Fun at Concours D'Lemons

As much as I love Pebble Beach weekend, I'm the first to admit that it's so far over the top that it's halfway down the other side. There's just too much fabulousness. Oh, look, another hundred point one-off Duesenberg, Yawn. A prototype Ferrari? Meh. What color? It does present the very real danger of one becoming so blase that they are in danger of banging their pipe on the fender of some random Rolls-Royce.

But thankfully there is some much needed comic relief in the form of the Concours D'Lemons, the celebration of the regrettable and unloved automobile. It's a place where Pacers and Gremlins play, where Vegas and Renaults line up proudly and where Deloreans reach their doors for the sky. Glorified Golf Cars pose next to dubious racing cars. Judges take bribes openly and even Cadillac Cimarrons win awards.

This is the event's third year. Rather than ruining it with too much description, I invite you to feast your eyes on the cars. Dark glasses may be helpful. Enjoy:


































And for the real masochists out there, check out many more pictures here.

And did you guess that I really dig the Chartreuse Gremlin?

mercedes boy

Just returning from a rocket day to Los Angeles where I got gasoline on my hands and played with cars. I helped my friend Jeff drop off his very nicely kept 1976 Mercedes 450SEL for servicing. The 450 series is the car that, in my opinion, established Mercedes as THE car to own in Hollywood. Interesting car. Big, safe, impressive but really quite bereft of power accessories- manual a/c and manual seats even- but still a superb driving car. He followed me in the SEL's baby brother, his low mileage Avocado metallic 1976 450SL. Daphne the Spaniel rode shotgun in her car seat in the cubby behind the seats of the SL. It was fun chasing through the west valley in our little blue plate caravan of 70's power rides. A reminder of the days when Mercedes ruled the world. Sad that the current car is so pale in comparison.

After that, I brought his 87 560SL back to the desert. So it was pretty much a 107/!!3 day for me. I'm amazed that at my totally average height I'm actually tall for the 107, and hit my head several times on the roof. But once inside, quite a lovely and nostalgic ride home. Desert night and the sporty little SL are well suited. Still as handsome today as ever. What fun these little roadsters were.