Arizona’s beautiful February weather provided the perfect setting for a colorful display of cars and culture. The annual “Concours in the Hills” in Fountain Hills, about 30 miles from Phoenix, took place on Sunday, February 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The venue attracted far more than just vehicles – it was home to over 100 vendors, as well as food trucks, entertainment, and even aircraft. The centerpiece for the event was the 560-foot-tall water fountain that at one time was the world’s tallest.
Best of all, this was a show with a charitable cause: As in prior years, the beneficiary was Phoenix Children’s Hospital. In 2023, the event raised more than $480,000, and based on the crowds and cars I witnessed, this year easily met or exceeded that figure. Last year’s event coverage can be found here.
Vehicles came from all around the region and were entered (and parked) according to the eight general categories:
- Alternative Fuel
- Asian
- Domestic
- European
- Military
- Motorbikes
- Off-road
- Race Cars
Admission was free for spectators, and I spent some time enjoying the scenery. Six of my favorite vehicles on display were as follows, in ascending order by model year:
1966 Chevrolet Corvette
This C2 stood out to me for its originality and thorough presentation. It was finished in a stunning Trophy Blue paint finish with matching blue vinyl upholstery. It had a numbers-matching big-block 427cid V8 mated to a four-speed manual transmission and was a well-optioned car, complete with a Positraction rear end, power brakes, power steering, and an upgraded suspension. Best of all, the owner had documentation back to the original owner as well as a window sticker and Protect-O-Plate.
1974 Triumph TR6
These British-built roadsters are highly collectible today, and this one looked incredibly well kept. It was powered by a 2.5-liter inline-six. One interesting thing about the car was that its color configuration was not original: According to a certification document from the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust, the car was built on December 17, 1973, and was originally finished in French Blue with a black interior. It was dispatched to a dealership in Newark, New Jersey on January 8, 1974. What a perfect opportunity to showcase this gorgeous car around the anniversary of its 50th birthday.
1990 Audi S2
Another eye-catcher in red paint was this sporty German-built three-door liftback coupe. The S2 was significant because it was the first model in the Audi “S” lineup. This example was reportedly 1 of only 847 imported to the United States in 1990 and was powered by a 1.8-liter turbocharged inline-four paired with a later-model six-speed manual transmission. The enhancements continue from there, including a short-shift kit, a Porsche Boxster S front brake conversion, and H&R lowering springs. I bet this car drove as well as it looked!
1995 Ferrari 348 Spider
It seems like most of these were finished in red, so when I came across this stunning black example, it was worthy of a second look. The 348 was one of Ferrari’s legendary sports cars and it was manufactured in Maranello, Italy between 1989 and 1995. The convertible variant, named Spider, came out in 1993 and came with body-colored lower cladding, a special engine cover, and a manual-folding soft top. Power for this example came from a 320-horsepower 3.4-liter V8 mated to a five-speed manual transmission. On display in front of the car was a collection of Ferrari luggage – quite the accessory, I must say.
1997 Lexus LX450
The Toyota 80-Series Land Cruiser is an incredibly popular off-road rig, and the upscale 1995-1997 Lexus version has always been a favorite of mine. This vehicle stood out for me because it was a rare SUV in a sea of sports cars, and it also had a long list of “overlanding” style modifications for go-anywhere capability. Power came from a Toyota Racing Development (TRD) supercharged 1Z-FE 4.5-liter inline-six mated to an automatic transmission. Adding to the appeal was a four-inch suspension lift, a rooftop tent, LED lighting, and factory differential lockers. This vehicle drove to Central America and back!
2011 Aston Martin V12 Vantage
I had to do a double-take when I saw the signage that accompanied this brilliant V12 roadster. “One of the lowest mileage in existence,” it said. The car had only 394 miles on it and was finished in a rare “Carbon Black” edition. This V12 Vantage was hand-built in Britain and was powered by a 510-horsepower 5.9-liter V12. I did not get a chance to meet the owner, but according to a sign on the dash, the car was being offered for sale for $219,000. Wish I had that kind of pocket change.
Did any of these cars catch your eye like they did mine? Many thanks to the Concours in the Hills sponsors and organizers for organizing such a great event for a worthy cause.
Stay tuned to The Journal for more automotive event coverage as we move throughout 2024!
