There were a few fine cars at the Cottage Grove Concours this weekend, and I’ll get to some more soon, but let’s just say it wasn’t Pebble Beach. That point was driven home by this lust-inducing picture of Edsel Ford’s 1934 Ford Speedster, as well as the winning car:
Also from 1934, the Voison Aerodyne. The Ford Speedster was designed by E.T. Gregoire, Edsel’s personal designer who faithfully translated his visions into reality, including the superb 1939 Continental. The Speedster started out in 1934, based on a Ford chassis, but evolved over several years, and this is a restoration of its final 1940 evolution.
Thanks for posting those, Paul, they’re gorgeous. Too bad Edsel’s name got rubbished, he struggled against the Old Man and created some sophisticated cars that could have taken Ford to a whole other level.
Anyone who appreciates these cars and is anywhere near Portland really must get to the Portland Art Museum’s Allure of the Automobile exhibit. List of cars and photos here:
http://designapplause.com/2011/allure-of-the-automobile-portland/17138/
I saw it last weekend and it’s just stunning. My first chance to see a Tucker, an incredible Bugatti (the real one, not today’s poser), Steve McQueen’s Jaguar XK-SS. Two concept cars especially for the CC Cohort: the 1954 Plymouth Explorer Sports Coupe and the ’59 Sting Ray Corvette prototype.
Also out at the Curb each Saturday is a free car show, with 50 to 80 local cars and their proud owners. Last week was Rods and Customs (including a gorgeous ’55 Nomad), this week it’s Mopar.
http://specialexhibitions.pam.org/allure/events/carsinthepark827/
Worth the trip.
We’re going soon; can’t wait.
The allure of the automobile, right up your street Paul youll have trouble leaving
My roommate has been and we keep meaning to get down there and have yet to make it. Sounds like a great trip.
Great link, if only it was a bit closer! I saw the 1937 Dubonnet Hispano-Suiza “Xenia” at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2 years ago, another unique piece of automotive art. The 1933 Pierce Arrow looks interesting too.
That winning car is a stunning Art Deco showpiece – the whole roof slides back on tracks to open up a sunroof.
How long does that exhibit run? I think I have one or two more business trips to Portland in the next few weeks and I’d like to check it out.
Bob Gregorie was an incredibly talented designer who made Fords, Mercurys and Lincolns of the 1930s some of the most timeless designs ever. I believe that he also was responsible for the 36 Ford, the 39-40 Ford/Mercury. I understood that he left Ford after Edsel’s death and designed yachts for the rest of his life, but never another car.
A brief bio can be found here: http://www.autolife.umd.umich.edu/Design/Gregorie_bio.htm
Nice link jpc didnt realise he did the Ford Y which looks like a 34 that shrank in hot water.
Cant say the winning car does anything for me but Edsels 34 on the other hand is beautiful pity he was never really given a chance by his tyrant father he had a great eye for design.More of a shame is his name is permanently linked to the biggest automotive failure.
I believe the last car Gregorie designed was the 1949 Mercury.
I like that high-class hot-rod Ford quite a bit. Interesting how the evolution is different when one has the resources of a car company behind him.
The winning Voisin is amazing just for its sheer weirdness. I picked up an old Automobile Quarterly a long time ago that had a feature article on Voisin cars, and I’d suspect based on the cars shown that Avions Voisin never once built a car that most people would consider conventional.