Beach city car collectors were well represented at the at the 23rd Palos Verdes Concours d’Elegance held at the Los Verdes Golf Course in Palos Verdes Estates on Sunday, September 27.
Photos and text
A new venue and the 100th anniversary of Cadillac highlighted the 23rd Palos Verdes Concours d’Elegance where car owners from the South Bay, including four multi-award winners, took home 16 awards. The annual event was held Sunday, Sept. 20 for the first time at Los Verdes Golf Course.
Manhattan Beach resident Jay Patrick won the Most Exciting Open Car Award for his 1958 Porsche 356 Speedster while Pete and Cathy Hoffman, of Hermosa Beach, won first place in the Lincoln 1946-1971 division with their 1956 Continental Mark II.
Tony Garcia, of Hermosa Beach, was runner-up in the American Horsepower Warriors (1950-1970) category with his 1962 Chevrolet Impala SS 409.
Manhattan Beach’s Kent Neumann also won second place as his 1956 Porsche Speedster was runner-up in the Porsche 356 Class.
“When I got the car about 10 years ago, it was just a roller with four tires. It didn’t even have a seat in it,” Neumann said. “Then I started collecting parts through EBay and swap meets then I took it to Victor Miles who does restoration in Ventura. He had it stripped down to bare metal and sanded.”
After Neumann took the vehicle to Frazier Park for mechanical work (engine, transmission, vacuum hoses, etc.), he returned it to Miles who put it all together.
Neumann also has a 1965 Porsche 356 Cabriolet in his collection.
“That’s my driver,” Neumann added. “It’s a lot different than driving modern day cars but you have to drive them. It doesn’t do any good if they just sit around in a garage.”
Randolph and Melanie Hane, of Torrance, took home the third-place award in the Cadillac (1941-1960) Class after showcasing their bright Aztec Red 1953 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible. It is one of four vintage Cadillacs owned by the husband and wife who have known each other since 6th grade and were 1981 graduates of North High.
“We have had Cadillacs since high school, selling and buying cars and parts when we were punk kids,” Melanie said. “Last year, we drove our friend’s wedding party in our four Cadillacs, traveling down the Esplanade in Redondo Beach. It was so much fun and can be seen on YouTube (1953 Cadillac Eldorado Wedding).”
With a group of detailers by his side, Manhattan Beach’s Robert Werle proudly displayed his 1968 Porsche 911L Targa Sportomatic.
“I got it about three years ago after I had a stroke,” Werle said. “I have a 1967 Targa Convertible but started looking for Sportomatics. A car collector I know called me and told me about the Sportomatic so I jumped at the chance to buy it. It’s a great period car with original tangerine color so it gets a lot of attention. It’s my understanding that only about 340 1968 911L Sportomatics were made and probably only about a dozen are left.”
Victor Preisler, of Hermosa Beach, is another proud Porsche owner.He showcased his 1960 Porsche 356 B Super 90 GT, which he has had for four years.
“It has plexiglass windows, lightweight door panels no insulation and a roll bar,” Preisler said. “It has an extra large gas tank and was really built for racing. The Super 90 came after the Carrera because they were more reliable. Of the six produced in 1960, this is the only yellow one with the rest being silver. It’s really fast and fun to drive. I brought it out of storage and drove it down PCH and up the hill.”
One of the most popular vehicles on display was the smallest. Owned by Kaia Echternkamp, of Glendora, her 1955 Austin J40 included a custom-built Teardrop Trailer.
In 1946, the Austin Motor Company began manufacturing small J40 pedal cars as a way to provide work for unemployed Welsh coal miners. By 1950, the cars were in full production with one of the first presented to Queen Elizabeth to give to Prince Charles, who was two years old at the time.
Originally a pedal car, Kaia’s pride and joy later became one of two J40s (along with two motorcycles) as part of a carousel ride owned and operated by a small family-owned amusement park in Colorado.
The carousel was sold around 2010 with the little vehicles sold separately. Kaia’s grandparents purchased one for her. Grandpa Dennis DeNoi and father Larry Lange restored and transformed the little J40 into a state-of-the-art, fully-operational, motorized mini-car. The labor of love was not cheap with parts and accessories costing more than $15,000.
The family was avid campers so a custom Teardrop Trailer was built to accompany the car. It has working lights, a hot dog grill, refrigerator and running water.
To see the story behind the car and trailer, log onto YouTube videos “Kaia’s Austin J40 Parts 1 & 2” and “Kaia’s Teardrop Trailer.”
Making its Southern California debut was the $1.2 million DiMora Vicci 6.2 Emperor Convertible.
Each of the 25 cars in the planned limited edition DiMora Vicci 6.2 Emperor series features original artwork by Zen Master Lee Sun-Don in the Great Treasure Gate collection. The original oil painting that has been meticulously transferred to the Vicci using gold leaf and brilliant colors is called ‘Development Unbound.’
The powerful 430-hp lightweight DFD Carbon construction DiMora Vicci 6.2 is hand-built in North America with the finest appointments. It is the first true production rolling art, which makes it even more exclusive and sets DiMora Motorcar apart from other car manufacturers.
“DiMora Vicci 6.2 is truly rolling art at its finest,” added Ray Johnson, the 2015 Palos Verdes Concours Chairman. “It was a tremendous asset to this year’s show because never before have a car company and artist come together in such a unique and monumental way.’
The Best of Show Award went to a 1931 Chrysler Imperial CG Le Baron Dual Cowl Phaeton owned by Aaron and Valerie Weiss of San Marino.
