Cavallino Classic 2020 – Report and Photos

The Cavallino Classic 2020 was held January 22-26 at the Breakers Resort Hotel in Palm Beach, Florida. Celebrating its 29th anniversary, the five-day gathering for Ferrari owners and enthusiasts saw participants and their 400 exotic and classic cars attending from the United States and Europe.

The first event of the extravaganza was the Cavallino Classic Competition, a two-day track meet at Palm Beach International Raceway. A select field of competition Ferraris, Maseratis, Alfa Romeos and Bugattis tackled the 11-turn, 2.043 mile race track.

The high point of the Palm Beach Cavallino Classic was the Concorso d’Eleganza on the front lawn of the Breakers Resort Hotel, on Saturday, January 25, 2020. Featuring 60 years of the famed Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider, 60 years of the Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2, 35 of the years Ferrari 328 and 25 years of the Ferrari F50 supercar, the field of more than 120 Ferrari automobiles were judged this year for originality and elegance, vying for Class Awards and the important Major Cups, along with the Cavallino Cup for Best in Show.

As expected, the spotlight was clearly on the Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider, with a superb selection of eight short-wheelbase models displayed across the upper lawn of the Breakers. Other notables at this year’s Cavallino Classic included the 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO chassis 4153 GT that won the 1964 Tour de France driven by Lucien Bianchi and Georges Berger, the 1952 Ferrari 340 Mexico Vignale Berlinetta chassis 0226AT raced in period by Alberto Ascari, Carroll Shelby and Jack McAfee and the ex-Scuderia Serenissima 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competition chassis 2083GT that won the 1960 Coppa d’Oro driven by Carlo Maria Abate.

The Best of Show Scuderia Ferrari (Competition) at the Cavallino Classic 2020 was awarded to the 1954 Ferrari 735 S Monza Scaglietti Spider owned by Tom Peck of Huntington Beach, California. This Monza (chassis 0428MD) was the first 4-cylinder, 3-liter 735 S to be finished. It raced in period by Nino Farina, Froilan Gonzales and Alfonso de Portago, among others. After the car’s final race at Pebble Beach in 1956, the Monza prototype fell into disrepair until it was acquired by its current owner in 2016, and a two-year restoration was undertaken. It was presented at the Breakers in its fantastic 1954 Carrera Panamericana livery.

The Best of Show Gran Turismo (Touring) at the Cavallino Classic 2020 was awarded to the 1951 Ferrari 340 America Ghia Coupe owned by Jack and Debbie Thomas. Originally owned by Ferrari board member Michel Paul-Cavallier, chassis number 0148A is equipped with the famed big-block 4.1-liter, V-12 Lampredi engine and is the only alloy-bodied 340 Berlinetta.

Other notable Ferrari award winners at this year’s event included:

• La Coppa per Dodici Cilindri – For the finest 12-cylinder Ferrari
  1959 410 Superamerica 1285 SA, Jim Davis
• La Coppa per Otto Cilindri – For the finest 8-cylinder Ferrari
  2008 430 GTC 2604, Tom and Tommy Cabrerizo
• La Coppa per Sei Cilindri – For the finest 6-cylinder Ferrari
  1972 Dino 246 GT 03326m, Leo and Lisa Schigiel
• The 250 GT SWB California Cup – For the finest 250 GT SWB California
  1962 250 GT SWB California 3099 GT, Lee Harrington
• The Robert Tallgren Memorial Elegance Cup – For the finest coach built Ferrari
  1952 212 Export PF Cabriolet 0235 EU, Stephen and Kim Bruno
• The Gerald Roush Memorial Cup – For the Ferrari requiring the most research to restore
  1955 250 Europa GT Speciale 0393 GT, Richard Workman
• The Wayne Obry Memorial Cup – For the Ferrari best representing excellence in restoration quality
  1964 250 GTL Lusso 5181, Joe and Eileen Dash
• The Ferrari Competition Cup – For the finest track/racing Ferrari
  1952 340 Mexico Vignale Berlinetta 0226 AT, Lex Wexner

The finale for the 2020 Cavallino Classic was ‘Classic Sports Sunday’ at Mar-a-Lago, the Marjorie Merriweather Post mansion in Palm Beach. This year’s Classic Sports Sunday featured marque celebrated the 110th anniversary of Alfa Romeo, with additional automobiles displayed on the grounds that included American, Italian, French, British and German classics. (Full gallery coming soon).

Similar to 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019, Sports Car Digest also documented the Palm Beach Cavallino Classic 2020, with photographer Michael DiPleco offering the following pictures from the lawns of the Breakers Resort Hotel.

Cavallino Classic 2020 – Photo Gallery (Photos: Michael DiPleco)

 

Cavallino Classic 2020 – Award Winners

Scuderia Ferrari Cup for Best of Show Competition
1954 Ferrari 735 S Monza Scaglietti Spider 0428 MD, Tom Peck

Gran Turismo Ferrari Cup for Best of Show Touring
1951 Ferrari 340 America Ghia Coupe 0148 A, Jack and Debbie Thomas

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