Palm Beach, 26th of January, 2014
Today fell the final curtain of this year’s Cavallino Classic, the first
highlight in a very young classic car season. The Cavallino
Classic was already in its 23rd edition and within this time it
became the most important Ferrari event in the year attracting
both American collectors and some from overseas. One week
after the auctions in Arizona many Europeans took the chance for
a prolonged stay in the warmer climate of Florida instead of flying
back to the European Winter.
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On the last day of the four days event the Classic Sports Sunday
multi-marque concours was held at Donald Trump’s private
Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, this final event was introduced
years ago to give also non-Ferrari owners the chance to take part
in the CC and with a charity lunch at the ballroom this even
served a good cause.
Several Ferrari from the Concours at The Breakers were shown
again at the lawn to collect more silverware and the street cars
were parked up the hill under the palm trees including a few 275,
GT Lusso or Series 2 Cabriolets, the SWB and LWB California
Spyder and yesterday’s Best of Show winning 400 Superamerica.
“Floating” down the hill was the competition Ferrari facing the
main building and the pool area were the champagne and some
coffee was served during the brunch time. One of the last arriving
cars was the 250 LM and although it is a race car it was never
raced in period so this builds a good bridge for the more active
contenders on the international circuits. Beside the 275 GTB
Competizione the two Testa Rossas were lined up together with
the 335 S and the 500 F2. Unfortunately their spot was most of
the day in the shadow as the sun decided to show up more
frequently behind the clouds than the day before and it was even
warming up a little bit in the afternoon after the rather chilly
temperatures of the last days.
Just aside the racing Ferraris was a small line-up of pre-war race
cars including the wonderful Aston Marin Brooklands racer and
the Bugatti T37 A that were already seen actively during the track
days at the Palm Bach International Raceway. They were joined
by an Allard and a late arriving Bugatti T55. Also in the pool area
was as usual the pre-war coach built class including a mighty
Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster that was sold at last
year’s Monterey auction by RM. Not less imposing was the duo
of Duesenberg that was parked nearby facing the pool reflecting
their chrome on the water. All the way from the Arizona Concours
two weeks before came the Steyr 220 Convertible by Glaser and
the Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A SS with LeBaron single-rumble-seat
body.
Very British was the line-up of the featured marques Bentley and
Rolls-Royce presenting the heritage of the two companies before
and during their cooperation beside the latest models. Bentley
was presented by a 4 ½ Litre Le Mans and a short chassis 8 Litre
of the Cricklewood era, a Derby Bentley 3 ½ Litre DHC and one of
the very popular Continental R-Type.
Whereas in previous years Aston Martin was very strong on the
field this year just one DB MKII DHC found its way to Mar-a-Lago.
Several Mercedes were shown including a duo of the 300 SL
Roadster and a Gullwing along its small brother, the 190 SL, less
sportive was the 600 limousine although it was a short chassis
version.
After a closer look at the cars in the morning the entrants and
their guests went to the ballroom to have some lunch and to get
some more silverware to fill up the cabinet that might be already
full by most of them as they usually are regulars to the concours
field. During lunch time the lawn was quit empty leaving a few
photo opportunities, just a few members of the club took the
chance to have a look at the cars and take pictures of themselves
in front of them.
When the people came back there was very soon an atmosphere
of departure as most of the entrants wanted to be home by time
to enjoy the rest of the weekend after two days on the lawn or the
restorers and caretakers to take the car on the sometimes long
way back into the temperature-controlled garage.
Just at the end of the day even the man of the house, Donald
Trump had a quick look around being obviously pleased with the
presentation.
For today we have put together a small preview of the display of
the Classic Sports Sunday to finalize our daily report on this
year’s Cavallino Classic with a more intensive look back on all
parts of the Cavallino Classic following during the next days
showing most of the cars on display.
Report & images … Peter Singhof
www.classiccarphotography.de
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