The Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance 2012 was staged Sunday, May 20th on the grounds of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael, California. Approximately 10,000 spectators enjoyed the sunny Northern California weather and the more than 200 American and European automobiles on the show field.
The fourth annual event celebrated the craftsmanship of French coachbuilders such as Figoni & Falaschi, Saoutchik and Chapron, in addition to Italian designers Bertone, Zagato and Vignale. Also featured in 2012 were Cord Automobiles–in honor of the 75th anniversary of the last year they were produced–and Closed Wheel Sports Racing Cars.
Among the featured French automobiles was the 1938 Talbot-Lago T 150 C SS “Goutte d’Eau” bodied by Figoni & Falaschi. Entered by Peter and Merle Mullin of the Mullin Automotive Museum Foundation, this car was originally ordered by Woolf Barnato, a well-known 1930s playboy, race car driver and financier.
A headline Italian entrant was the 1947 Cisitalia 202 Cabriolet once owned by Argentinian first lady Eva Peron and her husband Juan. Currently part of the Classic Car Collection at the Academy of Art University, chassis number ‘021’ was the first 202 cabriolet produced by Cisitalia and the only one whose coachwork was designed and manufactured by famed Italian designer and coachbuilder Battista “Pinin” Farina.
Other notables entrants at the 2012 Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance included the Aston Martin DB2 Prototype; Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato; Chapron-bodied Citroen DS19; Porsche 906 Carrera; Delage D8-120 DHC by Chapron; Delahaye Type 165 Cabriolet by Figoni et Falaschi; Jaguar D-Type OKV 3; Hispano-Suiza K6 by Pourtout and Delahaye 135 Competition by Figoni et Falaschi; among others.
The Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance 2012 awarded Best of Show – Concours d’Elegance to the 1939 Delahaye Type 165 Cabriolet of Peter and Merle Mullin, while the 1947 Cisitalia 202 Cabriolet of Dr. Elisa Stephens won Best of Show – Concours de Sport.
People’s Choice went to Al Giddings’ 1923 Stearns-Knight Roadster, the Spirit of Mille Miglia was awarded to the 1955 Austin-Healey 100S of Robert Griffin, the best Cord went to Jules Huemann’s 1937 Cord 812 SC Cabriolet and the 1971 Shadow MK II Can-Am of Dennis Losher won Closed Wheel Sports Racing Cars.
Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance 2012 – Photo Gallery (click image for larger picture and description)
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Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance 2012 – Class Winners
American Classics 1924-1948
Al Giddings, Pray Mountain, CA. – 1928 Stearns-Knight Roadster
American Manufactured 1946-1956
Mike Pometta, Larkspur, CA. – 1949 Buick Roadmaster Riviera Hardtop
American Manufactured 1957-1979
Mike Marsh, Vacaville, CA. – 1958 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible
Cord Automobiles
Jules Huemann, San Francisco, CA. – 1937 Cord 812 SC Cabriolet
Ferraris Through 1974
Gary Kuntz, Danville, CA. – 1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4 Coupe
European Manufactured
Robert Cory, San Francisco, CA. – 1937 Delahaye Roadster
French Coachbuilt Automobiles
Peter and Merle Mullin, Oxnard, CA. – 1939 Delahaye Type 165 Cabriolet
Imports Under $3500 MSRP 1946-1962
Tancredi D’Amore, Mill Valley, CA. – 1958 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider Veloce
Imports Over $3500 MSRP 1946-1962
Mr. And Mrs. Gordon Johnson, Alamo, CA. – 1947 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet
Imports Under $5,000 MSRP 1963-1979
Damian Friary, Novato, CA. – 1966 Austin-Healey Convertible
Imports Over $5,000 MSRP 1963-1979
Tony Theophilos, Piedmont, CA. – 1965 Jaguar XKE Coupe
Italian Design Studios 1946-1979
Dr. Elisa Stephens, San Francisco, CA. – 1947 Cisitalia 202 Cabriolet
Muscle Cars 1964-1973
Geoff Palermo, Novato, CA. – 1969 Mercury Cyclone 2-Door Hardtop
Closed Wheel Sports Racing Cars Through 1979
Dennis Losher, Twain Harte, CA. – 1971 Shadow MK II Can-Am Car
British Motorcycles Through 1940
James Tomich, San Jose, CA. – 1937 Rudge Ulster
British Motorcycles 1946 -1963
Paul Zell, Novato, CA. – 1952 Vincent Black Shadow w/side car
British Motorcycles 1964 – 1979
Bill Whalen, Windsor, CA. – 1973 Triumph TRX75 Hurricane
Preservation / Unrestored Through 1979
Andy Chan, SF, CA. – 1977 Mercedes-Benz 230 (W123) 4 Door Saloon
Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance 2012 – Special Award Winners
Price Family Excellence Award
Peter and Merle Mullin – 1938 Talbot-Lago T150C SS Tear Drop Coupe
Hospice Care Award
Tom and Joanne Miller – 1947 Oldsmobile Series 68 Convertible
Boys and Girls Club of Marin and Southern Sonoma Counties Award
Robert Cory – 1937 Delahaye Roadster
Charles and Barbara Goodman Award
Ken and Ann Smith – 1936 Delahaye 135 Competition Disappearing Top Convertible
Forgotten Treasure Award
Barry Power – 1953 Kaiser Dragon 4-Door
Spirit of Mille Miglia
Robert Griffin – 1955 Austin-Healey 100S
KCBS All News Radio Award
Bill and Dee Kuettel – 1923 Hispano-Suiza H6B Dual Windshield Touring
Junior Judges Award
David Tipp – 1935 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Landaulet
People’s Choice Award
Al Giddings – 1923 Stearns-Knight Roadster
Best of Show Concours de Sport
Dr. Elisa Stephens – 1947 Cisitalia 202 Cabriolet
Best of Show Concours d’Elegance
Peter and Merle Mullin – 1939 Delahaye Type 165 Cabriolet
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[Source: Marin Sonoma Concours; Dennis Gray]
