Concours d' LeMons

This event is a full press parody of the Concours d'Elegance held on the 18th hole of the Pebble Beach Golf course.  Its web page extols its celebration of the 'Oddball, Mundane and Truly Awful of the Automotive World.  Admission is free.  The judges are proud to be inattentive, unprofessional and subject to bribery.  All manner of costume is welcome and free food may or may not be handed out.  There is one important rule.  If you came with a car you must take one home with you!  No mention was made that you had to leave with the car you came in with.

Happy to be participating.

Bored.

Found my bling!!

There are only three Panhards in the US.  This couple is VERY proud to have one of them.  She later put a loaf of French bread on the hood.

They were asked if they would be willing to pose in front of their car.  Of course! His t-shirt is a white Walgreen's 'special' that he put tape on in stripes, spray painted the open stripes and then pulled the tape off.

I talked to this lovely lady for some time.  She is a regular at Burning Man and her gift to the community there are these platters of fresh veggies which she hands out in the afternoon.  She believes that the Concours d' LeMons is of a similar character, a very sharing and tolerant community.

Interesting bumper!  There are propellers in the back that allow it to drive on water (or in it).  I guess the handle bumper makes it easier to pull out of the water.

Too nice to draw a crowd.

I tried to approach this shot as Tom might have.  I have seen him do it a hundred times.  Get down low and shoot down the car.  How did I do?

 Anything looks better in black.

It is complicated.

No worries.  I am leaving.

Really?  This car is too nice to be in with this crowd.

Just one good paint job away from the 18th hole at Pebble Beach.  This limo was parked next to a car that caught on fire.  The engine in the limo was in excellent condition.  This chap picked up for little more than a dime.

This was located in the German section called Der Self-Satisfied Krauten Wagen.

One step above a tent.

Motor homes have come a long way baby!

Working its way to a nice classic patina.

Could be a judge. I watched to see if he got an Espresso.  I gave up after a while.

Uncomplicated.

Sort of like a covered child's wagon.  I walked around it twice and did not find a tongue.

A fixed-up!  Sort of a camper honeymoon suite with horseshoes for luck!

Cute!

Needlessly complicated.

Tom liked this image!  Yeah!  One like!

The signs were adorable.  I admit to a chuckle.

Hahahaha! 

Yes!  Is he serving?

Price was right in line with my shivers.  The coffee was there to bribe the judges.  Oh well.  I suspect it goes right along with his Make America Great Again cap . . .

I thought of Barbara.  Surely she would have taken this shot.

I get the reference in French.  But, Pujó in Spanish mean pushed.  Maybe both apply.

This is a kit car.  The instructions are on the windshield.

In case the judges don't understand.

I think there is a rule.  The smaller the car the taller the driver!  (And vice versa)  Turns out that Wild Bill is a tattooist and has organized many tattoo-a-thongs with the money raised donated to the local children's hospital.  He is a well known artist featured in many magazines.  He also paints motorcycles and cars.  But, I was impressed that he has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for children.

I could not figure out what was special about this car.  It sure attracted a lot of attention.

Can't imagine that the folks at Pebble Beach sit on their cars.  And with boots on!!

If you didn't smile . . . rub your eyes and look at it again.

Tom was offered some.  Photographers must rate right up there with judges.

Laugh with me.  This car arrives and everyone gathers around. iPhone photos by the dozens.  So, of course I take a gazzilion photos too because this CAR must be really special.  Well no.  The driver is Wayne Carini, host of the TV show Chasing Classic Cars.  None of my photos featured HIM, rather mine were of the car.  He must have dug deep to find this doozie.  It is the worst 'barn find' Tom has ever seen.

Prizes!!  Plastic spark plugs.

Carmel Concours d'Elegance

This is CAR week in Carmel.  The most prestigious of the events is to be held this coming Sunday with exceptional cars parked on the grass at the 18th hole of the Pebble Beach Golf Club.  Leading up to that final day are lots of other events that showcase these special cars.  This post covers the cars that Tom photographed along the downtown streets of Carmel where a smaller version of the Concours is held.

1950s BMW 512 (very rare)

1950s era Porsche

Porsche's latest super car for racing.  Many manufacturers release their new cars at Concours d'Elegance.

Early 1960s Porsche 911

Same BMW 512

1961 prototype Jaguar Type E

1936 Ford pick-up street-rod (street-rods are a little more conservative than hot-rods(

1960s era Jaguar hard top coupe

Custom bodied '39 Mercury

'32 Ford deuce hot-rod

1950s era Porsche 356

1960s Jaguar coupe

1937 Cord roadster (very rare)

Newly released Acura super-car

1980s era BMW M-1 super car

Model T-Ford hot-rod

Early two person Indie race car.  The second person was the mechanic.  This is a featured class at the Concours this year.

1932 Ford roadster (not a high boy because it has fenders)

1960s Jaguar Type E

Ferrari (probably 1980s era) like Magnum PI drove on his TV show.

1940 Ford coupe

1950s era 'bathtub' Porsche

Unidentified Ferrari model (Tom has never seen one like this before)

Iso-Grifo, a limited production Italian car with a Chevy engine

1962 Corvette

1932 Ford roadster

Original early 1960 Ford Cobra roadster

Citroën, the first mass produced front wheel car.

1950s era Porsche roadster

Classic Corvette Stingray

Good Guys in Puyallap

Say that title five times and I guarantee a smile (maybe even a chuckle)!  A big smile is what Tom had on his face when I picked him up after he walked miles capturing these images of good cars.  The show was held at the Fairgrounds in Puyallap.

1934 Ford Coupe

1950 Ford

1941 Ford Convertible

1956 Ford

1956 Ford (My question of Tom at this point was, "Was Chevrolet making cars back then?"

1934 Ford

1932 Three window coupe

1932 Hiboy Roadster (My question, "What makes it a Hiboy?"  Tom replies, "Because it has not been lowered."  OK, I got it . . . . sort of!

1936 Ford Coupe

1936 Ford Coupe with chopped top (I actually knew the answer.  The top has been lowered!

1932 Ford Hiboy Roadster

1932 Ford 5 Window Coupe (with fenders)

A rare 1951 Mercury Monterrey, one of only 400 made.  First Detroit car to feature the vinyl roof.

1940 Ford Coupe

A different car (not a Ford) that I saw on Tom's computer screen and then asked him to send it to me as part of the blog.  Not his idea of a good hot rod!!!  But, he did get a photo of it!

1953 Chevy Station-wagon done in a surfer style.  I like the towed trailer and all the decals.

1932 Ford Pick-up.

1932 Ford Hiboy Roadster

1936 Ford

1928 Model A Roadster with classic flat head motor.

Detail of 1949 Ford paint job.

Hahahahaha!  Tom captured this item just to make me smile.  I did.  It certainly speaks to our individual creative nature. I noticed the luggage rack, the lack of steps (already plenty low) and the sunroof.  I would have loved an inside tour (Tom, next time take out your fish eye for me).