Images by Ned Lawler and Kate Lawler, Shamrock Motoring Images
News of the 1933 Delage D8S roadster with a one-off body by de Vilars that took the 2010 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Best of Show Award swept the automotive media like the proverbial wild fire. Fresh out of a lengthy and painstakingly researched restoration, the all-white Delage stunned the judges and the crowd alike with its exquisite details and fascinating engineering. Just the fact that it was nearly monochromatic white was amazing.
“A lot of people were telling me to paint it black or dark blue, to make the chrome and other elements stand out a little better, but the car was white originally, and we wanted to stick with how it was when it was new,” said Jim Patterson, owner of the car. “As the restoration proceeded we kept getting bonus on top of bonus.”
While a lot of press has been given to Best of Show winners at major concours events around the globe, very little (maybe none?) is granted to the space in which the vehicles are kept. Garage Style, in conjunction with Zymol Wax Company, wanted to break that trend, and begin a new tradition in celebrating and showcasing the stables of the Best of Show winners.
“Our garage took about a year to build, and we designed it for easy access,” said Jim. “So many garages required movement of other cars to get another in or out, and we didn’t want to have to worry about that.”
As such, the Pattersons elected an elongated, rectangle shaped garage which would allow for vehicle placement along both walls, and a drive space down the center. An all-steel structure, from the outside it looks rather nondescript, save for a stucco façade leading to a foyer displaying various awards and stories the cars have achieved.
“Outside it doesn’t draw a lot of attention, we focused on the inside, but still didn’t want to do anything over the top with decorations. The cars are the art, and I wanted the garage to be functional and durable, but also maybe a little elegant,” Jim said.
Interestingly, whereas the Pebble Beach Best of Show winning Delage can seem rather bland in appearance, its understated elegance is reflected by the garage itself. Simple white walls, black beams and appointments allow the cars to grab the attention. The floor was designed duo-pattern with a checkerboard design down the center aisle and marble-look along the parking areas. Made of an impervious material that will not absorb or stain should mechanical fluids drip upon them, they’re also resistant to tire markings and scuffs, but achieve a pleasing, unassuming approach to flooring. Furthering an comfortable, club feel, Jim has established a seating area, simple carriage lamps upon the walls, lightly sprinkled decorative art around the garage, and placed two vintage Shell and Texaco gas pumps at the entrance of the service area. A center display section is overhung by a large chandelier, which catches quite a lot of attention.
“That was a tongue-in-cheek approach to uplift the industrial look of the building,” Jim explained of the chandelier.
Among the works of art such as the Delage are Bugattis, a Delage Aerosport Coupe, Ferraris, Mercedes and more chieftain vehicles, many of which have placed at other concours events around the country.
“A number of our cars are French, I like their styling and early engineering,” he said. “They really were beautiful vehicles that bolstered the Art Deco movement so popular in the early part of the last century.”
Jim had been a fan of cars since his childhood, his first real hook coming from a 1937 Cord convertible. As life so often does, his attention was directed in attending to his schooling and establishing his business and personal life, which kept him away from doing anything with automobile collecting. It wasn’t until his son, wrapping up his high school years, decided he just had to have a car he’d long wanted, a big block Corvette Sting Ray, that Jim decided to begin enjoying his passion for cars.
“I got to thinking that I’d long wanted a Mercedes 300SL Roadster, so when we were done restoring the Corvette, I set out to find one, and did,” he said. “From there, we just kept buying cars of interest. It’s been nice, because it’s a hobby that we can both share and enjoy.”
As the collection grew between the two of them, so too did a need for a proper space, and the idea of the large showcase garage was a natural progression. Aside from a nice display area, it was a simple solution that the garage must also have a service area and indoor loading space. The service area is nearly as clean as the display section of the garage, boasting a Challenger Lift, stainless steel topped work benches, a Snap-On tool chest and all the necessities a well-appointed workspace requires.
“We have done quite a lot of work in there, it’s very useful, and we can close it off from the main room with a large garage door,” he said. “We also have a long room in which we can park a transport trailer and truck, so we can load and unload indoors, which is very nice.”
Once the streamers have cleared and the crowds have diminished and the Delage returns home to its comfortable nest, it’s nice to know the celebration doesn’t exactly end, but rather a heightened appreciation begins within a custom-made garage.
