Shelby Mustangs, Shelby Cobras and American Muscle Cars took to the fairway at the Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance, held Sunday at the Trump National Golf Club.

It was a perfect day for a car show, the kind of day that makes people want to move to California—sunny, warm, slightly breezy. The location was fantastic, too, the winding greens of Founders Park and the 11th Fairway overlooking the Pacific Ocean at Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.

The 19th Annual Palos Verdes Concours d’Elegance took place Sunday, with proceeds benefiting the Palos Verdes Peninsula Rotary Foundation and the Palos Verdes Arts Center. Cars at the event were displayed and judged in 22 classes, 14 of which focused on American-made and designed vehicles.

With the theme California Design and Style, the show included two classes dedicated to the work of famed coachbuilder Howard A. “Dutch” Darrin, as well as classes for vehicles designed and customized in California, hot rods, Woodies, convertibles, and muscle cars.

First-, second- and third-place awards were presented in the afternoon. First-place winners included: for Darrin Coachwork, a spearmint 1954 Kaiser Darrin owned by James Orsburn of Gold River, California; for Packard-Darrin, a regal gray 1940 Packard Darrin-Convertible owned by D. David France of Palm Springs, California; for California Design, a sleek green 1952 Maverick Sportster owned by Fred and Deanna Roth of Thousand Oaks, California; for American Convertibles, a 1957 Chrysler Dual Ghia Convertible owned by Irwin Thaler of Pacific Palisades, California, that I previously saw win its class at the Greystone Mansion Concours d’Elegance; for Woodies, a 1940 Willys Woodie Station Wagon owned by Rick Lorenzen of Rancho Dominguez, California, that I heard a small boy tell his mom was “like the first SUV”; and for American Muscle Cars, a bright red 1969 Dodge Super Bee 440 Six Pack owned by Vic Edelbrock of Torrance, California.

The Edelbrock family brought several vehicles to the event. A 1932 Ford Roadster owned by Vic Edelbrock placed third in the Hot Rod Legends class. A 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 Fastback owned by Christi Edelbrock was entered in the Shelby Mustang class.

Special awards were also presented, honoring the very best of the assembled vehicles. The Howard “Dutch” Darrin Design Excellence Award was presented to the elegant blue 1938 Buick Ltd Opera Brougham Darrin with basket-weave detail owned by Richard Stephens of San Francisco. Most Exciting Open was presented to the 1966 Shelby Cobra owned by Tim Viole Sr. of Encino, California. The award for Most Elegant was presented to the 1930 Cadillac 452A Fleetwood Roadster owned by Frederick Lax of Malibu, California. The award for Best Paint went to the stunning all-red 1957 Chevrolet Corvette owned by Dennis Pagliano of San Marino, California.

West Coast automotive museums were well-represented at the event. The Nethercutt Collection in Sylmar, California, placed first in the American Classics Closed class and won the Chairman’s Choice award for its 1930 Cord L29 Murphy Towncar. The Automobile Driving Museum in El Segundo, California, won the Best Design Award for its 1930 Stutz Monte Carlo Sedan.

A 1954 Kaiser Darrin from the LeMay Collection (soon to be LeMay—America’s Car Museum) in Tacoma, Washington, was entered in the Darrin Coachwork class. Buddy Pepp, executive director of the Petersen Museum, had a 1932 Ford Roadster entered in the Hot Rod Legends Class.

The top award of the day, Best in Show, went to the 1936 Delahaye 135 Competition Disappearing Top Convertible owned by Ken and Ann Smith of LaJolla, California. The Motor Trend Classic Editor’s Choice award went to the three-wheeled 1948 Davis from the Tarnutzer-Carini Family Collection in Newport Beach, California.

The 20th Annual Palos Verdes Concours d’Elegance will take place Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012.

For more information on the Palos Verdes Concours d’Elegance, visit www.pvconcours.org.

Tags: 2011 Events, Automobile Driving Museum, Buddy Pepp, Car Shows, Charities & Foundations, Christi Edelbrock, Concours d'Elegance, LeMay Collection, Nethercutt Collection, New Products, Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance, Petersen Museum, Vic Edelbrock