San Marino Motor Classic 2018 – Report and Photos

The San Marino Motor Classic 2018 was held on Sunday, June 10 at Lacy Park in San Marino, California. Over 357 cars impressed the crowd of more than 10,000 people who attended. They were displayed on the lawns of the beautiful 30-acre park, ranging from brass-era, depression-era classics, post-war luxury, sports cars, hot rods, race cars, exotics and rare cars from the last century. Show highlights also included a special class of Paul Newman race cars and a gathering of early and rare Lamborghinis.

In its eighth year, the San Marino Motor Classic 2018 featured over 40 classes of cars, which included examples from Ferrari, Bugatti, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Maserati, Packard, Cadillac, Jaguar, Pope, Lotus and Rolls-Royce. Entrants competed in their respective classes with judging taking place throughout the day for the awards that were given in their respective classes, which included several divisions and classes for the various marques and manufacturers.

A one-off 1930 Cadillac V16 Murphy Bodied Phaeton, owned by John Groendyke was named Best of Show Pre-War and a rare 1947 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500SS, owned by George Alspaugh earned Best of Show Post-War award. Other notable winners included the 1966 Shelby Cobra was named Best Super Car Award, owned by Tatsuya Yagi; the 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB was named Most Elegant Ferrari – Bacchelli and Villa Award, owned by Bill and Linda Feldhorn; and the 1935 Duesenberg JN Rolliston Bohman and Schwwartz was named Most Elegant American Pre-War Classic Car Award, owned by Jeannie and Rob Hilarides.

The San Marino Motor Classic had a special class for Adam Carolla’s Paul Newman Collection. that was showcased prominently on the main field of the park. This was the first time that the collection has been shown to the public and it featured 10 of Paul Newman’s race cars. It spanned the actor’s entire racing history, with cars ranging from the 1978 Nissan 200SX that won 19 out of 22 races that Newman entered between 1978 and 1979, to the monstrous looking, 933hp Nissan 280ZX Twin Turbo V8 (one of three) which competed in the 1981 IMSA GT season, to the class winning Porsche 935 that Newman drove at Le Mans. In addition to the race cars, Carolla also entered two of his classic Lamborghinis into the show, a one-of-one Blu-Medio (deep blue) 1971 Miura SV and a dark gray 1965 350 GT.

“The Paul Newman race car feature class engaged spectators young and old – it was striking to see all of them on the lawn and made the event extra special,” said Aaron Weiss, event chairman and co-founder of the San Marino Motor Classic.

Ferrari collector David SK Lee displayed six cars from his collection, which included a 2017 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta 70th Anniversary Steve McQueen edition, 2018 Ferrari 812 Superfast, 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS, 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4, 1973 Dino 246 GTS and his extensively modified Dino, a 1972 Ferrari David Lee Edition Monza 3.6 Evo. Work done on the black sports car included both interior and exterior styling details, but the notable mod was the 3.6-liter V8 which replaced the Dino’s original six-cylinder engine.

The San Marino Motor Classic was established in 2011 by co-founders Aaron Weiss, Ben Reiling and Paul Colony held in Lacy Park, in San Marino, California. It is the successor of the Los Angeles Concours d’Elegance. The Motor Classic raised more than $300,000 for the Pasadena Humane Society and SPCA, USC Trojan Marching Band and the Rotary Club of San Marino. To date, the SMMC event has raised over $1.9 million for charity.

The organizers of the San Marino Motor Classic have announced that the 2019 event will be held on June 9, 2019. The San Marino Motor Classic is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization.

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Similar to 2015, 2016 and 2017, Sports Car Digest also documented the San Marino Motor Classic 2018, with photographer Victor Varela offering the following from the Concours held in Southern California.

San Marino Motor Classic 2018 – Photo Gallery (photos: Victor Varela)

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