california car shows

Vintage Alfa racer owned by Brandon Adrian. The full history of this time capsule was on the placard.

Story and photos by Richard Bartholomew

November 3, 2013

Woodley Park is a vast green expanse of grass near a large earthen dam that is part of the water control system that brought water to parched Los Angeles in the 1920s. There are frequent car shows there but for lovers of Italian and French cars this is one of the best.
Why? First because it’s free and second because it brings out lots of cars that aren’t spiffy enough to be in a concours but still damned interesting. Cars on their way to glory, one might say.

Lancia Appia Sedan, Series I or II owned by Tina Byrd.

In the French category, there were Simcas, Citroens, Renaults (including two Caravelle convertibles which are surprisingly elegant cars considering they sold new for under $3000) Facel Vegas from the magnificent Facel II to the Facellias, a Matra Djet, a half dozen Renault Turbo I and Turbo II pocket rockets.

But most of the French cars seemed postwar, in contrast to this event in the past, when there were half a dozen prewar cars. (Could it be the prewar cars are now too nicely restored to show?) Oddly, right in the middle of the French offerings was a Packard which they said was bodied by Kellner, but except for a sharp crease in the rear fenders and a very rakish second windscreen, we couldn’t see much Euro influence.