The 39th annual Huntington Beach Concours celebrating everything on wheels is in the books and LCOC members were onboard to join in the fun. Seven Lincolns and Marks graced the unofficial “Lincoln Lane” at Sunday’s Concours, providing a beautiful display for car buffs from around our region.
Among the class winners were Robert Adamo’s deep red Mark IV, center above, and Elayne Bendel’s 1964 convertible, right above. The stunning Lincolns parked tail-to-tail with mid-century Mopars which were among the featured maques in this year’s show. LCOC participants included, Chris & Eric Moore 1971 Mark III, 1st Place Concours; Jordan Family  ’57 Mark II, 2nd Place, Concours; James Ayres, 1988 Mark VII, display, Don Torrence, 1970 Mark III, display; Robert Adamo, 1st Place, Street, 1973 Mark IV. Also Elayne Bendel, 1964 Lincoln convertible, 1st Place Concours, Brian Bernsen, 1965 Lincoln convertible, display.
Not only did the Chryslers and Imperials in some cases share common designers with our mid-century Lincolns, but some also have the same current owners, proving once again that the collector car hobby is a small town with a universal language of carburetors, power trains and steering wheels.
Some of us proved that fact by joining with our friends from the Great Autos Car Club in a Saturday tour of the private Singleton Collection in Costa Mesa, featuring dozens of gorgeous cars, which can only be described as automotive art on wheels. Their pristine condition belies the fact that all are driven on a precise schedule.
Later that night we convened for dinner at Richmond Bar & Grill in El Segundo before attending a short organ recital, “silent” movie accompanied by the mighty Wurlitzer, and a feature film, Duel, at the Old Town Music Hall in which a young Dennis Weaver spends a harrowing 90-minutes trying to escape a very menacing tanker truck vehicle and driver.
The H. B. Concours two-day event began Saturday with a show of British cars, hot rods and customs and concluded Sunday with an eclectic display of everything from Depression-era classics to ultra modern supercars. Motorcycles and muscle cars, kit cars, racers, Corvettes, BMWs, Alpha Romeos, and elegant Rolls-Royces were an important part of the mix, with other rare and unusual types on hand for enjoyment of all.
LCOC member Don Torrence’s 1973 Jensen Interceptor III, below, a dream car from his youth, was a class winner!
The oddest entry was a VW Beetle’s body built of ornate filigree wire with nothing but open air between the curlicues!
MIld a.m. temperatures contributed to general spectator comfort and the sun made a brief appearance late in the event. It was a five-hour social where we were able to catch up on the news with old friends and new while kicking tires, having fun and enjoying the rustic setting at Huntington Beach Central Park.
Perhaps best of all, proceeds from event registration benefit the the Children’s Resource Center Wing of the Huntington Beach Public Library. The Huntington Beach Concours d’Elegance, with all non-paid volunteers has, since its founding in 1985, raised over $900,000 in support of the infrastructure of the library,
Our sincere thanks to Bart McGrath and the Concours Committee for another unforgettable show in 2025!
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