Desert Classic Concours 2011

[Doc]

We had the pleasure of displaying our Mark II last weekend at the Desert Classic Concours held on the golf course of La Quinta Resort in La Quinta, California (in the desert near Palm Springs). Another great show, made all the more interesting by having three Mark II's present: two in the Concours and one in the affiliated auction. Forum member John Campbell was also scheduled to exhibit, but was called away for business, so we just missed having four assembled for the weekend.

Vin DiBona's very impressive Mark II took second place in our category (a 1949 Cadillac convertible won the class) and is as nice a Mark II as I've ever seen.

http://i831.photobucket.com/albums/zz238/markii1956/IMG_0884.jpg

Our car on the fairway as the show ended and the other cars had departed.

http://i831.photobucket.com/albums/zz238/markii1956/IMG_0906.jpg

[Shawn Newcomb]

Nice car, very picturesque.

Vin DiBona of television fame?

[Doc]

Yes, of "America's Funniest Home Videos" and a whole host of well-known shows. He's active in the LCOC and has a number of cars. He indicates his Mark II is one of his favorites and it's easy to see why, the car is the classic "100 point" car. A very nice guy.

[Bob smith]

Thanks for the great photos Doc. Beautiful background especially in the shot of your car.

Same weekend as the Concours was the spring auto auction in Palm Springs.
A silver 57 with red and grey interior was presented for auction on Saturday with not one offer from bidders. The auctioneer self bid to 60K and ended it.

The owner is an attorney from L.A. Who posted on car after it ran thru a price of 39K. A very respectable car. I have his name and number if anyone is interested.

I love seeing photos on the forum and hope I can do the same when I learn how. Thanks again.

[Doc]

There was also a no sale in the auction at the Classic. A decent car that stalled at $29,000 (see the link in cars for sale VIN C56C2344).

Learning to post photos is easy...do what I did, have your 5 year old grandson do it;)

[Shelly Harris]

Doc:

Your car looks great. I'm seriously considering having my car's paint given a boost. It was repainted three years ago. It has lots of paint on it and I'm thinking that a fine sanding, a couple of clear coats and buffing should really make it standout.

[Doc]

Thanks. When we had ours done, we may have made a mistake in having a single stage paint job--no clear coat. It looks great now, not sure how it will hold up over the long run. We've got a great painter, but unfortunately a long ways from Chicago.

[Bob smith]

Outside of our infatuation with MKII's, the car loving public seems to be somewhat ambivolent and or detached from the cars compared to others of the era. I have always been curious why.

In 1956 I saw my first MK. I was very aware of all cars as my dad owned a tool and die co. in S.E. Michigan and all of his business was auto related. Cars were in my blood.

Our neighbor owned the Tecumseh Products Co. which was, at that time, the worlds largest mfg. of refrigeration compressors. The first time he drove by our house in his MK I knew that car was special. Today, as I did that first time, I still feel the same excitement and awe when I see and hear one in motion. I was 8 years old then. I begged my dad to buy one, but at that age I could not make the price connection when he said they were too expensive.

Such a memory!

[Bob smith]

Great suggestion but I don't have access to grandkids. I'll be in S.C. Next week to receive my Mark which left So Cal this A.M. My neighbor there has a grand daughter and I bet she will offer some training wheels for getting photos on the forum. Good advice.

[Pat Marshall]

Doc, did you happen to get Vin's VIN? Thanks.

[Doc]

He's in the data base; 1610.

Pat, I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say thanks for your continuing efforts to document our cars.

[Pat Marshall]

Bad on me! I just presumed that I didn't have it. You know what happens when you pres/u/me? Crimeny, got that wrong, too!

Thanks for straightening me out on that.

By the way, Vins car was one that was a non-a/c car that was converted to "factory air", including nostrils.

[Chuck Lutz]

By the way, Vins car was one that was a non-a/c car that was converted to "factory air", including nostrils.

Wow, that's a true conversion!

[Doc]

I was waiting in line at the parts store today and picked up a June copy of Hemmings. Much to my surprise they have a nice article on the Desert Classic. If you get out the magnifying glass, you can even see our Mark II and DiBona's car in the distant background of a shot of an Aston Martin. Of course that's not the way I'll tell the story when I tell my buddies our car was featured in Hemmings...;)