For the last 12 years, Niello Concours at Serrano has showcased some of the most pristine collectible, powerful and expensive vehicles. And despite rainy weather at the Sunday, Oct. 2 showing, skies cleared long enough for the Awards Presentation and Best of Show Presentation of what has been billed as the Sacramento area’s most elegant automotive show.
Patterned after the world-famous Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance held each summer on the Monterey Peninsula, the Niello Concours was created by Rick Niello, president of the Sacramento-based Niello Co. and is produced by Premier Concours Promotions Inc. Perhaps it was a stroke of unluckiness at the 13th annual event that brought the rain which drove many attendees home, but all was well in the end as the vehicles left uncovered by the rain produced their own natural beauty as rain drops beaded soft water formations on the cars left exposed to mother nature.
The rain also allowed attendees without purchased tickets to attend the event free of charge thanks to Brian and Michele Moore, operators of Premier Concours Promotions Inc, who opened the event to anyone who braved the rain.
The elegant gathering held in El Dorado Hills paid special tribute to 45 years of De Tomaso Pantera, featured the Marque of Lincoln Motor Cars, and celebrated 100 years of BMW. This year’s grand marshal was Tom Matano, a world-famous car designer and executive director of the School of Industrial Design at Academy of Art University in San Francisco.
Prestige awards were given for the Favorite Porsche, Meguiar’s Best Finish, Outstanding BMW, Outstanding Pantera, Chairman’s Choice, Honorary Judges, Grand Marshal and the Best of Show Award. Award winning selection notices were posted on selected vehicles and later a parade of winners received their awards as they passed by the Serrano gazebo.
It’s estimated that about $200 million worth of cars have occupied the exhibition grounds in the last couple of years.
The event concluded with the presentation of the Best of Show Award. This year’s winner went to the 1949 Delehaye Type 175 Saoutchik Coupe de Ville, owned by the Academy of Art University of San Francisco and The Stephens Family.
Niello Concours continues impressing car enthusiasts at the showcase of their magnificent machines, and plans to return Oct. 1, 2017.
More photos from the event can be found at youtube.com.
