The Crank: 2010 Concours D’LeMons

[svgallery name="2010 Concours LeMons"] Story and photos by John LeBlanc SALINAS, Calif. - In total contrast to the multi-zillion-dollar collector and race cars I saw at the Quail Lodge, Monterey vintage races and Pebble Beach concours last weekend, I managed to sneak away to Toro Regional Park, home of the second annual Concours d'LeMons for a few unpretentious hours. If you don’t already know, the “Concours” is an offshoot of the part old-crappy-racecar, part art-car amateur endurance racing series called the 24 Hours of LeMons. If you’re a big fan of crappy, old cars (i.e. Pintos, Pacers, etc.), with a dash of irreverence, enjoy… Believe it or not, this is allegedly the concept Hal Sperlich's Ford bosses at the time rejected. Sperlich took his idea of a garage-able "mini" van to his new bosses at Chrysler, and as they say, the rest is history. Unsavoury at any speed... This 1982 Peugeot 505 is just one of the reasons the French automaker dares not enter the North American market. Agian. Ever. This 1971 Wolseley 16/60 makes me want to close my eyes and think of the Queen. The thirst quenching 1959 Austin Healey Sprite Mk I . This 1988 Daihatsu is a Charade. No. Lirerally. From the new owners of the Chrysler Corp.: 1982 Alfa Romeo GTV-6. Plenty of Pacers. Even a Woody wagon. But wha? No Matador? A 1971 Mercedes-Benz 230: German engineering arrogance at its slowest. Just adding fuel to the fire, this Ford Pinto Wagon owner has added a turbo. Oh yeah. Nope. Smart hasn't gone and made a minivan. This VW mini-mini-minivan was created from the leftover bits of a previous extended-Microbus project. It's a Trabant. Nuff said. Imagine if GM designers had blessed their Pontiac Aztek with Chrysler's Stow 'N Go seats? Imagine!

Comments