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Monterey, 14th of August, 2013

Since the end of the Monterey Car Week in the third week of August we have reported on various Concours and Auctions on the Monterey Peninsula, one of our last reports is dedicated to one of the few evening events, the McCall´s Motoworks Reunion, a reception at the Jet Centre of the Monterey Airport. On Wednesday the auction previews in the morning and the official group shot of the Corvettes at the Laguna Seca race track in the afternoon kept us busy before we headed to the Airport outside of Monterey for the McCall party. When entering the car park one was aware that this is one of the society must-be-there of the area at this day as the visitors in line at the will call were very decent clothed for a normal Wednesday evening, especially when keeping in mind that normal evening outfit in this region is usual very casual. Ladies in cocktail dresses and gentlemen in jacket and tie were entering the event area in front of the hangar.

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Gordon McCall established this reception 22 years ago intended for car guys made by car guys to meet during the car week in a relaxed evening between some toys from the aviation and on four wheels. Over the years the reception has permanently grown as more and more luxury brands were keen to show their latest cars, planes, watches and other products to a wealthy and interested audience. Every year a variation of supercars could be seen in front or inside the hangar from Bugatti, Pagani, Ferrari, Porsche and others, private jets could be inspected on the runway with a glass of champagne as good food and wine are also an important part of the experience.

When looking over the apron one had the impression that the offer was reduced this year as it usually takes more place on the outside but a closer look showed that this was the first year the reception span two full hangars so more space was given indoor leaving more room for the visitors between the exhibits for the typical reception chatting in small groups with a drink and some finger food.

Main display in the first hangar was the booth of Aston Martin celebrating their centenary. With some of their latest cars from the current model range and a racing model of the Vantage the company was very well presented. Just in front a very early car from the Bertelli era, a 1928 short chassis T-Model showed were the history of AM is coming from.

After several celebrations during the year the prestigious British sports car manufacturer furthermore invited some good clients and friends to a tour through the Napa Valley led by CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez and arriving in a convoy this evening to round up their display on the outside. Amongst the cars in the tour were two of their latest supercars, the One-77 and the Vantage Zagato, both of them surrounded by the public as soon as they entered the field. The Vantage Zagato is the current version of the cooperation between the Italian designer/coachbuilder and the British manufacturer but it is not the latest project of the two. Just opposite to the AM display Zagato showed two of their latest creations prior to the delivery to their American customers. The Aston Martin DB9 Zagato Volante Centennial made its US-debut after it was first shown a few weeks earlier during the official centenary celebration in Kensington Gardens. The second car was a reconstruction of a Zagato Version of the Porsche 356 Speedster. This car was shown near completion already a few months ago at the Unique Special Ones Concours in Florence but just now the proud owner took delivery of the car. The Speedster is a lighter and lower version compared to the original Porsche design and situated somewhere between the Speedster and the 550 Spyder.

Although a newly reconstructed car this forged the bridge to the classics on display with several Ferrari amongst others. Inside a duo of 275 in open and closed form were joined by a yellow 250 GT Lusso on one side of the hangar whereas the winner of the Carmel-by-the-Sea concours of the previous day, a Ferrari 375 MM (0362AM) was sitting on the other. From the same era was the marvellous Fiat 8V with a one-off Vignale design in a stylish two-tone metallic blue livery.

But the display did not just include Italian design as there was some American metal present as well. Being featured at the nearby raceway a Corvette could not be missed this evening and the displayed 1975 Greenwood Corvette “Spirit of Sebring” was a very special race version of the American Classic. A few years older was the Ford GT40 MKIV Test Car (J-9) that was later seen at the Quail Motorsport Gathering  and that will be driven next week at the Goodwood Revival Meeting were a special GT40 race will be most likely the fastest race ever at the historic race track in South Sussex.

Later that evening the Quail Rally arrived at the reception with even more interesting cars including an Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato and the Blower Bentley owned by Bentley themselves. This example of the rare supercharged 4 ½ Litre was once the factory demonstrator car as it is now again beside the Birkin Team car, that day it was driven by Richard Charlesworth , the head of the VIP relations at Bentley Motors and presenter of the Quail Concours. Unlike in previous years Bentley did not have an own display but their partner Breitling again showed some gems from their current watch collection. The cooperation of the watch manufacturer and the car company is a good example for the interaction of different luxury brands following the same concept as the reception itself: giving the clients an entire experience of different luxury accessories.

And just like the successful crossover of many of these brands is showing that this is a very well working concept it certainly was this evening in Monterey with a very colourful and interesting mix well worth a visit.

Report & Images ... Peter Singhof www.classiccarphotography.de

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