The DiDia Show Car was built for pop singer Bobby Darin in 1960. Author photo
We attend quite a few car cruises and shows here at the Examiner, but few are as special as the one we went to on Sunday. The fourth-annual "Art of the Car Concours" brought in one of the finest collections of cars ever assembled in Kansas City. Held on the campus of the Kansas City Art Institute, cars came in from eight states to make up this spectacular display.
Today, we're mostly looking at post-war favorites from the show. These are cars that may show up at a normal local car gathering, although few of the cars at this show do. For the most part, these cars are nicer, rarer, and more spectacular than those you would normally expect to see at a run-of-the-mill event. These cars are often hidden away in the garages of prominent collectors, and finally found their place in the sun because they were offered a coveted invitation to the Concours by someone in-the-know.
A look inside the wild DiDia Show Car. Author photo
The centerpiece in this group of cars had to be the 1960 DiDia 150 show car. This wild machine was built for pop music icon Bobby Darin, and had many pieces that were recognizable from other cars. It definitely had styling cues from contemporary factory concept cars, but is also had a Rod & Custom feel to it. The DiDia originally cost more than $153,000 to build, and even contained real ground diamonds in the paint. The car is part of the St. Louis Museum of Transportation collection.
The Art of the Car Concours is a benefit for student scholarships at the Kansas City Art Institute. It cost money to be in the show, and it cost money to be a spectator, but even at $12.00/person, the price was right to see some of these fine cars up close.
Enjoy the photo slideshow of all the great late '40s through late'60s cars below. And be sure to check out this link for a review of the breathtaking early cars and full Classics from the show. If you think these cars are nice, and they most certainly are, the featured rides in that story will knock your socks off!
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CLICK ON THE SLIDESHOW BELOW TO SEE MORE PHOTOS OF THE IMPRESSIVE POST-WAR CLASSICS FROM THE ART OF THE CAR CONCOURS SHOW.
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Comments
I loved this show. Great cars everywhere.
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