A splendid array of cars contested the nineteenth running of the California Mille, the first one to be sponsored by long-time Italian Mille Miglia sponsor, Chopard Watch.

1935 Ford

At the Fairmont, before the start of the four day drive, the Gazette’s publisher picked her favorite car displayed on Nob Hill.  It turned out not to be a Mille participant, but one of the Concours d’Elegance cars also on display.  A sporty ’35 Ford roadster earned the J.W. Silveira family of Oakland a bottle of Lorenzo Petroni’s (owner of North Beach Restaurant) finest cabernet sauvignons from his own vineyard

At the  final awards dinner, held at Poggio Restaurant in Sausalito, four tour cars were judged worthy of the highest award, an elegant Chopard Mille Miglia watch.  This popular Chopard series uses a rubber strap bearing the tread design of a 1950’s Dunlop racing tire.

1939 Jaguar SS-100

The oldest car to be chosen was the 1939 Jaguar SS-100 entered by Garrett Bouton of San Francisco.  It completed the rigorous 1,000 mile tour as easily as the more modern cars.

1953 Siata 208S

San Francisco architect Robert Davis races his 1953 Siata 208S at Sears Point in Sonoma and at Monterey’s Laguna Seca.  The Siata took the Mille drive in stride, looking as good as ever, earning him a Chopard watch.

1954 Osca MT4-1500

Mike Leventhal brought his 1954 Osca MT4-1500 out from Chicago.  This tasty little car was originally run in the 1,900 mile Carrera Panamericana
 Mexico in ’54. It’s been restored to look and drive exactly as it did then.  The decision to recognize this car was an easy one.

1957 Talbot-Lago America

The fourth winner was a 1957 Talbot-Lago America, a car that used a BMW V8 engine in this, the last year of Talbot-Lago manufacture. Owner Stephen Ross of Calgary, Alberta is obviously not a follower of the herd.  A car like this attracts the independent thinker, and Ross is definitely one of those!

Plans are already being made for the 2010 California Mille.  We’ll be celebrating our 20th year, which coincides with the 100th year of Alfa Romeo, one of our favorite marques.

Mark your calendar for Sunday, April 28th, when the Fairmont Hotel will again host our annual gathering of some of the world’s most charming cars.

Rolls Royce

Walking in Tokyo a few weeks ago, I was passed by a new, all white Rolls Royce Phantom sedan, with Japanese license number “1”.

Must have been an important person seeking a high profile.

San Francisco has not been a particularly easy market for Rolls Royce; we prefer sporty to formal, so brands like Ferrari, Maserati, Aston Martin and Bentley tend to do better here.

Rolls Royce recently unveiled two new models that are sportier, a four-seat convertible and an enclosed two-door coupe.  As you see in the photos, neither one is especially sporty, but they are attention-getters.

Unusual doors are rear-hinged, possibly aiding entry/exit, and definitely attracting attention – if that’s what you want.  Careful engineering safeguards ensure that the car can only move when those doors are securely closed.

The convertible I drove had teak decks just ahead of and behind the passenger space, a touch not found on any other contemporary car.

The biggest surprise these Rollers have to offer is the way they drive.  They don’t feel nearly as big or heavy as they are, and are reasonably crisp feeling.  Not to mention silky smooth.

If you relish the attention these cars attract, or enjoy the political incorrectness, owning one could be fun.