Scott and Coco Gauthier of Scottsdale picked up the top prize: the 2009 Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance Best of Show with their superb Alfa SZ. Stunning historic Italian machinery from Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Maserati captured the imagination at the third edition of the Palm Springs Desert Classic which was once again held at the historic O'Donnell Golf Club in Palm Springs.

Stunning historic Italian machinery from Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Maserati captured the imagination during the second edition of the Palm Springs Desert Classic which was once again held at the historic O'Donnell Golf Club in Palm Springs.

The collection of more than one hundred domestic and foreign museum-quality cars drew more than 7,500 spectators from around the world to the Concorso d'Eleganza event which is quickly growing in stature. Awards were presented to around 30 automobiles in 14 categories. Clubs to take part this year included the Alfa Romeo Owners' Club, Ferrari Owners' Club and Porsche Owners' Club.
 
After last year when Maserati was the featured marque at Palm Springs this year it was to be the turn of another prestigious Italian sports car brand, Alfa Romeo, to be under the spotlight, and a string of its evocative historical models turned up in style on the manicured lawns of the golf club.

As befitted its status as the featured marque there was a class reserved for Alfa Romeos and in the category first prize went to a fabulous 1961 Alfa Romeo SZ Coda Tronca Zagato Coupe shown by Scott and Coco Gauthier from Scottsdale, Arizona, while a deserving second went to a 1966 Alfa Romeo 2600 SZ Zagato Coupe owned by Don and Carol Murray from Laguna Beach, California. Third place was collected by a 1958 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Farina Spyder owned by Tina Etcheverry from Berkeley. Making it a superb result for the Alfa Romeo marque Scott and Coco Gauthier of Scottsdale also picked up the event's top prize: the 2009 Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance Best of Show.

There were two more classes specially reserved for Alfa Romeo cars and Don Murray's 1966 2600 SZ Zagato Coupe, fresh from its second place in the overall Alfa Romeo category won the special award for the "Best Alfa Romeo" while "Most Significant Alfa Romeo Race Car" was picked up by a 1964 Alfa Romeo TZ Zagato Coupe owned by Marnix Dillenius of Palo Alto, California.

As with any prestigious Concours d'Elegance there was a strong Ferrari showing and a well subscribed category was dedicated to the famous Maranello sports cars. The class was scooped overall by Ken and Dayle Roath from Indian Wells, California in their 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB 6C Alloy Pininfarina Coupe. Second place went to a 1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast Coupe owned by Family Classic Cars from San Juan Capistrano, California, while third place was collected by another California-based example of the Prancing Horse breed, this time it was an immaculate 1964 Ferrari Lusso shown by Shawn Williams of Los Angeles. Another Ferrari exhibit to attract much attention from the many visitors on the day was a perfect 410 Superamerica.
 
The Trident brand from Modena was also well represented with a superb 1961 Maserati 5000 GT Indianapolis Zagato Coupe owned by John Bookout from Houston, Texas finishing runner-up in the "1946 - 1974 European Classic Sports" section. One place better was the 1937 Maserati 6CM owned by Bill Pope from Paradise Valley, Arizona, that won the "Race Car" class. Second in the "Race Cars" class in fact went to a 1965 Alfa Romeo GTA Coupe shown by Bob Lee of Rolling Hills, California.

Lancia was also represented at Palm Springs, and a 1927 Lancia Lambda 7th Series "Airway" Saloon Albany Coachworks owned by the Byrd Family from Studio City, California came third in the category "European Classic Sports". Niche Italian cars were much in evidence and those to catch the eye included a 1937 Cisitalia D46 and a 1930 Isotta Fraschini Type 8A Flying Star Touring, while a superb Ghia bodied Chrysler, in the shape of a 1954 Chrysler New Yorker Ghia Coupe, also drew attention. In amongst the many historical gems were a smattering of current Italian sports car models and they included the stunning Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano and Maserati GranTurismo.