Mercedes-Benz advertised its Model 38/250 SSK as “The Fastest Sports Car in the World,” and with victories at the German Grand Prix, Spa 24 Hours and the Mille Miglia in 1931 alone, the claim was hard to argue. The supercharged 7-liter OHC inline-six made between 250 and 300 horsepower. Fewer than three dozen were built between 1929 and ’31, and this late-production example survives with all of its factory bodywork and mechanicals as produced at Sindelfingen. Owned by the Touring Auto Collection of Decatur, Illinois, it won the Scottsdale Arts Award for Automotive Artistry.
Everyone had to start somewhere. For Sir William Lyons, who would go on to create Jaguar, that somewhere was Swallow Sidecar, adding coachbuilt bodywork to existing chassis, including those built by Standard. This 1935 Swallow Coachbuilding SS1 Coupe, now owned by Eduardo and Michelle Zavala Harris of Saint Petersburg, Florida, spent its first 80 years in Buenos Aires before landing on American shores. The Harrises took home the Clive Cussler “Passion for Collecting” Award.
Just 419 of Mercedes’ range-topping 540K models were built from 1936 to 1940, but the Cabriolet B was among the more popular body styles built, responsible for nearly half of the production run. Ninety years on, it doesn’t make the result any less spectacular. This four-passenger touring car was built at the Sindelfingen Body Works, and its 5.4-liter supercharged inline-eight made 180 horsepower when the supercharger was engaged. Not only did this 1936 example, owned by Valerie and Aaron Weiss of San Marino, California, take Class 3, Continental Elegance in Motion–1930s European Coachwork, but it also won a Director’s Choice award, the Mercedes-Benz Award of Excellence, and (checks notes) oh right, Best in Show (prewar).
As civilian auto production wound down for World War II, any German-made 1939 model is considered rare; barely two dozen Special Roadsters were completed during the W29-chassis 540K’s run, which makes this example one of the last built before the hiatus. It had been hidden away during the war, and lived for a spell behind the Iron Curtain. The Russ and Nellie Jackson Memorial Award was given to the Touring Auto Collection of Decatur, Illinois, for their 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster.
The Cord automobile’s claim to fame, a driveline that powered the front wheels, also allowed a lower chassis that provided better handling than its more conventional competition. Alas, its launch coincided with the Great Depression, meaning barely 5,000 were built between 1929 and 1932. This elegant 1929 Cord L-29 Cabriolet, and its owner, Jason Manns of Festus, Missouri, were presented with the Frank Lloyd Wright Elegance In Motion award.
This sharp 1939 Buick Special Model 46 Business Coupe, owned by Terry and Carol Stines of Phoenix, won a Fashion Designer Award.
The Make-A-Wish Arizona Kids’ Choice Award was won by Jared Guynes and Jessica Sapp from Royce City, Texas, who delighted everyone with their 1964 Amphicar 770. Part automobile and part boat, and said to be the 195th Amphicar ever built, it was restored in 1998 and still shows just 1,700 miles on the odometer.

Not winners but interesting all the same…

With modern Lamborghinis largely variations on the wedgy/two-seat/mid-engined/painted bright colors theme, it’s sometimes hard to remember that Lamborghini started out with a front-engined two-plus-two like this 1965 350 GT — a four-wheeled spite-mobile aimed directly at Ferrari. This example is owned by Randall Smalley of Gilbert, Arizona.
The 1930 Willys-Knight Model 66B “Plaidside” Roadster saw just 400 produced, and you can nearly count the number still extant on your fingers. The eye-catching paint scheme caught on after press photos latched onto the style; today the 66B is recognized as a Full Classic by the CCCA. Larry Icerman of Santa Fe, New Mexico, brought out his sharp black-and-green Plaidside.Advertisement
What does an Italian Jaguar dealer do when he crunches one of his new XKs? Why, he asks a local carrozzeria to make a new body for it, of course! This Zagato-styled coupe is hiding 1957 Jaguar XK140 mechanicals, is one of two built, and is the only example left. Bill and Sally Pope of Scottsdale own this striking coupe.
What’s more shocking — seeing a 1990 model car on a concours lawn, or realizing that 1990 was more than 35 years ago? Jim Ayers of Orange, California, challenged everyone’s preconceived notions with his Mercury Grand Marquis Colony Park wagon.
Open wide and say aaaaaahhh…
Mercury’s Mustang, called Cougar, was an upscale personal-luxury pony car splitting the difference between Mustang and Thunderbird. A few (like this 1968 GTE) were treated to 427 cubic inches of Ford power and spilled over into pure muscle car territory. Painted red with polished rockers to resemble the cars of the successful 1967 SCCA Trans-Am racing team, this example is owned by Randall Smalley of Mesa, Arizona.
“True artists scorn nothing: they are obliged to understand rather than to judge.” — Albert CamusThis wicker-festooned 1924 Ford Model T has been in the same family since 1934. Said to have been covered in the material by Lloyd Manufacturing, famous for the Lloyd Loom process (cellulose fiber spun into a cord, then woven into fabric on a loom, reinforced with aluminum wire, then sealed for water resistance), the material lays atop original sheetmetal. It sparked a lot of conversation on the show field.Among a field of black, grey and silver cars, and others finished in more muted tones, anything with a bright color stands out—and man did this 1953 Packard Caribbean pop! The 61st of just 750 built, this Gulf Green example commanded attention. Darrel and Monique Dundore of Scottsdale brought it out.