Chattanooga Motorcar Festival: 5 Cars to See in the Concours

The Chattanooga Motorcar Festival will host a bevy of car-oriented events in the city’s downtown area on October 13-15. It concludes the weekend with a Concours d’Elegance, which will feature more than 140 fine collector cars. Here are five of those significant cars to see in-person.

1953 Porsche 356 1500 Super Pre-A Coupe
Owned by Michael Copperthite, Falls Church, Virginia

This is one of the first Porsche factory-prepared race cars built for customers. It ran during the 1950s at various SCCA events and rallies, racking up wins along the way.

1953 Ferrari 250 Europa 2-Door Coupe, Vignale
Owned by Kevin Cogan, Louisville, Kentucky

One of 22. The first road car in a series of 250 Ferrari GTs. First Ferrari road car to have a 200-horsepower, 3-liter V12. Last car bodied by Vignale. Presented at the 1953 Paris Motor Show. ’Nuff said.

1933 Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow Sedan
Owned by The Richard Driehaus Automobile Collection, Chicago, Illinois

What does this car and the Cord L-29 have in common? The same designer, Phil Wright. Pierce-Arrow pulled five V12 chassis, shipped them to the parent company, Studebaker, and modified them in the interest of aerodynamics. They claimed to achieve a top speed of 115 mph. Three of the five cars remain today.

1957 Packard Predictor Hardtop Coupe Concept
Owned by Studebaker National Museum, South Bend, Indiana

Dick Teague, known for designing the AMC Pacer, Gremlin and Hornet models, is the man behind this creation. Ghia created the coachwork. It has cutting-edge technology for its time, such as electrically-operated retractable roof panels, back glass, headlight doors and side windows. It also has a push-button Packard Ultramatic automatic transmission.

1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast Series II Coupe
Owned by DeFoor Brothers, Chattanooga, Tennessee

A Ferrari is special, especially one with a 400-horsepower, 5-liter V12. However, what makes this car even more special is its provenance. Barbara Hutton bought the car from noted Ferrari dealer Chinetti Motors. Hutton’s claim to fame? Heiress to the Woolworth fortune, once married to actor Cary Grant and mother of Lance Reventlow, who has Formula 1 starts.