Collector cars are the stars on Rodeo Drive
Slinky Chanel mini dresses, Jimmy Choo slingbacks and shimmering Bulgari watches in shop windows garnered little attention Sunday as the crowd swarming Rodeo Drive mostly focused on coveted items of a different breed: shiny, mint-condition collector cars.
At the annual Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance, tens of thousands of people gaped at classics parked along the median of the famed Beverly Hills shopping district. From the black 1953 Allard with red leather interior to the 1989 cherry-colored Lamborghini that shone from headlights to spoiler, every car had an audience.
The Polizzi family of Atlanta counted themselves lucky to have timed their vacation during the free event. Having arrived two days earlier, the family of four was in awe of the tomato-red Ferraris and sleek silver Jaguars.
“Our two Acuras at home are not going to seem very glamorous,” Gail Polizzi said. Her husband, T.J., grinned. “I found about 10 Jaguars I wouldn’t mind having.”
The show, traditionally held on Father’s Day, began in 1995 with a small collection of Ferraris. Over the years it expanded to include hot rods, muscle cars and customs of any make and model. Of the hundreds of entry applications received, 150 make the cut.
Bruce Meyer, chairman of the event, said the show’s real appeal is in how accessible the cars — and their owners — are.
“It’s really a people’s show,” he said. “They can tell the owners how much they admire their car, and the owners are happy to talk to them.”
For Bill Logan, 69, of Simi Valley, showing off the gunmetal gray fiberglass car he designed and fitted onto the chassis of an old Camaro was just as much fun as building it.
“It’s nice to have your work recognized and appreciated,” he said as people whipped out cameras and attempted to find an angle that would capture the car’s four faux tailpipes and fuzzy leopard and zebra interior.
Across the way, Anaheim resident Don Hover, 70, dusted the chrome of a jet-black 1956 Ford Thunderbird that once belonged to a dancing partner of Betty Grable.
When he was a child in Iowa, Hover’s grandfather paid him 50 cents to wash the cars at his Ford dealership. Since then, Hover’s been a strict Ford fan, as evidenced by his Thunderbird-themed necklace and shirt.
He’s entered car shows across the country and loves how his T-Bird offers an immediate conversation piece. People often approach him eagerly with their own Ford stories.
Of course, he said, driving the car has its perks too.
“I get a lot of looks,” he said. “My wife keeps telling me not to forget they’re looking at the car and not me.”
