Cavallino Classic 27
Concorso d’Eleganza

Keith Bluemel Words by Keith Bluemel
"Prancing Horse Paradise”—You couldn’t make it this year? Well ain’t that a shame…

The 27th edition of the Cavallino Classic ran between the 24-28 January, centred on the luxury Oceanside host hotel, The Breakers, on Palm Beach Shores. For the most part the gathering followed its well established format, apart from the loss of the Jet Party at Jet Aviation at Palm Beach International Airport. This was due to it now being President Trump’s “home airport”, and the security services banned all private vehicles from the airport tarmac.

Double bumper 1953 212 Inter Coupe by Vignale s/n 0285EU
The 1954 250 Europa GT s/n 0407 GT that took the centre of the lawn spot may look "très chic" but had a brief racing career

Instead Thursday saw the resurrected Tour of Palm Beach, which started with lunch on the Croquet Court at The Breakers, with stops at high end locations like the Sailfish Club, The Royal Poinciana Plaza and Tiffany & Co, concluding back at The Breakers. Here the day came to a close with a Tour Finale Party featuring live music in the HMF social club, situated in the hotel’s exquisitely decorated Florentine Room. As an aside, HMF are the initials of, and a tribute to, the resort’s founder, Henry Morrison Flagler.

Mouthwatering selection of multi-coloured Dinos
"Long Nose" 275 GTB Alloy "barn find" made $2.53 million at last month's auction

The pinnacle of the gathering is the concours on the Saturday, where some 120 Ferraris gathered on The Breakers croquet lawn and the golf links beyond. The concours also celebrated forty years of Cavallino magazine cover cars, with a number of spectacular examples present, featuring an eclectic array of coachwork by the likes of Pinin Farina, Scaglietti, Touring, Vignale and Zagato.

1957 250GT PF Cabriolet s/n 0783GT (right) was the most popular among the Honourary Judges
"Playboy Express"—suave 1955 375 America Coupé Speciale s/n 0355AL was custom made for Gianni Agnelli

Some of these examples were entered for judging, and some were display only, but they provided a wide spectrum of body styles to be admired by all in attendance. The judged cars were divided into fifteen classes dependent upon a variety of parameters, like age, type of coachwork, model, and whether it was a competition or street car, with a score of 97 points necessary in each class for a platinum award.

"Happy Hump Day"—protruding lump required to cover the massive 4.9 Litre V12 of the ex-Scuderia Parravano 410 Sport Speciale Spyder s/n 0592CM
"Play as it lies"—the 1st green was well protected by Maranello V8s

Achieving this goal meant that the car was eligible for consideration for the Best of Show awards. The high standard of preparation, and correctness of detail, of the vast majority of entries was very high, giving the chief class judges lengthy deliberations as to which cars would take home the coveted street car and race car Best of Show trophies, along with the other major awards.

"Under Scrutiny"—esteemed Concorso judges hard at work
"Have you already booked your tee time, sir ?"—the first tee was reserved for bespoke Ferraris only

Normally the croquet lawn fronting The Breakers always features the rarer examples of the marque, but this year there were so many prime examples that a number had to be displayed on the golf links beyond the lawn. They were essentially displayed according to their maturity, with the oldest examples closest to the croquet lawn, moving through the years into the distance.

s/n 11057 was one of two out of only ten 275 GTS4 NART Spiders in the world that turned up
"Confrontational"—hard to find a spot where a 400 Superamerica and a 250 GT LWB California Spyder were in one place

Amongst the cars on display were not just one, but two 275 GTS4 NART Spiders, a full 20% of the production,  a variety of 250 series models including 250 GT Cabriolets and Coupes, 250 GT California Spiders in both long and short wheelbase forms, 250 GT SWB Berlinettas and a pair of 250 GTOs.

212 Inter Vignale Coupé s/n 0239EU ran in '52 Carrera Panamericana
212 Inter Ghia Cabriolet was a stand out

There were also a number of earlier examples from the fifties, including a 166 MM Touring Barchetta, a 250 MM PF Berlinetta, a 212 Inter Vignale Coupé in its Carrera Panamericana livery, and a freshly restored 212 Inter Ghia Cabriolet looking spectacular in metallic blue with a white interior. These cars mentioned represent just the tip of the iceberg, of an outstanding selection of models, which graced the verdancy at The Breakers for the concours.

David and Ginnie Sydorick's prized 250 GT Zagato Coupé with signature double bubble roof captured the Best of Show trophy this year
Elegant 1957 250 GT Speciale PF Coupé Finest GT winner was originally delivered new to Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands

As is the usual practice, the results of the concours are carefully guarded and held back until the awards dinner in The Breakers wonderfully ornate Ponce de Leon Ballroom on the Saturday evening. The Cavallino Cup for the Best of Show went to the beautiful dark blue and white 1955 250 GT Zagato Coupé, chassis # 0515 GT, of David & Ginnie Sydorick, with the Finest Competition Ferrari Award going to the 1951 212 Export Touring Barchetta, chassis # 0102 E, of Thomas Peck, and the Finest GT Ferrari Award was taken by the 1957 250 GT Speciale, chassis # 0725 GT, of Lee Herrington.

All Photos by www.sleepy-nokkie.com 

"I can see for miles and miles..."

Cavallino Classic 27 Concorso d’Eleganza Major Awards Winners

Cavallino Cup – for Best of Show

Sponsored by Cavallino Magazine

1955 250GT Zagato 0515GT of David Sydorick

Scuderia Ferrari Cup – for the Finest Competition Ferrari

Sponsored by Cavallino Magazine

1951 212 Export Touring Barchetta 0102 E of Thomas Peck

Gran Turismo Ferrari Cup – for the Finest GT Ferrari

Sponsored by Cavallino Magazine

1957 250 Speciale Pinin Farina Coupé 0725GT of Lee Herrington

La Coppa per Dodici Cilindri – for the Finest 12-cylinder Ferrari

Sponsored by Hublot (Watch Partner)

1956 410 Superamerica 0481 SA of Lammot DuPont

Lammot DuPont's 410 Superamerica was awarded the show's Finest 12-cylinder Ferrari

La Coppa per Otto Cilindri – for the Finest 8-cylinder Ferrari

Sponsored by Hublot (Watch Partner)

1992 348 Challenge 94984 of Joe Dalton

La Coppa per Sei Cilindri – for the Finest 6-cylinder Ferrari

Sponsored by Hublot (Watch Partner)

1972 246GT Dino 03326 of Leo Schigiel

Preservation Vintage Cup (pre-1975)

Sponsored by AIG Insurance (Insurance Partner)

1966 275GTS 08621 of Richard Li

 Preservation Vintage Cup (pre-1975)

Sponsored by AIG Insurance (Insurance Partner)

1969 365GT (2+2) 12529 of Martha Glasser

Preservation Classic Cup (1976-1990)

Sponsored by Mattioli Automotive Group

1987 328GTS 67989 of Lissa Spaulding

Preservation Classic Cup (1976-1990)

Sponsored by Mattioli Automotive Group

1987 Mondial 3.2 73279 of Eugene Di Donato

 *Preservation Awards are for the Ferraris best representing original preserved condition at least 30 years old

Ferrari Competition Cup – for the Finest Track/Racing Ferrari

Sponsored by TubiStyle

1953 250MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta 0258MM of Brian Ross

The 250MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta s/n 0258MM was Count Bruno Sterzi's racer in the 1953 Mille Miglia
Bill Heinecke's alloy-bodied 250 GT SWB (foreground) is one of only two built by Bertone

Ferrari Competition Cup – for the FinestTrack/Racing Ferrari

Sponsored by TubiStyle

1953 250MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta 0258MM of Brian Ross

Robert Tallgren Memorial Elegance Cup – for the Finest Coach Built Ferrari

Sponsored by Cavallino

1959 250GT SWB Bertone 1739GT of William Heinecke

Gerald Roush Memorial Cup – for the Ferrari Requiring the Most Research to Restore

Sponsored by Ferrari Market Letter

1951 212 Export Vignale Coupé 0092 E of Peter McCoy

1951 212 Export Vignale Coupé 0092 E looked splendid in two-tone

Wayne Obry Memorial Cup – for the Ferrari Best Representing Excellence in Restoration Quality

Sponsored by Motion Products

1952 212 Inter Ghia Cabriolet 0233 EL of Jimmy Page

Ferrari Classiche Cup – for the Finest Classiche Certified Ferrari

Sponsored by Ferrari Classiche

1951 212 Export Touring Barchetta 0102 E of Thomas Peck

 Ferrari Supercar Cup – for the Finest 288GTO, F40, F50,Enzo or FXX

Sponsored by The Hangar Group (Man Cave Partner)

1995 F50 104121 of Phil and Martha Bachman

Phil and Martha Bachman's recently acquired F50 has one of the lowest recorded mileage
250GT Boano 0609GT looked capable for both racing and grand touring

Ferrari Spirit Cup – for the Owner Best Representing the Spirit of Track & Concorso

Sponsored by The Hangar Group (Man Cave Partner)

1956 250GT Boano 0609GT of Stephen Bruno

Honorary Judges’ Cup – for the Finest Judged Ferrari Selected by the Honorary Judges

Sponsored by The Hangar Group (Man Cave Partner)

1957 250GT Pinin Farina Cabriolet 0783GT of William Swanson

Chief Judge Emeritus Cup – for the Finest Judged Ferrari as Chosen

by the Chief Judge Emeritus, Ed Gilbertson

Sponsored by Ed Gilbertson

1963 250GT SWB California 4103GT of Motor Classic & Competition

Unforgettable rear shape of the 250GT SWB California 4103GT