1954 Osca MT4-1500
Classic cars: obsessive passion for some, undeniably beautiful creations admired by many. For the recent running of the California Mille now in its 19th year, a splendid array of cars was entered. The passionate came to flaunt their prized gems, and, now for you admirers out there, here we present the best of the best; the event’s chosen winners are . . .
The oldest car to be chosen was the 1939 Jaguar SS-100 entered by Garrett Bouton of San Francisco. It completed the rigorous thousand-mile tour as easily as the more modern cars.
The second car to be honored, a 1953 Siata 208S, is owned by San Francisco architect Robert Davis; he races this little gem at Sears Point in Sonoma and Monterey’s Laguna Seca. The Siata took the Mille drive in stride, looking as brilliant as ever.
Mike Leventhal brought his 1954 Osca MT4-1500 out from Chicago. This tasty little car was originally run in the nineteen-hundred-mile Carrera Panamericana Mexico in ’54. It’s been restored to look and drive exactly as it did then. The decision to recognize this car was an easy one.
1939 Jaguar SS-100
The final winner was a 1957 Talbot-Lago America, a car that used a BMW V8 engine in this, the last year of Talbot-Lago manufacture. Owner Stephen Ross of Calgary, Alberta, is obviously not a follower of the herd. A car like this attracts the independent thinker, and Ross is definitely one of those!
Plans are already being made for the 2010 California Mille, which celebrates the event’s 20th year—and coincides with the 100th year of Alfa Romeo, one of our favorite marques.
ROLLS ROYCE
Walking in Tokyo a few weeks ago, I was passed by a new, all white Rolls Royce Phantom sedan; the Japanese license plate featured only a single digit: 1.
Must have been an important person seeking a high profile.
San Francisco has not been a particularly easy market for Rolls Royce; we prefer sporty to formal, so brands like Ferrari, Maserati, Aston Martin, and Bentley tend to do better here.
1953 Siata 208S
Rolls Royce, however, recently unveiled two new models that are intended to be sportier: a four-seat convertible and an enclosed two-door coupe. Neither one is especially sporty, but both are attention-getters.
Unusual doors are rear-hinged, possibly aiding entry/exit, and they’re definitely eye-catching. Careful engineering safeguards ensure that the car can only move when those doors are securely closed.
The convertible I drove had teak decks just ahead of and behind the passenger space, a touch not found on any other contemporary car.
The biggest surprise these Rollers have to offer is the way they drive; they don’t feel nearly as big or heavy as they are, and they offer reasonably crisp handling. Predictably pleasing, the ride is silky smooth.
These showy autos may point toward some political incorrectness, and could blow your low profile, but they sure are fun to drive!
Martin Swig is a former San Francisco new-car dealer who now presents the internationally-celebrated California Mille and other historic car events. As a free service to Gazette readers, he’ll offer suggestions on how to dispose of a cherished car. Call him at 415-479-9950.
