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Labor of Love

AWARD-WINNING RIG: San Marino’s Joe Conzonire cruises through the famed Pebble Beach Golf Course at last weekend’s Concors d’Elegance, where the 1910 Thomas Flyer M 6-40 he is driving won First In Class in the A-2 Antique classification. Along for the ride are granddaughter Sophia (back seat), daughter Joelle and son-in-law Ben Grossi and grandson Nick, who is serving as co-pilot. Conzonire and some of his friends spent four years personally restoring the vehicle, including the painstaking replacement of its unique cork running boards and floorboards.

A couple chance encounters, and four years of good old fashioned hard work, recently paid off for long time San Marino resident Joe Conzonire.

A 1910 Thomas Flyer M 6-40 5-passenger touring car that Conzonire purchased and personally restored was named First in Class in the A-2 Antique classification last weekend at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

“We did it at my place,” said the typically understated Conzonire, who along with a couple car buddies transformed the rare vehicle from also-ran to champion “except for the painting and the plating.”

Conzonire’s accomplishment is truly special, as most owners at the councours level typically hire specialists to handle the entire transformation process and write a check upon completion.

At the advice of a friend, Conzonire purchased the Thomas from the son of a friend who had passed away.

“It had a blown engine, too,” Conzonire recalled.

Conzonire is a member of the Horseless Carriage Club of the San Gabriel Valley and fate smiled upon him at a Christmas party the club holds not long after he purchased the car.

“There were no seats left and I ended up next to someone I didn’t know,” Conzonire explained. “We started talking and it turns out he owned the same car. In fact, they are just five serial numbers apart.”

Joe Conzonire with the 1910 Thomas Flyer M 6-40 5-passenger touring car he personally restored. Rafael Najarian Photo

John Adamick, Conzonire’s new friend, and other members of the club personally pitched in with labor, expertise and encouragement.

“That really got me going,” he said. “They don’t take just any car at Pebble Beach. They want something special, I realized this was a pretty good candidate.”

During the four-year restoration process, Conzonire & Co. meticulously replaced the unique cork running boards and floorboards and oversaw the machining of most of the auto’s hardware. He also made a decision that might have proven key to the victory.

“I changed the color,” Conzonire said. “It was a burgundy and I decided to go with green. It’s a brass car and I thought it looked good with green. I don’t know if it’s a coincidence, but the top three competitors were also green.”

Conzonire’s foray into car collecting has substantial ties to San Marino. He credits Aaron Weiss—founder of the wildly successful San Marino Auto Classic—for introducing him to the hobby and he also purchased his first vintage car from Bob Mollno.

Conzonire’s collection includes four trucks and a 1903 Packard that he says “is pretty special.”

Conzonire has displayed his cars at the San Marino Auto Classic since its inception in 2011, and plans on showing the 1910 Thomas at next year’s event (mark your calendar for Sunday, June 9, 2019).

Though the classic car trade is a mostly inhabited by males, Conzonire said all of his four children– even his two daughters Joelle and Jamie–are along for the ride. “They all love it,” Conzonire said.

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