The 75th anniversary of the Lincoln Continental was celebrated at the Concours. Not only was there a variety of classic Continentals, but Lincoln Motor Co. sent the 2017 Lincoln Continental concept car to be displayed.
“Concours attendees got their first up-close-and-personal view of a 1941 Lincoln Brunn Town Car, a 1953 Cadillac Station Wagon, a Jaguar Shooting Brake, a 1920 Cleveland, a Daimler SP250, a Fiat 8V Ghia and a 2015 McLaren 650 S, “ Concours director Mike Edgerton said. “Entrants came from five states with 63 different vehicle makes competing in 31 specific classes. The oldest car was a 1909 Buick. The smallest was a 1967 King Midget built in Athens, Ohio.” There were more than 200 vehicles on the field, including about 25 motorcycles.
While cars came from many cities and states, the R.H. Grant Best of Show was awarded to a local car that was shown in Dayton for the first time. Richard Harding of Beavercreek completed the restoration of his 1928 Auburn 8-88 Speedster in September of 2014, but did not show it locally until the Concours.
“I got it finished last year and had agreed to show it in Akron, so this is our first opportunity to bring it here,” Harding explained. “My wife and I have been attending this event for many years, but we never have shown a car until this one, so this is really overwhelming,” he added. “When they told me I had won Best of Show, I was floored. I thought the 1948 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith had it wrapped up. That is a stunning car.”
Harding has been a long time fan of Auburns. His father owned a similar 8-88 Speedster, and the original plan was to restore that car.
“We are members of the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Club, and a club member who started this car got in over his head and decided to sell it. I bought it seven years ago and I planned to restore the cars side by side, but somehow this one got going and was finished first,” he said.
Harding did much of the work himself, even taking some classes at D&D Restorations in Covington to learn more about the bodywork and wood. The entire project took six years to complete.
The car has been shown and won awards at the Amelia Island, Keeneland and Ault Park Concours, as well as Antique Auto Club of America events.
“We’re going to take it to two more shows this year, including the new Edison Concours in West Orange, New Jersey,” Harding said. “But I’ll tell you, this Dayton Concours ranks right up there with any Concours we have ever attended. There isn’t a better place to hold an event like this than inside this park. It just fits together perfectly.”
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