Stella by Stellite

After gloomy, wet skies on Saturday, the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance was brightened on Sunday by occasional sun and a bright little star, the Stellite car. Built by a subsidiary of Vickers for Wolseley, the Stellite was produced from 1913 to 1919. This 1914 Stellite, one of a handful to survive, was owned by Scott Isquick's father in the 1940s. Scott, in searching for "a car like Dad's," found the exact car on a farm in England, bought and restored it. Complete with umbrella, dickey seat and 1,100 cc F-head four-cylinder engine, the Stellite easily won its class. Although the Stellite was contemporary with Elwood Haynes' discovery of the cobalt-chromium alloy of that name, there's no apparent connection in use of the name.

With drier skies, entrants set about polishing their cars, Dennis and Ann Marie Nash grooming their Mark VI Bentley. Bugattis included Types Type 44 and 73C, and Amilcar, the quintessential French sports car, contrasted a 1924 CGS3 Kellner-bodied boattail with a Pegase roadster eleven years newer. Black beauties included the superbly-proportioned Talbot-Lago T-150 coupe and striking Maserati 450S Costin-Zagato. Enigmatic among Maseratis was the 5000 GT, its comely coupe body by Touring contrasting with an odd porcine snout. In coordinated dark crimson were the sultry Bentley R-Type Continental and martial Mercedes 300 "Adenauer" convertible. Much sportier was the Abarth 207A spider, and from another planet the 1936 Austin "Low Loader" London taxi. Rare fare at a concours was the Saab 93B sedan, and perhaps contesting the Concours d'Marine section for vintage yachts was the outrageous Amphicar, secured from rising tides by mushroom anchor. Soulmate for the Amphicar was a Tupolev N007, an air-powered boat for retrieving Russian cosmonauts.

With a drier field, drive-by awards were possible, and videographers captured chairman Bruce Wennerstrom presenting Malcolm and Natalie Pray an award for their BMW 507 sports car. Sunday's Concours Europa repeated Saturday's black-on-black theme, awarding Best of Show to the H6B Hispano-Suiza owned by Frank and Milli Richiardelli.

Greenwich Concours d'Elegance benefits disaster relief agency Americares. The 13th Concours will take place on June 2nd and 3rd, 2007. Bruce and Genia have ordered perfect weather.