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GREENWICH, Conn. The weekend of the year for aficionados of classic cars is under way with the 17th annual Greenwich Concours dElegance at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park, with American cars shown Saturday and foreign cars Sunday.
The event, which draws about 18,000 spectators over the weekend, displays the cars and features a drive-by, in which the cars drive through park before an awards ceremony is held.
On Saturday vintage American cars were on display. Joan and Ron Liske of Middletown showed off a 1937 Studebaker Dictator 5A, which they have owned for 31 years.
Its art-deco style and has one of the most decorative grills ever made, Joan Liske said. It has artillery wheels and a rare flat back with a concealed trunk.
The car may be 75 years old, but it still drives with authority. Weve taken it to Stowe many times, she said. Its very comfortable.
Lee Doran of Lyme presented a 1928 Stutz, a car from Indianapolis which was the fastest car in 1928, he said. It entered 100 races in 1928 and won all of them, and raced in France in 1929.
Doran has owned the car for four years, after buying it from the previous owner in Alaska. Its marvelous to drive and getting better all the time, he said.
Another gem on display was a 1937 Chrysler Imperial C-15 Town Car, which was originally built by LeBaron for Della Chrysler, wife of Walter P. Chrysler. The car features an eight-cylinder in-line engine with three-speed manual transmission and automatic overdrive.
Greg Ryan, a spectator from Cross River, N.Y., said the Greenwich show is the only opportunity to see high-end vintage cars in the Northeast. You dont get a chance to see a Duesenberg outside of a museum.
Spectators paid $30 for one-day admission, $45 for two, with proceeds going to AmeriCares, which operates free health clinics in Bridgeport, Danbury and Norwalk.
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