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Independence, MO —
WHAT: Sixth annual Art of the Car Concours, featuring about 200 vintage, classic and special-interest vehicles, including cars, trucks, racing cars and motorcycles belonging to collectors from 12 states and 65 cities.
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
WHERE: Kansas City Art Institute campus, 4415 Warwick Blvd. in Kansas City.
HOW MUCH: $15 at the gate; $12 online in advance of the event. Children ages 10 and younger are admitted free. The event is a benefit for the Art Institute’s scholarship fund. Visit www.kcai.edu/events/special-events/art-car-concours for more information.
WHY: This year’s show features a 1929 Model J Duesenberg Convertible Coupe that once belonged to Oscar-winning actress and dancer Ginger Rogers, who was born Virginia Katherine McMath on July 16, 1911, at 100 W. Moore St. in Independence. She died in 1995.
According to the Kansas City Art Institute, the 1929 car now belongs to John Groendyke of Enid, Okla. The car appeared in the 1934 film “The Gay Divorcee,” an Academy Award-nominated musical starring Rogers and Fred Astaire.
The Duesenberg, often referred to as the “Duesy,” was made from 1913 to 1937 and included record-breaking racing cars and high-quality passenger cars. Rogers’ vehicle was the first Duesenberg to have a Murphy body and a disappearing convertible top, according to the Art Institute.
The original upholstery is gone, but the current upholstery has replicated the original, with reptile-pattern embossed leather.
“This is by invitation-only car show and is now the largest one and only one by invitation only between Detroit and Los Angeles.
“Many of these cars are so unusual that they’ve never been in this city for any purpose,” said Marshall Miller, founder and chairman of the Art of the Car Concours.
Groendyke spent “years and money” to restore Rogers’ former car, Miller said. Last year was the first year he was able to get a Duesenberg in the show. This year, the show will include six Duesenbergs.
“I have seen it and it is drop-dead gorgeous,” Miller said of Rogers’ car. “What this brings back is that this is art. We all drive cars today that look like everybody else’s. Some of these are expensive, but some of these cars aren’t necessarily that crazy-expensive – they’re just really good-looking. When you stand there and look at Ginger Rogers’ car, you can see what it was and why it was in the movie – you just go ‘wow.’ ”
WHAT: Sixth annual Art of the Car Concours, featuring about 200 vintage, classic and special-interest vehicles, including cars, trucks, racing cars and motorcycles belonging to collectors from 12 states and 65 cities.
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
WHERE: Kansas City Art Institute campus, 4415 Warwick Blvd. in Kansas City.
HOW MUCH: $15 at the gate; $12 online in advance of the event. Children ages 10 and younger are admitted free. The event is a benefit for the Art Institute’s scholarship fund. Visit www.kcai.edu/events/special-events/art-car-concours for more information.
WHY: This year’s show features a 1929 Model J Duesenberg Convertible Coupe that once belonged to Oscar-winning actress and dancer Ginger Rogers, who was born Virginia Katherine McMath on July 16, 1911, at 100 W. Moore St. in Independence. She died in 1995.
According to the Kansas City Art Institute, the 1929 car now belongs to John Groendyke of Enid, Okla. The car appeared in the 1934 film “The Gay Divorcee,” an Academy Award-nominated musical starring Rogers and Fred Astaire.
The Duesenberg, often referred to as the “Duesy,” was made from 1913 to 1937 and included record-breaking racing cars and high-quality passenger cars. Rogers’ vehicle was the first Duesenberg to have a Murphy body and a disappearing convertible top, according to the Art Institute.
The original upholstery is gone, but the current upholstery has replicated the original, with reptile-pattern embossed leather.
“This is by invitation-only car show and is now the largest one and only one by invitation only between Detroit and Los Angeles.
“Many of these cars are so unusual that they’ve never been in this city for any purpose,” said Marshall Miller, founder and chairman of the Art of the Car Concours.
Groendyke spent “years and money” to restore Rogers’ former car, Miller said. Last year was the first year he was able to get a Duesenberg in the show. This year, the show will include six Duesenbergs.
“I have seen it and it is drop-dead gorgeous,” Miller said of Rogers’ car. “What this brings back is that this is art. We all drive cars today that look like everybody else’s. Some of these are expensive, but some of these cars aren’t necessarily that crazy-expensive – they’re just really good-looking. When you stand there and look at Ginger Rogers’ car, you can see what it was and why it was in the movie – you just go ‘wow.’ ”
