Concours D’Elegance

In a nondescript building in Sylmar, California that once housed a packaging facility sits a world-class collection of classic cars. The Nethercutt Collection presents an unassuming facade that belies the extraordinary treasures within.

Behind a set of warehouse roll-up doors are two pairs of 10-foot tall bas-relief doors of solid brass leading to the collection.

Entering the ‘Grand Salon’, one is transported from the modest exterior into a space of deliberate opulence, complete with polished marble floors, soaring Corinthian columns, crystal chandeliers and gilded accents everywhere. The flashy ostentation is meant to recreate the splendor of New York City luxury car showrooms from the Roaring 20’s and early Depression years.

The first car you see is a one-of-a-kind Bugatti Type 51 ‘Dubos Coupe’, a former Grand Prix race car driven by Chiron and Dreyfus, subsequently converted into a road car by Parisian coachbuilder Louis Dubos.

According to Leno, the four small tailpipes were used to avoid clearance issues with a larger diameter tailpipe.

The centerpiece of the salon was this massive Maybach Zeppelin Cabriolet, its name derived from Wilhelm Maybach’s role in producing engines for the Kaiser’s airships in WWI.

A view of the leather, burl wood and chrome interior.

And the front suicide door.

A one-off Rolls-Royce Phantom II Brewster originally owned by Constance Bennett and Best of Show winner at the 1992 Pebble Beach Concours.

Hand-painted caning, each line formed by a bead of paint. The curved running boards are a steam-bent mahogany. Car doors are often monogrammed with the owners initials.

Jay Gatsby’s Duesy from the original Great Gatsby.

The Duesenburg ‘Twenty Grand’, named after its asking price in 1933, is the flagship car in the Nethercutt Collection and is estimated to be worth upwards of $50 million dollars.

Ornamental spare wheel mounted mirrors.

Leather wheel cover.

Classic boomerang TV antenna

A parting shot: a 1930’s Chrysler in transit from storage.