The fine art of …

The Salisbury Class

The Salisbury Class automobiles represent the types and style of autos the Week’s family drove and had in their six garages during much of the time they were building and living in the Salisbury House.  This was also the Classic era of the automobile, with many prestige automobiles being designed by talented and well-known automobile designers and built by custom coach building companies.  The time period for the Salisbury class of cars is from 1925 to 1948, which coincides with the dates identified as Classics by the Classic Car Club of America (CCCA).  This Concours does not presume to be a CCCA event, but respects the judgment of that organization in identifying the meaning of a classic automobile.

Celebrated automobile designers such as Gordon Buehrig, Raymond Loewy, Edsel Ford, Alan Leamy, Bob Gregorie, Howard “Dutch” Darrin, Owen Skelton, and Harley Earl have played significant roles in the design and development of automobiles presented in this period.

These stylists were influenced by trends in art and industrial design, most notably the influence of Art Deco.  Their designs generally followed either a refinement of the classic straight-line look (note the 1932 Cadillac Phaeton owned by the Salisbury House Foundation) or the new streamline design inspired by airplanes and trains (note the 1941 Lincoln owned by Rick

Hickman and the 1947 Cadillacs owned by Bud and Ruth Elrod and Al and Cathy Longley).

This class also represents the emergence of the “Era of the Closed Car”, with more closed cars (coupes and sedans) being sold in 1923 than open cars (convertibles, roadsters and phaetons).  Other innovations and developments during this era included hydraulic braking systems, heaters, touring vacations, and gas station chains that sold food and maps.

A unique Salisbury Class is presented each year and represents the main theme of the Salisbury Concours d’Elegance, consistent with the prestige and beauty of the historic Salisbury House and its elegant gardens and grounds.

Both closed cars and open cars are presented in chronological order in this program and on the show grounds.

Winners were Open – Don Hanson #SA 20 – 1924 Packard 143 Town Car and Closed – Russ and Marj Bees #SA 06 – 1937 Railton Stratton