The third annual Arizona Concours d’Elegance, held last Sunday at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix to kick off Arizona’s Classic Car Week, has selected a famous speed-record car, the 1935 Duesenberg SJ Special known as the “Mormon Meteor,” as Best of Show (above). After the field of nearly 100 fine machines was distilled to four class winners, the bright yellow, artfully streamlined machine prevailed from the three other finalists, a 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Zagato, a 1931 Chrysler Imperial CG LeBaron dual-cowl phaeton and a 1932 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Pillarless Berline with Figoni et Falaschi coachwork.
The Mormon Meteor is owned by Harry Yeaggy of Cincinnati, and when new was driven by speed-racing pioneer Ab Jenkins on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah on a number of record runs, including a 24-hour average speed of 154 mph and 48-hour speed of 148 mph. Jenkins, who named the car Mormon Meteor, then modified the mammoth vehicle for his use on public roads. The car was restored in recent years by the current owner to its racing configuration.
Class winners of the 2016 Arizona Concours d’Elegance are:
Best of show
1935 Duesenberg SJ Special “Mormon Meteor,” Harry Yeaggy, Cincinnati
Best in class
- American Classic Closed – 1933 Stutz DV-32 Monte Carlo, Allentown Classic Motor Car Inc.
- American Classic Open – 1933 Chrysler Imperial CG LeBaron dual-cowl phaeton, Aaron and Valerie Weiss, San Marino, California
- Antique Automobiles (Pre 1915) – 1910 Pope Hartford Model T, John and Anabel Konwiser, Scottsdale
- Avant Garde (Pre 1973) – 1958 Gaylord Gladiator, Ralph Carungi, Glendale, Arizona
- Coachwork by Zagato – 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Zagato, David Sydorick, Beverly Hills, California
- Duesenberg – 1935 Duesenberg SJ Special “Mormon Meteor,” Harry Yeaggy, Cincinnati
- European Classic – 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K, Thomas Taffet, Chatsworth, California
- Exceptional Cars of Great Britain – 1932 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental pillarless Berline, Don Williams, Danville, California
- Grand Touring – Pre 1973 – 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4, Brandon and Dennis Pobiak, Scottsdale
- Iconic Postwar American (Pre 1966) – 1956 Cadillac Series 62 convertible, Daniel Withers, Phoenix
- Iconic Postwar British (Pre 1966) – 1962 Jaguar E-Type FHC, David and Robin Levy, Akron, Ohio
- Postwar American-Powered Sports (Pre 1966) – 1961 Chevrolet Corvette Gran Turismo, John & Sonia Breslow, Scottsdale
- Postwar European Sports (Pre 1966) – 1960 Porsche S90 roadster, Randall and Julie Knuth, Tucson, Arizona
- Postwar Racing (Pre 1966) – 1957 Bandini Sport International Saponetta, John & Sonia Breslow, Scottsdale
- Preservation (Pre 1966) – 1962 Ghia L 6.4 coupe, John H. White, Sacramento, California
- Prewar Sports & Racing – 1935 Miller 2-man Indy Car, Malloy Foundation Inc., Corona, California
Also announced during the event was the date for next year’s event: January 15, 2017. For complete information about this year’s other winners and next year’s event, please visit www.arizonaconcours.com
