Category Archives: Car Shows

2023 Arizona Concours d’Elegance Celebrates the Art of Aerodynamics

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The Arizona Concours d’Elegance is back, returning as the highlight of Arizona Car Week in January 2023. The much-admired show and competition of fine automobiles will be held on the grass at the newly renovated Scottsdale Civic Center, bordered by Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA).

The Arizona Concours, scheduled for January 22, 2023, will again invite about 100 select rare and exotic automobiles to be considered for judging and exhibition, with the best among them awarded class prizes and the coveted Best-of-Show.

The theme for the 2023 Concours is “The Art of Aerodynamics.” Such famed classic brands as Bugatti, Duesenberg and Pierce-Arrow will be joined by vehicles ranging from early 20th Century horseless-carriages to the latest in exotic supercars.

Some of the cars participating in the show include include:

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Light Metal Body

Just 24 aluminum-bodied Gullwing coupes were produced for 1955, and they are the ultimate production versions of the iconic sports cars, and by far the most valuable.

1935 Jaguar SS-90 Prototype

The SS-90 set the stage for all Jaguar sports cars to come, as well as launching the marque’s legendary reign in motorsports – the prototype served as the factory’s first competition car.

For information about tickets, vehicle entries and sponsorships, please visit ArizonaConcours.com or scottsdaleperformingarts.org/event/arizona-concours-delegance.

About the Arizona Concours d’Elegance

A curated and judged exhibition of the world’s finest collector cars, the Arizona Concours d’Elegance is a celebration of automotive design held each January during Arizona Car Week. A point of pride for the region’s car community, the non-profit event supports the arts and local artists.

About Scottsdale Arts

Through its partnership with the city of Scottsdale, the nonprofit Scottsdale Arts creates diverse, inspired arts experiences and educational opportunities that foster active, lifelong community engagement with the arts. Since its founding in 1987, Scottsdale Arts has grown into a nationally recognized, multi-disciplinary arts organization offering an exceptional variety of programs through four acclaimed branches — Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA), Scottsdale Public Art and Scottsdale Arts Learning & Innovation — serving more than 600,000 participants annually.

Future Collector Car Show Returns for 2023

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If you still subscribe to the idea that “young people today don’t care about cars,” then you need to get yourself over to the Future Collector Car Show so you can see for yourself what is really going on.

Founded in 2016, the Future Collector Car Show (FCCS) was established as a way to showcase the next generation of collector cars, covering model years from approximately 1975 to 2005. Though traditional car collectors do not bat an eye at anything from the Malaise Era and newer, cars produced since 1975 are starting to gain recognition from a wider audience.

Vehicles such as the GM F-body and G-body platforms, Squarebody and OBS trucks, and Ford’s Fox body platform have had have a dedicated and loyal fan base for many years, but were largely overlooked by the collector car community. Now, they are starting to take notice.

To give one example, at the 2018 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction, there was an incredible collection of Mustangs from every year of production between 1982 and 1993. This drew a lot of interest from Fox body enthusiasts who were keen to snap up low mileage examples of these cars which had not been modified.

Within the collector car community is a growing group of enthusiasts of Japanese cars. This is a change from previous generations that focused exclusively on American cars. But, it is a welcome change for those who grew up in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s and drove these cars.

The Datsun/Nissan Z cars, the 210, and the 200 and 240SX, the Toyota Supra and Celica, the Honda NSX, and models from Subaru and other manufacturers are now regulars at enthusiast car meets like Future Collector Car Show.

Another example is the rise in popularity of Radwood, which held its first event in 2017 and has since expanded to multiple events throughout the U.S. Radwood focuses on cars of the “Rad” era of the 1980s and 1990s.

Finally, the rise of enthusiast auction sites like BringATrailer and Cars & Bids is a sign that demand for late model collector cars has staying power, and is not just a flash in the pan.

This year, the FCCS show has a new home at Westworld of Scottsdale, alongside the Barrett-Jackson collector car auction.

Come out on Sunday, January 23, 2023 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm to check out a variety of vehicles from the 1980s, 90s, and today that represent the future interests of the collector car hobby.

There will be 10 categories for vehicles, which include:

  • Best of Show
  • Best Preserved
  • Best Restored
  • Best Period-Correct Modifications
  • Best Purpose-Built Performance
  • Visionary
  • Elegance of Heritage
  • Best Electro-Mod
  • Rookie of the Year
  • People’s Choice

The show will be held on the Polo Field at Westworld.

SEMA 2022 – 1978 Pinto Cruising Wagon

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Stopping by the KBS Coatings booth, you may find something a bit different than your typical SEMA Car. Designed and built by Cool Hand Customs of Middleton, WI this Malaise-era had a few upgrades under it’s vintage exterior. Gone is the original drivetrain, replaced with a 3.7L Cyclone V6, backed up by 6R80 6-speed transmission. The 3.7L features custom headers that exit as side pipes on the car, providing a transition from modern to retro.

Cool Hand Customs didn’t stop there, the Pinto also features a modified suspension from Heidts, adjustable coil-overs from QA1 with the suspension terminating at a set of American Racing wheels.

The interior also received some loved via Dakota Digital gauges, custom interior upholstery and a Hurst Sport Shifter. Although I am usually not intrigued by retro-nostalgia or modern drivetrain swaps, this car retains enough of the odd character to stay faithful to spirit of the vehicle. The V6, the pearlescent paint upgrades to the original theme and the willingness to end up with a car that avoids following the pack makes this a must-see build

SEMA Show Announces Expanded Format for 2023

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At the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, show organizers made one of the biggest announcements in the history of the show. Beginning in 2023, the SEMA Show will be expanded into a new format. Read the full press release below.

DIAMOND BAR, Calif. (Nov. 4, 2022) – SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) announces a five-year vision to expand the SEMA Show into an “all-city” experience. Officially called SEMA Week, the expansion’s goal is to create the most passionate and exciting automotive event in the world. SEMA Week will kick off in 2023 with new concepts, activities, and events introduced over the five-year roll-out period.

SEMA Week will be headlined by the SEMA Show, which will remain a trade-only event Monday through Friday. On Friday, the final day of the SEMA Show, a limited number of enthusiasts will be able to attend the SEMA Show through the Friday Experience program, which launched at the 2021 SEMA Show. Beginning on Friday evening of SEMA Week, SEMA will take over the Las Vegas Festival Grounds through Saturday Night with an all-new SEMA Fest.

“We have been watching the connection between enthusiasts and our industry grow for more than a decade and, as the industry’s trade association, I have a responsibility to help facilitate that connection in new and meaningful ways,” said James Lawrence, SEMA Chairman of the Board. “By creating SEMA Week and SEMA Fest, we will be able to maintain the integrity of the trade show that makes it a must-attend event for automotive professionals while introducing a new platform for enthusiasts and the industry to engage with one another.”

For 2023, SEMA Fest will take place at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds and be open to everyone, bringing together automotive enthusiasts with the aftermarket industry in a high-octane and immersive festival-like celebration of car culture. SEMA Fest will feature top music and entertainment, car show and cruise, VIP experiences, craft food, automotive celebrities, and motorsports. It will run alongside the popular SEMA Ignited Cruise and SEMA Show after-party, which draws thousands of enthusiasts on Friday night.

SEMA Week is also scheduled to include a SEMA Auction, featuring some of the best builds from SEMA and many more amazing vehicles to headline the festivities. SEMA will continue to expand and refine SEMA Week over the next five years, rolling out new events and activities throughout the city of Las Vegas. The evolution of SEMA Week preserves the trade aspects of the industry and business components of the SEMA Show, while enabling enthusiasts from all over to join in the festivities and enjoy car culture-focused events throughout the SEMA Week experience.

Additional details for the 2023 SEMA Show, SEMA Week, and SEMA Fest will be announced in the coming months.

About SEMA

SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association founded in 1963, represents the $50.9 billion specialty-automotive industry. The industry provides appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and technology products for passenger and recreational vehicles. Association resources include market research, legislative advocacy, training and product development support, as well as leading trade shows such as the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada and the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show in Indianapolis, Indiana. For more information, visit www.sema.org, www.semashow.com or www.performanceracing.com.

The Arizona Concours d’Elegance Returns in 2023

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SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — The Arizona Concours d’Elegance is back, returning as the highlight of Arizona Car Week in January 2023. The much-admired show and competition of fine automobiles will be held on the grass at the newly renovated Scottsdale Civic Center, bordered by Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA).

The Concours, led by Ed Winkler, Chuck Stanford, Jr. and Steve Evans, has formed a new partnership with Scottsdale Arts, the multi-disciplinary arts organization responsible for artistic services in the city of Scottsdale, to conduct the Concours at its new location.

The Arizona Concours, scheduled for January 22, 2023, will again invite about 100 select rare and exotic automobiles to be considered for judging and exhibition, with the best among them awarded class prizes and the coveted Best-of-Show. The Concours was previously held at the historic Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix as an annual event from 2014 through 2017.

“Scottsdale Arts and city of Scottsdale are thrilled to welcome this premier automotive event to our calendar of arts and entertainment,” said Dr. Gerd Wuestemann, president and CEO of Scottsdale Arts.

“We are excited to have such a fantastic arts organization as our partner as we revive this beloved event,” added Ed Winkler, co-director of the Arizona Concours d’Elegance.

The theme for the 2023 Concours is “The Art of Aerodynamics.” Looking to draw on its previous success as a high-end event, the Concours will welcome select automobiles for submission beginning May 9, 2022. The form for submissions can be found at ArizonaConcours.com.

Tickets for the Concours go on sale June 1; purchase information will be coming soon. Visit ArizonaConcours.com for information.

About the Arizona Concours d’Elegance:  

A curated and judged exhibition of the world’s finest collector cars, the Arizona Concours d’Elegance is a celebration of automotive design held each January during Arizona Car Week. A point of pride for the region’s car community, the non-profit event supports the arts and local artists.

About Scottsdale Arts:  

Through its partnership with the city of Scottsdale, the nonprofit Scottsdale Arts creates diverse, inspired arts experiences and educational opportunities that foster active, lifelong community engagement with the arts. Since its founding in 1987, Scottsdale Arts has grown into a nationally recognized, multi-disciplinary arts organization offering an exceptional variety of programs through four acclaimed branches — Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA), Scottsdale Public Art and Scottsdale Arts Learning & Innovation — serving more than 600,000 participants annually.

1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4: The Harrah Hot Rod

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The Ferrari GTB/4 (unofficially “Daytona”) is a special car, with 1,284 units built between 1968 and 1973. The car was featured in the first two seasons of the 80s hit TV show Miami Vice (though a replica car was used for filming, not a real Ferrari). I have developed an appreciation for the 1970s Ferraris, the 365 GTB/4 and GTC/4 over many years of going to car shows. This specimen was on display at the inaugural Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance in October 2019.

While the modifications to this 1971 GTB/4 and the “Rame Metallizzato” color may upset the tifosi, it is a unique car due to its provenance and history. From the placard next to the vehicle:

This 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 “Daytona” was previously owned by the renowned car collector and casino owner Bill Harrah. Shortly after being built by the factory, this soon-to-be legendary car was delivered to Mr. Harrah’s dealership, Modern Classic Motors. Mr. Harrah had owned many great models of Ferrari, and his personal cars were frequently equipped with his own special touches.

Upon receiving this Daytona as his personal car, the car was fitted with competition-style nine-inch rear wheels, fender flares, and an upgraded engine. The automobile was originally built with a beige leather interior, Nero seat inserts, and pop-up headlights. The refined Daytona was later passed down to another owner in 2012, who oversaw the Daytona’s suspension and front end rebuild by Ferrari of Scottsdale, as well as a fresh rebuild of the matching-numbers engine.

Accompanied with its stunning features and history, this car is the victor in a legendary race for the ages, whirlybird vs. Ferrari. When a Sikorsky helicopter salesman suggested he buy a helicopter to commute between his two casinos, Mr. Harrah nonchalantly replied if the helicopter could beat his Ferrari from Reno to Lake Tahoe, he would buy one. The Ferrari won the race of course, averaging 146 mph along the way.