![kirkland-concours-lemay-2012-marmon 1933 Marmon V-16 convertible coupe (photo: Gene Stout)](https://www.genestout.com/wp-content/uploads/kirkland-concours-lemay-2012-marmon-300x225.jpg)
By GENE STOUT
Most of us drive what we drive.
There are plenty of modern-day transportation modules to get us from point A to point B in reasonable comfort and with at least some degree of pride.
Then there are cars that inspire, or simply scream, “Wow!” And many of them are from the distant past — the era of The Great Gatsby or Clark Gable or Princess Grace. Cars with opulent custom body work and amazing pedigree.
![kirkland-concours-lemay-2012-1938-bmw 1938 Frazer-Nash BMW 328 (photo: Gene Stout)](https://www.genestout.com/wp-content/uploads/kirkland-concours-lemay-2012-1938-bmw-300x225.jpg)
Dozens of such vintage cars gathered at the 10th annual US Bank Kirkland Concours d’Elegance Sunday, Sept. 9, at LeMay – America’s Car Museum in Tacoma.
![kirkland-concours-lemay-2012-trophies Trophies awaiting their recipients (photo: Gene Stout)](https://www.genestout.com/wp-content/uploads/kirkland-concours-lemay-2012-trophies-300x225.jpg)
It was the first time in the Concours’ decade-long history that the show was held at the LeMay Museum, which officially opened in June.
![s-bugatti 1939 Bugatti Type 57C by Vanvooren originally owned by Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran (photo: Gene Stout)](https://www.genestout.com/wp-content/uploads/s-bugatti-300x225.jpg)
About 2,500 attended at about $30 a person, with a portion of the proceeds going to Seattle Children’s Hospital.
![kirkland-concours-lemay-2012-mcfarlan 1919 McFarlan Type 127 Touring (photo: Gene Stout)](https://www.genestout.com/wp-content/uploads/kirkland-concours-lemay-2012-mcfarlan-300x225.jpg)
There are plenty of community car shows in the Northwest in the summer months, but none as prestigious as this.
![kirkland-concours-lemay-2012-1933-chrysler 1933 Chrysler LeBaron-bodied phaeton (photo: Gene Stout)](https://www.genestout.com/wp-content/uploads/kirkland-concours-lemay-2012-1933-chrysler-300x225.jpg)
A gorgeous, jet-black 1933 Marmon V-16 convertible coupe won best of show and two other awards at the event on the sprawling show field at LeMay.
![kirkland-concours-lemay-2012-chevrolet-hood-ornament Golden Gazelle hood ornament on a 1951 Chevrolet (photo: Gene Stout)](https://www.genestout.com/wp-content/uploads/kirkland-concours-lemay-2012-chevrolet-hood-ornament-300x225.jpg)
Emcee Edward Herrman — the Emmy-nominated actor known for his portrayal of Franklin D. Roosevelt on TV, as well as a narrator on the History Channel — described the Marmon, owned by Aaron Weiss, as “an elegant and beautiful example of American coachwork and engineering,” an understatement for a car so stunning.
![kirkland-concours-lemay-2012-buick 1949 Buick Super convertible (photo: Gene Stout)](https://www.genestout.com/wp-content/uploads/kirkland-concours-lemay-2012-buick-300x225.jpg)
The Marmon also won the People’s Choice award and came in first in the Classic Car Club of America (early) class.
![kirkland-concours-lemay-2012-1948-chrysler 1948 Chrysler Town and Country (photo: Gene Stout)](https://www.genestout.com/wp-content/uploads/kirkland-concours-lemay-2012-1948-chrysler-300x225.jpg)
Other prize winners and special display vehicles included a 1919 McFarlan Type 127 Touring, 1949 Buick Super convertible, 1947 Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa, 1960 AC Ace Bristol, 1935 Buick 96S Sport Coupe, 1933 Chrysler C.L. Phaeton (LeBaron) and a 1928 Auburn Speedster.
![kirkland-concours-lemay-2012-slo-mo-shun-v Slo-mo-shun V hydroplane (photo: Gene Stout)](https://www.genestout.com/wp-content/uploads/kirkland-concours-lemay-2012-slo-mo-shun-v-300x225.jpg)
The 1919 McFarlan, by the way, was originally owned by silent film star Wallace “Wally” Reid. The car is owned by the Fountainhead Museum of Fairbanks, Alaska.
![kirkland-concours-lemay-2012-miss-century-21 Miss Century 21/Miss Thriftway (photo: Gene Stout)](https://www.genestout.com/wp-content/uploads/kirkland-concours-lemay-2012-miss-century-21-300x225.jpg)
In addition to vintage cars, the show included such historic hydroplanes as the Miss Tempo VI, Slo-mo-shun V and the Miss Century 21/Miss Thriftway, a four-time Gold Cup champion in the late ’50s and early ’60s.