The "car window data sheet", a/k/a the "Monroney" in the USA vernacular, isn't exactly the best thing for a car show.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroney_stickerhttps://monroneylabels.comAs a volunteer for the Concours of America, I've written many dozens of car show placards over a number of years for all kinds of European marques and models, some quite obscure which required more data and research than the owner often provided. I also did these for some interesting American show cars. They all followed a script that was something like this:
Year-Make-Model
Body Style
(above two lines in the headline)
Text of approximately 150-175 words
Manufacturer Info
Model info-basic
Specifics of a model
Specifics of the particular car
Any provenance or other interesting information.
All of this was printed on a 18" x 24" foam core placard, with room for the commemorative license plate below that all entrants received.
Here's an example:
1955 JAGUAR XK-140
ROADSTERThe XK140 was manufactured by Jaguar between 1954 and 1957 as the successor to the XK120. There was more interior space, better brakes, rack and pinion steering, increased suspension travel, and tubular shock absorbers. It was introduced in late 1954 and sold as a 1955 model. More substantial bumpers with overriders and flashing turn signals above the front bumper help distinguish it from its predecessor. Power was from the 3.4L Jaguar XK DOHC inline-6 engine making 190 HP. The roadsters have removable canvas and plastic side curtains on light alloy barchetta-type doors, and a tonneau cover. The windscreen is removable for true open motoring!
This 1955 Jaguar XK140 Roadster, or OTS (Open Two-Seater) was found locally by the present owners after 35 years in storage. A ground-up restoration was performed in 2020. This is one of 3,276 Roadsters produced in 1955. The XK140 has long been acknowledged as one of the most romantic and iconic sports cars ever built, making it a highly sought-after collectible automobile.
Presented by WILLIAM & TINA SIPKO
In earlier years, they wanted more detail, such as this; the volunteer responsible for culling all these together generally did some final edits to the writing and format based on needs at the time of the show. Here's one I did for an MB:
1938 Mercedes-Benz 320
Type W142 Cabriolet B
Ted and Mary Stahl
The Mercedes-Benz W142 (Type 320) was a passenger car introduced in February 1937. It succeeded the Type 290 (Mercedes-Benz W18). The car was known by its name Type 320 during production and service, but today is commonly referred to using the Mercedes-Benz works number W142, giving it a more specific nomenclature. Like many cars of the era, it was available in a number of body styles, including short and long wheelbase, limousine, “tourenwagen”, roadster, four cabriolets and more. The car features the straight six-cylinder 3.2L M142 motor, newly enlarged in displacement with side valves producing 77HP at 4,000 rpm. Top speed was 81 MPH. Power was delivered to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual synchromesh transmission, unusual for the era. Brakes were hydraulic on all four wheels. The suspension was from the W18 with a swing axle at the rear and a central transverse leaf spring and coil springs beside the wheels at the front.
Mercedes-Benz is one of the world’s most recognized names; a division of the German company Daimler AG. The brand is known for luxury vehicles, buses, and trucks. The name appeared in 1926 with the merger of the firms of Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz. Benz's 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen, is regarded as the first gasoline-powered automobile.
This example is a Cabriolet B, which features two doors, four seats and four side windows. It is “numbers matching” and features “autobahn gearing”, a mechanical overdrive operated by a separate floor lever. The original jack and associated tools have also survived and are fitted to the firewall.
I have a couple of these left over from the times
my car was in the show and these cards were written by others. I always keep one in the trunk/boot for a show, or even a GTG or Cars and Coffee event.
