A 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Sport Cabriolet A has won Best of Show at the second annual Arizona Concours d’Elegance, held Sunday, January 11, at the Arizona Biltmore Resort.
The spectacular pre-war cabriolet, owned by Thomas Taffet of Chatsworth, California, was brought to the Arizona Concours by the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center. The 540K earlier won Best of Class in the European Classics group.
The Arizona Concours stepped up for its second year, building on the strong success of its inaugural 2014 event, and with the historic Arizona Biltmore again providing the stunning Art Deco backdrop. Sunday’s attendance was a sellout for the 2015 Concours, and the two Saturday seminars – the Phoenix Automotive Press Association auction preview and the Elegance at Speed racing-car design forum – were very well attended.
The beneficiary of the Arizona Concours, Make-A-Wish Arizona, raised more than $70,000 in donations. The Arizona organization is the founding chapter of the national foundation that grants wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions.
The class winners and special award winners are:
Pre-1915 Antique: 1903 Pope-Hartford Model B, John Konwiser, Scottsdale, AZ
Pre-war sports and racing: 1932 MG F1 Magna, Malcolm and Barbara Appleton, Waitsfield, VT
Post-war American-powered sports cars: 1952 Cunningham C-3 convertible, Rich and Karen Atwell, Phoenix
Post-war American race cars: 1959 Watson “Simoniz Special” Indy roadster, Larry and Jan Pfitzenmaier, Sonoita, AZ
Post-war European sports cars: 1962 Jaguar E-type OTS, Randall Smalley, Paradise Valley AZ
American Classic Open: 1933 Packard 1005 convertible coupe, Aaron and Valeria Weiss, San Marino CA
Post-war European Race Cars: 1956 Ferrari 500 Testarossa, Linda and Bill Pope, Scottsdale, AZ
American Classic Closed: 1937 Buick 91F formal sedan, Lee Gurvey, Scottsdale. AZ
European Classic: 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Sport Cabriolet A, Thomas Taffet, Chatsworth, CA
Preservation: 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB, Terry Maxon, Glendale. AZ
Avant-Garde: 1949 Volkswagen Hebmuller cabriolet, Ron Clarke, Paradise Valley, AZ
Exotic: 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS, Philippe and Francoise Reyns, Chandler, AZ
Post-war Mercedes-Benz: 1961 300D sedan, Barry Sohnen, Los Angeles
Pierce-Arrow: 1916 Model 48, Clive Cussler, Paradise Valley, AZ
Ghia: 1952 Fiat 8V Supersonic, David Sydorick Beverly Hills, CA
Special Awards:
Make-A-Wish Kids: Jaguar XK120C, Bill and Linda Pope, Scottsdale, AZ
Hagerty Young Judges: 1927 Marmon E-75 Speedster, Ed Boice, Los Ranchos, NM
Historic Vehicle Association: 1949 Crosley Hot Shot (Frank Lloyd Wright), Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum, Auburn IN
Historic Vehicle Association: 1937 AC 16/80 “Ace” roadster, David and Rochelle Buice, Dallas
Phoenix Automotive Press Association: 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, Todd and Stan Reeg, Paradise Valley, AZ
Most elegant pre-war: 1933 Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow, Academy of Art University, San Francisco
Most elegant post-war: 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Zagato, Rocky Mountain Auto Collection, Scottsdale, AZ
Director’s award: 1953 Cadillac Series 62 Ghia (Rita Hayworth Cadillac), Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles
Director’s award: 1951 OSCA MT4, T.G. Mittler, Santa Fe NM
Director’s award: 1957 Dual-Ghia, Curt and Carole Ziegler, Denver
Most significant race or sports car: 1954 Ferrari Europa 250 GT, Budd and Laurie Florkiewicz, Scottsdale, AZ
Significant design of its era: 1937 Cord 812 SC Custom Beverly, Bruce Hanson, Phoenix
Special award: 1956 Ferrari 500 Testarossa, Bill and Linda Pope, Scottsdale, AZ
