For the 20th year, the 1,000-mile back-roads tour of Northern California, known as the California Mille, will kick off in San Francisco. Inspired by the Italian Mille Miglia (1,000 miles), which ran from 1927 to 1957, the California Mille attracts an international field.
Participants are dazzled by the beauty of the route, which traverses two-lane roads through the vineyards, redwoods, and coastal vistas between here and the Victorian town of Ferndale.
Alfa Romeo 1750
Cars eligible for the tour are those with a competition heritage built before 1958, thus recalling the original event, it having terminated at that time. Each year there are many 1950s cars—Mercedes-Benz 300SLs, Jaguar XK120s, Porsche 356s, Alfa Romeo Giuliettas. There will also be some lesser known and rare cars, such as Siata, AC-Bristols, Allards, and a Kurtis.
For years, we’ve encouraged owners of pre–World War II cars to enter. Those pre-1940s cars are works of industrial art, much treasured by true auto buffs; these autos are unsophisticated by today’s standards, but full of character. Unlike today, when all cars have an international flavor, in those years you’d never confuse an Italian car with an American. French cars had a flavor distinct from the English. There were almost no Asian cars.
This year’s Mille will feature two 1927 Bentleys, both from California. A couple of years ago, two Bentleys of that era came from Switzerland (British Bentleys won the 24 Hours of Le Mans several times in the ’20s). This year one of those Swiss will bring his 1927 Lancia Lambda. Another European entrant will bring a 1934 Lagonda, a very sporting British car.
This year the event honors the 100th anniversary of the Alfa Romeo car, as well as the 150th anniversary of Chopard Watch.
1927 Bentley
Alfa Romeos were the Ferraris of their time—fast road cars and frequent race winners, produced in small numbers and costing much more than ordinary cars. We’re expecting two pre-War Alfas (as well as possibly eighteen post-War models). For those of you who only drive modern cars, it’s hard to imagine the thrill and challenge of driving one of these seventy- to eighty-year-old cars. They’re liable to be hard to start, hard to steer, hard to stop, and they don’t ride very well either. You’ve already paid a big maintenance bill in order to prepare for a 1,000 mile drive. It’s probably an open car, so you get cold, buffeted by the wind, or sunburned. The driving position isn’t terribly comfortable. To drive this treasure 250 miles on two-lane roads requires about the same exertion as driving on the freeway to LA and back in one day! But doing it in the company of like-minded enthusiasts, on a beautiful spring day in Northern California is irresistible—for us.
All of the seventy participating cars will be on exhibit April 25 in front of The Fairmont Hotel. There’s no admission, and you’ll meet some of the drivers.
WHY OLD CARS COST MORE THAN NEW ONES
Those of us who are true old car collectors and aficionados tend to downplay the dollar values of our cars. We love them for their technology, craftsmanship, significant commercial or racing history, and the pleasure of using them. If you don’t own one, you might wonder why some of them are worth so much. No question a new car is far better in every way: safer, faster, far more comfortable, more durable, and a lot less trouble. But the idea that W.O. Bentley could almost single-handedly design a car in 1919, one that later won Le Mans several times, and inspired a generation of race drivers, and was built in very small numbers, makes ownership of one of his cars today a treasured experience.
You can appreciate a Duesenberg, Packard, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Ferrari, Lancia, or Alfa Romeo for similar reasons. These cars generally didn’t sell very well when new, so few were produced. Fewer survive. Most were financial failures. And when a really proper example is offered for sale, the price can span six, seven, or even eight figures. Even the latest 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost, which was recently featured in this column, costs “only” $250,000!
To enjoy the California Mille cocktails and hors d’ouvres reception, provided by The Nob Hill Association, in the Gold Room at The Fairmont Hotel, purchase tickets ($50 per person) by calling 415-346-8720.
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.
