Arizona Concours d’Elegance 2016 – Report

The Arizona Concours d’Elegance 2016 was held Sunday, January 24th at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix. Under clear blue skies, the 3rd annual event once again kicked-off the famed Arizona Auction Week in the Scottsdale and Phoenix area.

Best of Show at the 2016 Arizona Concours was awarded to a famous speed-record car, the 1935 Duesenberg SJ Special known as the “Mormon Meteor.”The bright yellow and artfully streamlined Mormon Meteor rolled onto the red carpet with a throaty roar from its supercharged straight-8 Duesenberg engine, after being picked by the concours judges from a field of 99 automobiles fanned out across the lawns of the Arizona Biltmore.

The Mormon Meteor, owned by Harry Yeaggy of Cincinnati, was driven when newly built on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah by speed-racing pioneer Ab Jenkins on a number of record runs, including a 24-hour average speed of 154 mph and 48-hour speed of 148 mph. Jenkins, who named the car Mormon Meteor, then modified the mammoth vehicle for his use on public roads. The car was restored in recent years by the current owner to its racing configuration.

In addition to the Mormon Meteor, other Best of Show finalists included David Sydorick’s 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Zagato, Aaron and Valerie Weiss’ 1931 Chrysler Imperial CG LeBaron Dual Cowl Phaeton and Don Williams’ 1932 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Pillarless Berline with Figoni et Falaschi coachwork.

The Arizona Concours d’Elegance benefits Make-A-Wish Arizona, the founding chapter of the national organization that grants wishes for children facing life-threatening medical conditions. The the fourth annual Arizona Concours will return to the Arizona Biltmore Resort on Sunday, January 15, 2017.

2016 Arizona Concours d’Elegance – Award Winners

Best of Show
1935 Duesenberg SJ Special “Mormon Meteor,” Harry Yeaggy, Cincinnati

Best in Class Winners

American Classic Closed
1933 Stutz DV-32 Monte Carlo, Allentown Classic Motor Car. Inc.

American Classic Open
1933 Chrysler Imperial CG LeBaron Dual Cowl Phaeton, Aaron and Valerie Weiss, San Marino, California

Antique Automobiles – Pre 1915
1910 Pope Hartford Model T, John and Anabel Konwiser, Scottsdale, Arizona

Avant Garde – Pre 1973
1958 Gaylord Gladiator, Ralph Carungi, Glendale, Arizona

Coachwork by Zagato
1956 Ferrari 250 GT Zagato, David Sydorick, Beverly Hills, California

Duesenberg
1935 Duesenberg SJ Special “Mormon Meteor,” Harry Yeaggy, Cincinnati

European Classic
1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K, Thomas Taffet, Chatsworth, California

Exceptional Cars of Great Britain
1932 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Pillarless Berline, Don Williams, Danville, California

Grand Touring – Pre 1973
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4, Brandon and Dennis Pobiak, Scottsdale, Arizona

Iconic Postwar American – Pre 1966
1956 Cadillac Series 62 convertible, Daniel Withers, Phoenix

Iconic Postwar British – Pre 1966
1962 Jaguar E-type FHC, David and Robin Levy, Akron, Ohio

Postwar American-Powered Sports – Pre 1966
1961 Chevrolet Corvette Gran Turismo, John and Sonia Breslow, Scottsdale, Arizona

Postwar European Sports – Pre 1966
1960 Porsche S90 Roadster, Randall and Julie Knuth, Tucson, Arizona

Postwar Racing – Pre 1966
1957 Bandini Sport International Saponetta, John and Sonia Breslow, Scottsdale, Arizona

Preservation Pre 1966
1962 Ghia L 6.4 coupe, John H. White, Sacramento, California

Prewar Sports and Racing
1935 Miller 2-Man Indy Car, Malloy Foundation Inc., Corona, California

Special Award Winners

Brass Era
1898 JeanPerrin Voiturette ‘Vis a Vis,’ Alan Travis, Phoenix

Honorary Chief Judge’s Award
1948 Talbot-Lago Type 26 Gran Sport, Clive and Janet Cussler, Paradise Valley, Arizona

Most Elegant – Prewar
1935 Miller 2-man Indy Car, Malloy Foundation Inc., Corona, California

Most Elegant – Postwar
1949 Fiat Topolino Paroramica 750 MM, Scott Gauthier, Scottsdale, Arizona

Directors’ Choice (three cars selected)
1948 Alfa Romeo Nardi Danese, Brent Berge, Mesa, Arizona
1936 Mercedes-Benz 290 cabriolet A, Aaron and Valerie Weiss, San Marino, California
1953 Buick Skylark, Neil and Patricia Deatley, Scottsdale, Arizona

Historic Vehicle Association – Most significant
1962 Ghia L 6.4 coupe, John H. White, Sacramento, California

Historic Vehicle Association – Car that matters
1957 Arnott-Climax GT, Gregory and Debra Johnson, Irvine, California

Mercedes-Benz Award of Excellence
1936 Mercedes-Benz 290 cabriolet A, Aaron and Valerie Weiss, San Marino, California

Hagerty Youth Judges
1965 289 AC Shelby Cobra, Philippe Reyns, Chandler, Arizona

Phoenix Automotive Press Association – Best Story
1898 JeanPerrin Voiturette ‘Vis a Vis,’ Alan Travis, Phoenix

Make-A-Wish
1959 Hank Henry Super Modified, Arizona Open Wheel Racing Museum, Phoenix

Frank Lloyd Wright – Taliesin West
1948 Daimler DE36 Drop Head, Mark Hyman, St. Louis

Frank Lloyd Wright – School of Architecture
1933 Auburn 12 Boattail Speedster, Lou Ficco, Wheat Ridge, Colorado

[Source: Arizona Concours]