Diversity honours Greenwich co-founder

| 5 Jul 2011

With everything from a veteran Panhard and a coach built 1950s Hudson, to a Mexican 'Baja Boot' desert racer, the diversity of the cars on display at this year's Greenwich Concours d'Elegance was a fitting tribute to event co-founder Genia Wennerström, who passed away less than a month before the 4-5 June event.

Fine weather at the annual Connecticut, US event led to a strong spectator turnout with a 1929 Duesenberg J-113 Speedster (above) - complete with mahogany decking and ostrich hide upholstery - winning the People's Choice award for the Saturday.

Best of Show for the same day went to another Duesie: Judge Joseph Cassini III's 1933 SJ-512 Beverly Sedan(below) that was once owned by radio and refrigerator tycoon Powel Crosley who, ironically, later made an even bigger name for himself developing compact cars.


Pennsylvanian John Rich's stunning Letourneur-bodied 1938 Delage D8-120S Aerosport Coupe scooped both People's Choice and Best of Show on the Sunday - only the second time in the event's 16-year history that a single car has picked up both awards.

But it was the diversity that really amused the crowds: James Glickenhaus' 1967 'Baja Boot' (below) - which was once raced by Steve Mc Queen and stuntman Bud Ekins - won the 'Most Innovative Automobile' award for the Saturday.


Also intriguing was John William Middendorf's 1907 Panhard Picnic Wagon that was re-bodied in South Africa before being restored in the late 1990s and subsequently bought at auction in London.

Other standouts included Wayne Carini's 1954 Hudson Italia - a Touring-bodied take that Carini first admired when he was 16 years of age, more than 40 years ago while the award for Best Car and Costume on Sunday went to Linda and Robert Pellerin's 1938 Standard 'Flying Ten' (below). Gwen and Parker Ackly picked up the same award the day before for their 1915 Dodge Brothers Tourer (below, bottom) - complete with phonograph so that Gwen could demonstrate the Charleston!