2010 Concours d’Elegance

Convertible classics

By Christian Gaston

The Forest Grove News-Times, Jul 7, 2010

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Nothing says classic motoring like the convertible. The romance and elegance of a classic cabriolet is hard to beat, and this year's Concours d'Elegance in Forest Grove is highlighting the look and style of convertible motoring, digging all the way back to some of the earliest examples of open autos, like a 1907 Peugeot Phaeton.

Tom Raabe, head organizer of the annual event, said there wasn't a lot of complicated back-room maneuvering involved in picking this year's theme.

"A couple years ago we had a Route 66 theme which was really fun," Raabe said. "We always want to find a theme that ties a mark to the show or something that patrons may really have fun with."

And what could be more fun that putting the top down and digging in for some summer motoring?

This year's event will see hundreds of classic autos ranging from all across the 20th century (and beyond) huddle on the lawn of Pacific University Sunday, July 18.

Raabe said so far, the response from entrants has been good, with enthusiasts digging up classic and obscure “rag tops” from all over.

"There's a whole lifestyle built around a convertible car," Raabe said. "Some of the neatest cars we get in our show are convertibles, so let's celebrate them."

Having a retractable top is a special option today, often adding to the cost of a car over the base model. Convertibles cost more because removing the roof of the car reduces the structural integrity of the car body.

But at the turn of the century, cars were built to be driven with the top down. It wasn't until 1910, when Cadillac introduced the Model 30, the first production closed-body car that car buyers had an option to keep the roof bolted on.

Since then, there have been a number of innovations in convertible technology, including automated retracting roofs and detachable hard-tops.

The gamut of convertible technology will be on display at this year's Concours.

1907 Peugeot 92D Phaeton

The Peugeot Phaeton, a beautiful relic from the turn of the 20th century, highlights the earliest style of convertible motoring. Owner Charles Nelson, of Walla Walla, Wash., said the Phaeton (the term originally described a horse-drawn carriage) was the finest-engineered car in the world when it was new.

The car features a 40-horse-power 4-cylinder engine, a 4-speed gear box and dual exhaust. The car’s interior coachwork, done by Labourdette of Paris is still in tact, showing off the lush wooden textures popular in high-end autos at the time.

The car began its life in France, but was quickly shipped to Brazil in 1908. Not much is known of the early history since records are scarce from that period of ownership. Abe Kogen, an Argentinian car collector, discovered the time capsule car and had Ken Vaughn of Santa Monica, Calif. restore it to show condition.

The car was shown at the Pebble Beach Concours in 2007 and the Greenwich Concours in 2008 before Nelson bought it in 2009.

“This car is one of two in the world to exist and is one of the most important Peugeot’s extant,” Nelson said.

Pictured next to the Peugeot is an 1882 “Penny Farthing” bicycle by Peugeot, the first bike produced by the company, now known in the United States more for its bicycles than its cars, which are often hard to find stateside.

1937 Cord Super-Charged Phaeton 8

The heartache caused by the Great Recession for the major Detroit automakers wasn’t the first time America’s auto industry was brought to its knees.

The Great Depression shook many smaller manufacturers and forced them to scale back plans or sell off divisions.

Cord was sold off in the 1930s and the marque was never successfully revived.

But the company’s short history was filled with innovations, like rolling out front-wheel drive and retractable headlights.

This 1937 Super-Charged Phaeton 8-cylinder beauty has been restored under the watchful eye of Ralph McCarty of Everett, Wash. The car was discovered 20 years ago in poor shape in an automotive shop, where apparently its restoration was abandoned 10 years prior to its discovery.

1955 Sunbeam Alpine Mark III

This hand-built roadster is a rare bird. Only 12 of the 300 cars built are thought to be in existence today. But Concours-goers will get a treat when David McCarty’s blue Sunbeam Alpine Mark III rolls into Forest Grove.

Sunbeam was founded in England in 1888 and after a stint building motorcycles and bicycles started building cars in 1905. The Marque is better known for the Sunbeam Tiger, which resembles an MGB roadster.

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