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Sunday's 10th annual Hemmings Motor News Concours d'Elegance. Photos by Hemmings staff.
For some, the changing color of leaves and cooler overnight temperatures signal summer's inevitable transition into fall. For those of us in the Hemmings offices, it's our annual concours weekend, consisting of the Saturday Cruise-In Spectacular and Sunday's main event, the Hemmings Motor News Concours d'Elegance itself. Held this past Saturday and Sunday in Saratoga Springs, New York, our 10th annual show may well have been the finest one to date.
Volvos at Saturday's Cruise-In Spectacular.
Saturday’s cruise-in packed the lower field at Saratoga Springs State Park, with help from Volvo Sports America (VSA), a club that focuses on the P1800, but welcomes owners of all out-of-production Volvo models. Classic American cars were well represented, too, as were muscle cars and other imports, ensuring that fans of most makes and models had something to cheer for at awards time.
Cords in the mist: move-in on Sunday morning.
A 1954 Cunningham C-3 Vignale coupe takes to the Sunday show field.
Sunday’s weather couldn’t have been better, and the field of roughly 160 classic cars included everything from brass-era automobiles to CCCA Full Classics to muscle cars and sports cars. Our military vehicle class included a trio of 1918 Dodges, assembled together for the very first time since serving in World War I. Special guest Lee Holman entertained the crowd with tales of racing (from NASCAR to quarter-mile to European circuits), and a wide array of vendors offered attendees everything from parts, tools and restoration services to automotive-themed artwork.
A trio of Dodge military vehicles, reunited for the first time since 1918.
Our Best in Show: a 1932 Studebaker President convertible sedan.
The Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance is presented by Gullwing Motor Cars, in conjunction with supporting sponsors McCollister’s Transportation, Restoration & Performance Motorcars, Restoration Parts Unlimited Inc., Stewart-Warner Genuine Parts, Magic Creeper, Colonel Crawford Eagles All-Sports Booster Club, the New England Auto Auction, Coker Tire, Car Dolly, Microbead Car Covers, and hospitality sponsor Prestige Family of fine cars.
For the first time, the Best in Show winner was chosen from a pool of three finalists, including a 1958 De Soto Adventurer convertible owned by Vernon Smith of Newfoundland, Canada; a 1954 Cunningham C-3 Vignale coupe owned by Jim Taylor of Gloversville, New York; and the ultimate winner, a 1932 Studebaker President convertible sedan, owned by George Vassos of Agawam Westfield, Massachusetts. We’ll have more on the show-winning Studebaker in tomorrow’s Hemmings Daily, but for now enjoy a selection of images from this weekend’s shows.
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Custom d’Elegance Award winner: 1957 Chevrolet Convertible owned by Cliff Mattis
The World’s Most Beautiful Lowrider was a new award for 2024, and Carlos Martinez took first honors with his lilac-painted 1964 Chevrolet Impala convertible named “Indigenous Angel,” featuring fabrication and assembly by American Muscle Cars, wheels and intricate engraving by Chavez Engraving, hydraulics by “Big Rob” Barajas and spectacular murals by Tim Lowery.
World’s Most Beautiful Lowrider Award winner: 1964 Chevrolet Impala convertible owned by Carlos Martinez
The familiar King of Kustoms award sponsored by Celebrity Kustoms was awarded to Mike McAuliffe and his 1953 Ford Victoria, which perfectly represented the elements required of the award, such as overall design, flow, quality and workmanship of bodywork, paint and interior. McAuliffe will receive a bespoke Jostens ring engraved with his name and car.
King of Kustoms Award winner: 1953 Ford Victoria owned by Mike McAuliffe
The West Coast Challenge Car Show Series presented by ARP Fasteners crowned its Grand Champion during the Sacramento Autorama for the second consecutive year. The Best of the West award went to Brent Schieder and his 1937 Ford Cabriolet. Schieder received a $12,500 prize, while second- and third-place finishers Scott Cooper (1970 Chevy El Camino) and Gary Holyoak (1932 Ford Roadster pickup) received $6,500 and $3,500, respectively.
Best of the West Award winner: 1937 Ford Cabriolet owned by Brent Schieder
“We brought together all the best parts of the Sacramento Autorama with a few new elements for 2024, and we are delighted with how Northern California’s incredible car community responded,” said John Buck, owner of Rod Shows and producer of the Sacramento Autorama. “This year, we celebrated hundreds of custom hot rods and muscle cars alongside lowriders, trucks, bicycles and more, and it wouldn’t be possible without the car owners and builders who bring their incredible entries to the show.”
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