Marin Sonoma Concours d'Elegance to feature French classics

The Marin Sonoma Concours d'Elegance will bring a selection of coachbuilt French cars to the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael, Calif., on May 20. The concours will also celebrate Italian automobile designs from 1946 to 1975 and the 75th anniversary of the demise of Cord.

The work of Joseph Figoni of Coachwork by Figoni et Falaschi will be well represented at the show. A 1936 Delahaye 135 Competition Disappearing Top Convertible with Figoni et Falaschi bodywork will be featured. Chassis No. 46864 was a one-off build for a personal friend of Figoni and has a competition engine and chassis, a disappearing convertible top, a folding windshield and a turned metal dash.

According to Andre Vaucourt, archivist at the Club Delahaye France, “This is one of the most elegant creations of Joseph Figoni and one of the most important Delahaye cars.”

A 1939 Delahaye Type 165 Cabriolet will also be at the show. This car was displayed at the 1939 New York World's Fair. Chassis No. 60744, also built by Figoni, was one of just six 12-cylinder Type 165s produced.

New to the concours this year is a judged display of vintage British motorcycles, covering the years up to 1979. Classic wooden boats and military vehicles will also be on display, along with American and European classics, supercars and race cars.

Other French-bodied coachbuilt vehicles scheduled for the concours are the:

-- 1923 Hispano-Suiza H6B Dual Windshield Tourer, by Million-Guiet

-- 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Drop Head Coupe, by Chapron

-- 1936 Hispano-Suiza K6 Convertible, by Pourtout

-- 1937 Delage D8-120 Drop Head Coupe, by Chapron

-- 1938 Talbot-Lago T 150C SS “Goutte d'Eau,” by Figoni et Falaschi

-- 1948 Bentley Mark VI Roadster, by Saoutchik

By Jake Lingeman