The Nov. 15 event at the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens will feature classic cars on display.
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- Notable inclusions to this year’s show includes Palm Beach resident Sam Lehrman’s American-made 933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Special Newmarket Permanent Sedan.
One-of-a-kind classic cars will again fill the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens this month, drawing fans who appreciate the vehicles’ vintage designs.
The ninth annual Sculpture in Motion event, which honors local veterans and Gold Star Families, is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 15. It will feature pre- and post-war automobiles displayed throughout the garden at 253 Barcelona Road in West Palm Beach. Drivers will then parade the cars to the Flagler Museum across the Intracoastal Waterway in Palm Beach.
“Sculpture in Motion is so beautifully aligned with celebrating artistic design, nature and of course, history,” said Palm Beach resident Frances Fisher, co-chair of Sculpture in Motion with her husband, Jeffrey.
The automobiles on display will include a 1954 Pegaso Z-102 Touring Coupe, a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4, a 1928 Ford Model A Roadster and a 1936 Packard Super Eight Dual Cowl Phaeton.
Also on display will be the Fishers’ 1966 Citroën DS 21 Le Léman, a car they rarely take out in public. The unique model was the one the French car company presented during the 1966 Geneva Motor Show, Jeffrey Fisher said.
“This one really is a work of art, and kind of exemplifies what we’re trying to do with this theme of rolling sculptures sitting alongside the beautiful sculptures in the garden,” he said.
The Fishers will be joined by Palm Beacher Sam Lehrman, who will present a one-of-a-kind 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Special Newmarket Permanent Sedan. Unlike most other Rolls-Royces, the car claims an American heritage, Lehrman noted.
“The chassis and engine of the car were made in England, but it was shipped over to the U.S. where a coach builder named Brewster created the body of the car,” Lehrman told the Palm Beach Daily News. “There were four of these cars made, and this is the only one with bucket seats and does not feature a divider between the front and back seats.”
As an award-winning collector whose automobiles have graced the stage of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Lehrman is drawn to Sculpture in Motion. Its location and the quality of automobiles make it a “boutique car show.”
Guests will be able to vote on which cars should earn a series of superlative titles: most artistic, most elegant, people’s choice, young connoisseur and sculptural speed.
“I think my favorite part of it is the young connoisseurs award, because you see what appeals to the next generation,” Frances Fisher said.
Younger children also will get the chance to experience what it’s like to sit in a pre-war automobile with this year’s 1928 Ford Model A Roadster.
“We try to offer a car each year that the children can be a little more hands-on with,” Frances Fisher said.
Sculpture in Motion also will feature “Auto Motion: Sculpture by Rene Von Richthofen,” an art exhibition composed of installations created using vehicle spare parts, children toys and model cars. It will mark the first exhibition hosted at the garden’s newly renovated and renamed Frances Fisher Art and Nature Conservatory building.
Classic car historian Donald Osborne will serve as Sculpture in Motion’s grand marshal. Osborne will also be featured in a 2 p.m. lecture at the garden’s outdoor classroom titled, “Monuments in Motion-Landmarks in Automotive Design.”
At 3:15 p.m., guests will hear from retired U.S. Army Officer Russell J. Cancilla. A three-time combat veteran with two Bronze Stars and a Defense Superior Service Medal, he also served as military aide to President George H. W. Bush. In the latter role, Cancilla was tasked with carrying the nation’s nuclear-launch code, often referred to as the “football.”
This year’s event will include a presentation of the colors by the Lake Worth High School Color Guard, Frances Fisher said. The Palm Beach Atlantic University Choir will present a concert of patriotic tunes.
Following the special tribute will be the Grand Tour Parade of Cars at 4:15 p.m. It will see 40 vehicles carrying Gold Star families and veterans on a 5-mile route across the Flagler Memorial Bridge and through Palm Beach before landing at the Flagler Museum for a toast.
“I think the most rewarding part of us being in the leadership of this is knowing what a beloved community event it is, and how much it has meant to honor the Gold Star families and veterans through a partnership with Ann Norton,” Frances Fisher said.
Joining the parade will be drivers from the local Jaguar club, Ferrari Club and Porsche Club, she said.
Chuck Mitchell will serve as Sculpture in Motion’s curator, with Lew and Kathleen Crampton serving as honorary chairs. The Fishers are joined by co-chairs Audrey and Martin Gruss.
Tickets for the event are $30 for adults; $25 for Ann Norton members and seniors; and $12 for those ages 18 and younger. Parking is available just north of the gardens at Palm Beach Daily Academy, 1901 S. Flagler Drive.
Available for purchase will be a commemorative pocket square that features a design with Sculpture in Motion’s mascot, the Fishers’ one-of-a-kind 1938 Delahaye 135 MS Special Torpédo Roadster, which the couple has nicknamed “Ruby.”
To purchase tickets or for more information, visit ansg.org or call 561-832-5328.
(This story was updated to note that the commemorative pocket squares will be available for sale.)
Diego Diaz Lasa is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at dlasa@pbdailynews.com.