Alfa Romeo Mille Miglia Wins Fairfield County Concours Best of Show

More than 7,000 visitors and spectators enjoyed a fabulous display of historic automobiles and motorcycles on the grounds of the Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport, CT, this last weekend, during the 2009 Fairfield County Concours d’Elegance. The event this year attracted owners of over 230 vehicles for display at the show. Chairman and Founder Bill Scheffler: “This year – while generally not an easy year – has proven another success for our event and for the quality of cars and motorcycles people come to expect from us. The response on Club Celebration Day, the Nutmeg Tour for Autism and on Concours Sunday as well, has been overwhelming and a refreshing sign of optimism”.

Best of Show – Domestic: 1933 Duesenberg SJ Beverly The 2009 Fairfield County Concours d’Elegance awarded prizes in 40 classes. The Grand Prix d’Honneur (“Best of Show”) for a domestic vehicle this year went to Joseph III and Margie Cassini’s extraordinary 1933 Duesenberg SJ Beverly. Considered the pinnacle of American engineering, design and status in the 1930s, Duesenbergs were highly advanced automobiles and very popular with the rich and famous in their days. This particular, uniquely purple colored example is well known in collector circles and has already gained honors at prestigious car shows. Most recently it was awarded “Best American Classic Closed Prewar” at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Owner Joseph Cassini, III was delighted the Fairfield County Concours had recognized his car as worthy of the coveted Best of Show Award. It represents a grand automobile marque and a truly exquisite coachbuilding effort never again repeated in the over 70 years since this car was first shown.

Best of Show – Foreign: 1938 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 B Mille Miglia The 2009 Fairfield County Concours d’Elegance Grand Prix d’Honneur for a foreign automobile was awarded to collector Oscar Davis’ 1938 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 B Mille Miglia. One of a group of cars called the “Sleeping Beauties”, it had been part a collection which was stored for decades by reclusive European car collector Michel Dovaz at his French chateau. Dovaz had purchased the car in 1956 and left it untouched at his chateau for 34 years, a part of his astonishing hoard of thoroughbred classics. This Alfa 6C 2300 B MM, finally sold from the collection in the 1990s, was eventually the subject of an extensive and detailed restoration. Well respected in the classic car world, this car has been awarded numerous trophies, most recently at the 2009 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance where it took home Best in Class in the Prewar Sports Car category.