Family Circle

The Greenwich Concours d'Elegance is all about circles. Cars are arranged in circles of their peers on the picturesque waterfront of Roger Sherman Baldwin Park in Greenwich, Connecticut. This past Saturday opened the twelfth edition of the Nutmeg State's premier car event, the brainchild of Bruce and Genia Wennerstrom.

With six duPont cars on the field, belonging to several members of the duPont family, it was fitting to put them together in a DuPont Circle. The duPont, a low production luxury car, was built at Wilmington, Delaware, from 1919 to 1931. Interestingly, although five of the Greenwich duPonts were 1929 Model Gs, no two were alike. The speedster at the top of the page shared its bull nose with the four-place speedster. The convertible coupe and tourer had similar radiators but dissimilar ornaments. The sedan had yet another style radiator and a regal rooster ornament by Lalique. This contrasted with the gun on the speedster, and the roadster had another outlook entirely. Rounding out the circle of duPonts was the solitary Model H extant and two "Baby duPonts" built for children in 1930.

This was the second year for a Christie's auction at Greenwich, featuring cars from the collection of the late renowned tenor Sergio Franchi. Among Sergio's cars were a magnificent 1930 Castagna-bodied Isotta Fraschini boattail convertible ($666,200 including buyer's premium) and an enticing unrestored 1925 Murphy-bodied Mercedes (unsold). His 1958 Mercedes 190SL, which the Brits would say needed a "bit of tidying," went for $17,625. Among non-Franchi cars were a cute 1922 Renault Model NN town car ($21,120) and Earl Johnson's "Janie," a 1978 Checker that was the last of the breed in taxi service in New York City ($9,400).

Several carless exhibitors were on hand; one of them would teach you how to make fenders with an English wheel.

Some of my favorite concours cars were the 1937 right-hand-drive Oldsmobile with Redfern body by Maltby, and the timeless 1952 Chrysler Ghia Special, a car that looks as contemporary today as it did when new. The 1947 Plymouth station wagon of Henri David took Best Woodie. Best of Show for Saturday was the stealthy 1929 supercharged Lancefield-bodied Stutz owned by Skip and Judy Barber.

Foreboding weather forecasts kept many entrants at home, but it was midday before rain began in earnest. Cars donned raincoats and the spectators raised their umbrellas. Despite the precipitation, everyone had a good time, and hoped for a brighter day on Sunday.