Mercedes-Benz on top at Arizona Concours

By Greg MacLeman
Events
 | 14 Jan 2015

A 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Sport Cabriolet A beat stiff competition to win Best of Show at the second annual Arizona Concours d'Elegance, which took place on 11 January at the Biltmore Resort in Arizona. 

The car, which belongs to Thomas Taffet from Chatsworth, California was put on display by the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center, and also scooped the Best in Class gong in the European Classics category. 

The Concours built on the success of the inaugural event, which took place last year, with the addition of two seminars. The event also included a number of cars formerly belonging to famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who lived and studied in the area. 

A 1937 AC Ace 16/80 that made its post-restoration debut at the show won a Historic Vehicle Association special award, as did a 1949 Crosley Hot Shot, which also had an association to the draughtsman. 

AC Ace 16/80

Full list of winners

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 275GTB, Terry Maxon, Glendale. AZ
Avant-Garde: 1949 Volkswagen Hebmuller cabriolet, Ron Clarke, Paradise Valley, AZ
Exotic: 1967 Ferrari 330GTS, 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 250GT 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 250GT, 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 Testa Rossa, Bill and Linda Pope, Scottsdale, AZ

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Greg MacLeman

Greg MacLeman is a contributor to and former Features Editor of Classic & Sports Car, and drives a restored and uprated 1974 Triumph 2500TC