‘Mormon Meteor’ wins Best of Show at Arizona Concours
The third annual Arizona Concours d’Elegance selected a famous speed-record car, the 1935 Duesenberg SJ Special known as the “Mormon Meteor,” as best of show after a sparkling event held…
The third annual Arizona Concours d’Elegance selected a famous speed-record car, the 1935 Duesenberg SJ Special known as the “Mormon Meteor,” as best of show after a sparkling event held Sunday, Jan. 24, at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix.
Under Arizona’s famously clear blue sky, the bright yellow and artfully streamlined Mormon Meteor rolled onto the red carpet with a throaty roar from its supercharged straight-8 Duesenberg engine, after being picked by the concours judges from a field of 99 superb automobiles fanned out across the landscaped inner lawns of the Arizona Biltmore.
The judges narrowed down their best-of-show finalists to four of the class winners, the Mormon Meteor, a 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Zagato, a 1931 Chrysler Imperial CG LeBaron dual-cowl phaeton and a 1932 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Pillarless Berline with Figoni et Falaschi coachwork, before choosing the legendary Duesenberg as winner.
The Mormon Meteor, owned by Harry Yeaggy of Cincinnati, was driven when newly built on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah by speed-racing pioneer Ab Jenkins on a number of record runs, including a 24-hour average speed of 154 mph and 48-hour speed of 148 mph. Jenkins, who named the car "Mormon Meteor," then modified the mammoth vehicle for his use on public roads. The car was restored in recent years by the current owner to its racing configuration.
The Arizona Concours d’Elegance once again kicked-off the famed Classic Car Week in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area, featuring collector car auctions, car shows, parties and special events. While much of the nation shivers in wintry cold and record snow, the weather in the Arizona desert has been typically warm and dry.
The Arizona Concours d’Elegance benefits Make-A-Wish Arizona, the founding chapter of the national organization that grants wishes for children facing life-threatening medical conditions.
The fourth annual Arizona Concours d’Elegance will be held January 15, 2017.
The winners of the 2016 Arizona Concours d’Elegance are:
Best of show
1935 Duesenberg SJ Special “Mormon Meteor,” Harry Yeaggy, Cincinnati
Best in class
American Classic Closed
1933 Stutz DV-32 Monte Carlo, Allentown Classic Motor Car. Inc.
American Classic Open
1933 Chrysler Imperial CG LeBaron dual-cowl phaeton, Aaron and Valerie Weiss, San Marino, California
Antique Automobiles - Pre 1915
1910 Pope Hartford Model T, John and Anabel Konwiser, Scottsdale, Arizona
Avant Garde - Pre 1973
1958 Gaylord Gladiator, Ralph Carungi, Glendale, Arizona
Coachwork by Zagato
1956 Ferrari 250 GT Zagato, David Sydorick, Beverly Hills, California
Duesenberg
1935 Duesenberg SJ Special “Mormon Meteor,” Harry Yeaggy, Cincinnati
European Classic
1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K, Thomas Taffet, Chatsworth, California
Exceptional Cars of Great Britain
1932 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental pillarless Berline, Don Williams, Danville, California
Grand Touring - Pre 1973
1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4, Brandon and Dennis Pobiak, Scottsdale, Arizona
Iconic Postwar American - Pre 1966
1956 Cadillac Series 62 convertible, Daniel Withers, Phoenix
Iconic Postwar British - Pre 1966
1962 Jaguar E-type FHC, David and Robin Levy, Akron, Ohio
Postwar American-Powered Sports - Pre 1966
1961 Chevrolet Corvette Gran Turismo, John and Sonia Breslow, Scottsdale, Arizona
Postwar European Sports - Pre 1966
1960 Porsche S90 roadster, Randall and Julie Knuth, Tucson, Arizona
Postwar Racing - Pre 1966
1957 Bandini Sport International Saponetta, John and Sonia Breslow, Scottsdale, Arizona
Preservation Pre 1966
1962 Ghia L 6.4 coupe, John H. White, Sacramento, California
Prewar Sports & Racing
1935 Miller 2-man Indy Car, Malloy Foundation Inc., Corona, California
Special Awards
Brass Era
1898 JeanPerrin Voiturette ‘Vis a Vis,’ Alan Travis, Phoenix
Honorary Chief Judge’s Award
1948 Talbot-Lago Type 26 Gran Sport, Clive and Janet Cussler, Paradise Valley, Arizona
Most Elegant - Prewar
1935 Miller 2-man Indy Car, Malloy Foundation Inc., Corona, California
Most Elegant - Postwar
1949 Fiat Topolino Paroramica 750 MM, Scott Gauthier, Scottsdale, Arizona
Directors’ Choice (three cars selected)
1948 Alfa Romeo Nardi Danese, Brent Berge, Mesa, Arizona
1936 Mercedes-Benz 290 cabriolet A, Aaron and Valerie Weiss, San Marino, California
1953 Buick Skylark, Neil and Patricia Deatley, Scottsdale, Arizona
Historic Vehicle Association - Most significant
1962 Ghia L 6.4 coupe, John H. White, Sacramento, California
Historic Vehicle Association - Car that matters
1957 Arnott-Climax GT, Gregory and Debra Johnson, Irvine, California
Mercedes-Benz Award of Excellence
1936 Mercedes-Benz 290 cabriolet A, Aaron and Valerie Weiss, San Marino, California
Hagerty Youth Judges
1965 289 AC Shelby Cobra, Philippe Reyns, Chandler, Arizona
Phoenix Automotive Press Association - Best Story
1898 JeanPerrin Voiturette ‘Vis a Vis,’ Alan Travis, Phoenix
Make-A-Wish
1959 Hank Henry Super Modified, Arizona Open Wheel Racing Museum, Phoenix
Frank Lloyd Wright - Taliesin West
1948 Daimler DE36 Drop Head, Mark Hyman, St. Louis
Frank Lloyd Wright - School of Architecture
1933 Auburn 12 Boattail Speedster, Lou Ficco, Wheat Ridge, Colorado
2016 Collector Car Price Guide
The 2016 edition of the Collector Car Price Guide is here! Pricing information is available for collectors, restorers, buyers, sellers, insurance agents and anyone who could benefit from reliable and authoritative data. The 2016 edition lists all models made by 109 carmakers and 37 truck makers between 1901 and 2008! This brand-new version includes over 275,000 prices for sports cars, domestic cars, imported cars, classic cars, special-interest automobiles, muscle cars, and trucks in 6 conditions.
