Dana Point concours to feature Le Mans legends and Shelby hot rods

The 30th-annual Dana Point Concours d'Elegance at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort will highlight “Legends of Le Mans: Racing in the '60s” and celebrate the 50th anniversary of Shelby American.

A 1961 Ferrari 250 SWB that won its Le Mans class in 1961 will join the event from the collection of Bruce Meyer. It was the car that won the manufacturers' championship for the Prancing Horse. Meyer also will display the first Chevrolet Corvette to compete in a 24-hour race. This one was owned and sponsored by Briggs Cunningham in 1960.

Also from Meyer's collection is a 1962 Shelby Cobra, the Corvette's natural enemy. Like the original, the car was modified by Ford Racing of Europe to FIA specifications, including the Weber carbs and rack-and-pinion steering.

To honor Shelby, the concours will have on display a 1967 Shelby GT500 painted nightmist blue. The Shelby was restored to factory specifications and is documented by the Shelby American Automobile Club. It was first delivered to Spain, where it took part in the festival of Seville in 1967. It was then used at the festival of Barcelona later that year.

Tickets for the event in Dana Point, Calif., can be purchased online or at the gate. Those who want to exhibit vehicles can download a registration form; the deadline for entries is May 18 for those accepted to be included in the program book. Visit www.danapointconcours.org for more information.

By Jake Lingeman