SAN MARINO MOTOR CLASSIC

About the event and this year's highlights.

Cars everywhere. Sun overhead. Lacy Park felt like it had been turned into an open-air museum, only louder and with better scenery. More than 400 of them rolled in for the 2025 San Marino Motor Classic, polished brass-era antiques, pre-war tourers with long hoods and tall grilles, post-war sports cars in every color you can name, even a few modern exotics parked like they owned the place. Families wandered between rows. Collectors leaned on fenders, talking shop. It didn’t feel stiff or staged. Just cars, people, and a perfect Southern California day.

Crowds gathered early around the British and German cars. On the British side, an Aston Martin drew plenty of attention, its deep paint shining under the sun. Nearby sat a bright Austin Healey 3000 Mark III BJ8, a row of Morgans including a Plus-4 roadster, and several well-kept Triumphs. Each one showed off a different side of mid-century motoring, some elegant, some sporty, all with unmistakable character.

People drifted toward the German cars all afternoon. Under the trees sat a 300D, polished and quiet, while the sun lit up a few 600-series sedans and several cars from the Pagoda era. One car kept drawing people back: a 1972 Mercedes-Benz 600. Judges gave it the Chuck Rogers Memorial Award for Most Elegant Mercedes-Benz, and it was easy to see why with the way it held the crowd’s attention. Over near the Porsche display, visitors studied a row of classic 911s. The 1969 Porsche 911S picked up the Pasadena Humane Society Award, adding to a strong European showing that balanced the American muscle, Italian exotics, and pre-war giants parked across the grounds.

Our 1956 Jaguar XK-140 MC made its debut after months in restoration. Original parts had been tracked down one by one, and the car was restored with an eye on the smallest of details. The Jaguar class was full of competitors, but when the judges announced the results, our XK-140 MC took second place in the Jaguar Class S-2 (XK 120, XK 140, XK 150), behind the First place winning 1955 Jaguar D-Type that drew plenty of attention from attendees.

By late afternoon, as trophies were presented and engines cooled, the 2025 San Marino Motor Classic had delivered another memorable day of automotive history and appreciation. For our team, the 2nd place finish with the XK-140 MC was a highlight, but just as important was the chance to share the car with enthusiasts, talk about the restoration process, and celebrate the passion that keeps these classic machines alive.