The Boston Cup on Boston Common
A cool fall Sunday welcomed the fifth year of The Boston Cup held on September 25, 2016. 100 classic cars and vintage motorcycles were displayed around the Parkman Bandstand in the center of historic Boston Common. Classes included American, British, German, Italian, Special Interest, and a new category ‘Boomers’ for the baby boomer crowd.
Five years have given the organizers the opportunity to tweak the show here and there. The result is a must-go-to event in Boston for northeast car enthusiasts. Not a traditionally judged Concours, the show brings an eclectic mix of century old to vintage to new vehicles to Boston Common. Also, the show attracts a wide array of street to super cars and motorcycles, plus a few special interest vehicles. The Boston Cup rule is that no vehicle can return to the field for four years, a nice idea to keep the rotation fresh.
On Friday night the organizers held a get together for participants and sponsors at the Shreve, Crump & Low store on Newbury Street in Boston. Saturday night was a cocktail party for The Boston Cup at the Ritz Hotel, including an auction of several Chopard watches and a trip to the Cayman Islands.
Very early Sunday morning the field cars arrive and onto the old bricks of Boston Common, an experience unto itself. I (the greeter) was there at 5.30am in the pitch black cold, but it’s just plain cool to drive across Boston Common. Think of driving through Central Park. Or driving onto a golf course or a beach. Driving off-road without lines and lanes especially in a classic vehicle is a nice turn.
The vehicles were organized by country of origin and year. The show is free to spectate, and fences keep the majority of spectators on the brick pathways, with cars (and owners) nicely displayed, somewhat zoo-like, but fun. Only banded participants, sponsors, and ticket purchasers can enter the fenced-in area with the cars. This format works very well when considering the thousands of people that venture through Boston Common on a Sunday. Some are out for a run or stroll often with dogs and kids and carriages, some are there for the car show, others for other reasons, yet everyone seemed very pleased with the event. Car owners tend to be quite friendly, with each other and enthusiasts in the crowd. Who doesn’t like to talk about one’s car all day?
Lunch and two goodie bags of car stuff were provided for participants. The Boston Cup draws many car owners and enthusiasts from New England making the event a great car day.
Arapix courtesy of Ara Gechijian
The Boston Cup on Boston Common

1961 Maserati 3500 GT Tourer

1960 Alfa Romeo SZ1; won Second Place in the Italian Class

1959 Ferrari 250 GT PF Coupe

1971 Alfa Romeo 1750 Berlina

1966 Volkswagen Bus

(arapix)

Fenway Park Bullpen Cart owned by the Red Sox; during the late 1960’s and 70’s the bullpen cart was a familiar staple that drove relief pitchers from the bullpen into the game

1965 AC Cobra

1957 Nash Metropolitan

1946 Ford Super Deluxe Convertible

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS Gullwing

1987 BMW M535i

1978 Mercedes-Benz 230

1970 BMW 2002

1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SE

1967 Volkswagen Beetle 1300

1963 Porsche 356 S Coupe T6B

1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster; once owned by Sonny Bono

(arapix)

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing

1954 Porsche 356 Pre-A

2016 Ariel Nomad

1968 Jaguar XKE Roadster

1975 Austin Mini Cooper 1000

1974 TVR 2500M

1968 Triumph TR-250

1966 Triumph TR4A Dove ‘barn find’

1966 Jaguar E-Type Series 1

1965 Lotus 7 Series 2

1965 Ford GT40; won First Place in British Class

1965 Aston Martin DB5; won Best of Show European Class

1964 Jaguar Mark II

1959 MG A

959 Morris Minor 1000 Convertible

1956 Austin Healey 100M

1952 Bentley Mark VI 4 1/2Litre Saloon

1952 Vincent Black Shadow with owner

1950 Rover 75 Cyclops

1946 MG TC

1938 Bentley 4 1/4 Vanden Plas DHC

1933 MG J2 Roadster

2015 Allard J2X MKII

1966 Datsun 1600 Sport

1964 Sabra GT; won Second Place in Special Interest Class

1945 Motobecane D45

1938 Gangloff Bugatti T57C; won First Place in Special Interest Class

1907 Panhard Picnic Wagon

1932 Packard 900M Coupe Roadster; won Second Place in American Class

2012 Fiat 500

2015 Ferrari LaFerrari (arapix)

Ferrari LF, Pagani Zonda, Ferrari Enzo (arapix)

2008 Ducati Desmosedici RR

2004 Pagani Zonda S Roadster

2003 Ferrari Enzo

1993 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce (arapix)

1992 Ferrari F40

1974 Alfa Romeo GT Veloce 2000

1969 Fiat 124AS Spider

1968 Alfa Romeo GTA 1300 Junior

1967 Ferrari 330 GTC

1966 Fiat 500 Ellena Coupe

1964 Ferrari 330 GT

1962 Fiat 850 Abarth

1939 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Sport Touring Superleggera Berlinetta; won First Place in Italian Class

1930 Duesenberg Model J Town Cabriolet; won the Amelia Award

1928 Chrysler 72 Sport,; won First Place in American Class (arapix)

1969 London Fire Engine

The Parkman Bandstand on Boston Common

Winners 1965 Aston Martin DB5 and 1936 Cord 810

Sponsor Herb Chambers had a nice display of Bentleys

and Electric Vehicles (arapix)