015 Arizona Concours, and the two Saturday seminars – the Phoenix Automotive Press Association auction preview and the Elegance at Speed racing-car design forum – were also well attended.
Best of Show at the Arizona Concours d’Elegance 2015 was awarded to a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Sport Cabriolet A owned by Thomas Taffet of Chatsworth, California. This pre-war cabriolet, brought to the Arizona Concours by the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center, won Best of Class in European Classics.
Additional award winners included the 1933 Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow taking Most Elegant Pre-War, the 1954 Ferrari 250 GT Europa won Most Significant Race or Sports Car and Post War European Sports Cars went to the 1962 Jaguar E-Type Open Two-Seater.
The beneficiary of the Arizona Concours, Make-A-Wish Arizona, raised more than $70,000 in donations. The Arizona organization is the founding chapter of the national foundation that grants wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions.
Arizona Concours d’Elegance 2015 – Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture)
Arizona Concours d’Elegance 2015 – Class Winners
Pre-1915 Antique:
1903 Pope-Hartford Model B, John Konwiser, Scottsdale, AZ
Pre-War Sports and Racing:
1932 MG F1 Magna, Malcolm and Barbara Appleton, Waitsfield, VT
Post War American-powered Sports Cars:
1952 Cunningham C-3 Convertible, Rich and Karen Atwell, Phoenix, AZ
Post War American Race Cars:
1959 Watson “Simoniz Special” Indy Roadster, Larry and Jan Pfitzenmaier, Sonoita, AZ
Post War European Sports Cars:
1962 Jaguar E-Type OTS, Randall Smalley, Paradise Valley AZ
American Classic Open:
1933 Packard 1005 Convertible Coupe, Aaron and Valeria Weiss, San Marino, CA
Post War European Race Cars:
1956 Ferrari 500 Testa Rossa, Linda and Bill Pope, Scottsdale, AZ
American Classic Closed:
1937 Buick 91F Formal Sedan, Lee Gurvey, Scottsdale, AZ
European Classic:
1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Sport Cabriolet A, Thomas Taffet, Chatsworth, CA
Preservation:
1965 Ferrari 275 GTB, Terry Maxon, Glendale, AZ
Avant-Garde:
1949 Volkswagen Hebmuller Cabriolet, Ron Clarke, Paradise Valley, AZ
Exotic:
1967 Ferrari 330 GTS, Philippe and Francoise Reyns, Chandler, AZ
Post War Mercedes-Benz:
1961 Mercedes-Benz 300D Sedan, Barry Sohnen, Los Angeles, CA
Pierce-Arrow:
1916 Pierce-Arrow Model 48, Clive Cussler, Paradise Valley, AZ
Ghia:
1952 Fiat 8V Supersonic, David Sydorick Beverly Hills, CA
Arizona Concours d’Elegance 2015 – Special Award Winners
Make-A-Wish Kids:
1953 Jaguar C-Type, Bill and Linda Pope, Scottsdale, AZ
Hagerty Young Judges:
1927 Marmon E-75 Speedster, Ed Boice, Los Ranchos, NM
Historic Vehicle Association:
1949 Crosley Hot Shot (Frank Lloyd Wright), Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum, Auburn, IN
Historic Vehicle Association:
1937 AC 16/80 Ace Roadster, David and Rochelle Buice, Dallas, TX
Phoenix Automotive Press Association:
1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, Todd and Stan Reeg, Paradise Valley, AZ
Most Elegant Pre-War:
1933 Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow, Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA
Most Elegant Post War:
1956 Ferrari 250 GT Zagato, Rocky Mountain Auto Collection, Scottsdale, AZ
Director’s Award:
1953 Cadillac Series 62 Ghia (Rita Hayworth Cadillac), Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles, CA
Director’s Award:
1951 OSCA MT4, T.G. Mittler, Santa Fe, NM
Director’s Award:
1957 Dual-Ghia, Curt and Carole Ziegler, Denver, CO
Most Significant Race or Sports Car:
1954 Ferrari 250 GT Europa, Budd and Laurie Florkiewicz, Scottsdale, AZ
Significant Design of its Era:
1937 Cord 812 SC Custom Beverly, Bruce Hanson, Phoenix, AZ
Special Award:
1956 Ferrari 500 Testa Rossa, Bill and Linda Pope, Scottsdale, AZ
[Source: Arizona Concours; photos: Bob Golfen, Ken Bryant and Michael Tobian]
I am still in awe of the experience I had as an entrant of the Second Annual Arizona Concours and Tour. The formula of a three day event with Forums on Saturday, Concours on Sunday and Tour on Monday to me represents the full experience I look forward to, a one day only Concours pales in comparison.
The Biltmore site was the perfect place to host this event, historic, intimate and classic just like the 80 cars selected. The site is relatively small and 80 cars maybe close to the limit, the organizers also limit the crowd size (a sellout), to ensure the experience for entrants and spectators alike.
My hat is also off to the organizers and volunteers who made this event come off as if they have been doing this for more than the two year history of the event.
The Arizona Concours has in my opinion moved into a position of one of the top events in the country, easily in the top five.
John Grosseto
1955 OSCA MT4