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2007 Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance
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Click here to open the slideshowThe Meadow Brook Hall Concours d�Elegance has arguably become the best classic car show east of Pebble Beach. Over the past 28 years this Concours has seen thousands of cars, hundreds of judges and hundreds of thousands of visitors and in all that time, one person has masterminded the ordeal. Don Sommer, founder of the Meadow Brook Concours retired last autumn as chairman of the Concours and handed the reigns over to Larry Smith; longtime judge, committee member and car collector himself.

With a new chairman came some changes, welcomed by committee members and participants alike. Along with an impressive list of new sponsors came a first-ever class of motorcycles. An extraordinary group of 32 four-cylinder two-wheelers displayed alongside nearly 230 fine pieces of automotive history ranging from turn-of-the-century brass-era cars to the premiering Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. Alfa Romeo was honored as the featured marque for 2007 and consisted of three dedicated classes. In addition, the visually stunning B.A.T. prototypes demonstrated just how advanced aerodynamic design had become in the mid 1950�s.

Special Display Cars
During the 50�s it wasn�t unusual for Italian specialty car companies to make one-off examples for high-paying clients. Enrico Nardi built the Blue Ray as an example of his company�s abilities. Shortly after came the Blue Ray II proudly displayed at this year�s Concours by its owner Jim Simpson. Designed by Michelotti and built by Vignale on a Lancia chassis, the occupants of this two door coupe enjoy fine chamois leather upholstery and a panoramic blue Perspex roof.

Yet another exceptional machine gracing the show field was the recreation �Blitzen Benz�. Based on the original 21.5-litre, 200 horsepower 1909 version, this open racer was built in 1935 to celebrate Daimler-Benz�s 50th Anniversary. Speed records fell quickly as the �Blitzen Benz� topped 220 km/h in 1911.
Certainly the most talked about car shown at the Hall this year was one of the six Bugatti Royales built. Spending part of its life in a junkyard before being resurrected this magnificent Cabriolet of 1930�s exuberance is noted as one of the most valuable cars in the world and rarely sees the light of day outside the Henry Ford Museum where it currently resides.

Best In Show
Once again there were two cars selected for Best In Show; one American and one Foreign. In addition, with the new Motorcycle Class a third Best In Show award was created. The stately 1931 Chrysler GG Imperial Victoria Convertible with bodywork by Waterhouse took honors on the American side while the Concours poster-car 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Spider fittingly prevailed on the Foreign side. The Motorcycle Best In Show trophy was awarded to a 1938 Indian Four.

RM Auctions: Vintage Motor Cars at Meadow Brook Hall
For several years now RM Auctions has held a classic car auction on the premises in conjunction with the Concours. As always, the selection of automotive lots on offer at Meadow Brook was predominantly domestic brands. A record 25 cars sold for over $100,000 with the top sale going to the one-of-a-kind 1932 Marmon HCM V12 Sedan Prototype hammering in at $891,000 USD.

Scattered rain showers on Concours Sunday undoubtedly reduced the proposed spectator count, but couldn�t keep the show from proceeding and resulting in a convincing success. The new management will certainly build on this year�s experience as the 2008 edition marks the 30th Anniversary and will feature Significant Ferraris, GM's 100th Anniversary, cars from 1933, 16 cylinder cars, 8 litre Bentleys and motorcycles with sidecars. All the highlights of this year's edition can be found in this 160-shot slideshow.

Class Winners

Class AAA: Alfa Romeo 8C 2900
1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta
1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Spider

Class B: Mid-Engine Cars
1963 ATS 2500 GT Coupe - Scaglione/Allemano

Class C: American Popular 1928-1948
1932 Ford Model 18 V8 DeLuxe Roadster

Class D: Personal Luxury Coupes
1967 Cadillac Eldorado Coupe

Class E: American Luxury and Convertibles 1946-1960
1956 Continental Mark ll Coupe

Class F: Gaslight to 1915
1912 Abbott-Detroit "44" 7-pass. Foredoor Touring

Class G: Roaring �20�s
1928 Graham-Paige 835 Boattail Speedster

Class H: Significant Alfa Romeo
1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Spider

Class J: American Super Stock 1949-1963
1955 Chrysler C300 Coupe

Class K: American Muscle 1964-1973
1969 Chevelle Convertible SS-396

Class L: Early Sports Cars through 1955
1952 Jaguar C-Type OTS

Class M: Late Sports Cars 1956-1969
1962 Ferrari 400 SuperAmerica Coupe - Pinin Farina

Class N1: European Luxury and Sport
1939 Bugatti Type 57C - Voll & Ruhrbeck 2-Dr. Convertible

Class N2: European Luxury and Sport
1939 Delahaye 135 M Convertible - Figoni & Falaschi

Class O: Class of 1957
1957 DeSoto Adventurer Convertible

Class P1: American Classic 1929-1935
1931 Chrysler GG Imperial Victoria Convertible by Waterhouse

Class P1: American Classic 1929-1935
1932 Packard Twelve Dual-Cowl Phaeton

Class Q: American Classic Late 1936-1942
1937 Cadillac Series 90 V-16 Convertible Sedan

Class R: Auburn � Cord � Duesenberg
Duesenberg Dual Cowl Phaeton - LaGrande

Class S: Custom Coachbuilders Saoutchik and Murphy
1931 Bucciali TAV-8-32 Sedan by Saoutchik

Class MA: Early Years of Motorcycling
1926 Cleveland

Class MB: Motorcycling the Early 30�s
1930 Henderson Model KJ

Class MC: The War Years
1938 Indian Four

Class MD: Post War 4�s
1974 Rickman CR750

People�s Choice Award
1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Spider


We would like to thank the organizers of the event and the owners of the cars for their assistance. For more information on this year's and coming events please visit the event's website at www.meadowbrookconcours.org. Report and images by Rob Clements for Ultimatecarpage.com.