Gems of car world showcased at Sarasota Yacht Club show

The appeal of unique vehicles for hobbyists is their surprising locations; for example, this year's YachtRodders car show.

Thirty-some exhibitors showcased their stunning vehicles Saturday afternoon on the Sarasota Yacht Club lawn, where particularly sunny skies brought out the radiant shimmer of rare original paint coats and allowed convertible car owners to pop the tops.

Of particular historical interest was the 1974 Ferrari 246 GTS Dino showcased by Oaks Automotive Enthusiasts Club member Nathan Clary on behalf of a private collector who is a SYC member and has owned the car for three years. 

It is one of only three cars produced in the color "verde medio nijinsky," an extraordinarily bright green with olive undertones. Even among the trio, this car is unique for being the only one built for the United States, from new, in the color — the other two being in Europe.

Photo by Dana Kampa

Beyond its physical attributes, the vehicle holds a distinct place in history for its ownership history. The first buyer was Beverly Hills socialite Sandra West, who notably is buried in one of her other Ferraris, a 1964 Ferrari 300 America.

The Dino escaped entombment and has accumulated fewer than 10,000 miles since the 1970s, continuing its journey to a collector in Texas — who painted the car red. California-based Legendary Motorcars rediscovered and restored the car to its original color in 2017, completing its journey in Osprey, Florida.

Chairs Bill Hadley and Vic Lippa said the show, held annually in the spring and fall, allows YachtRodders to share such one-of-a-kind rides with fellow members.

"We have such beautiful cars here today," he said. "They're absolutely incredible."

Hadley shared his own 2025 Corvette Stingray Z51, a surprise gift for his wife that he presented at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. 

Ron Manganiello took pride in getting to exhibit his Austin Healey, a British sports car, considering it was a lifelong dream of his to own one, made extra challenging by the fact founder Donald Healey left the company in 1968, and the last production model in 1972.

"It doesn't even have a radio," he said. "Car people will tell you, you want to hear the sound of the engine."

Other favored car brands included Porsche, BMW and Ferrari.

Photo by Dana Kampa

Jonathan Moore took the opportunity to share his 2019 Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS, which has a top speed of 195 mph. He said he looked for this particular model for more than three years, with the highly sought-after vehicle repeatedly disappearing from markets nearly as quickly as listed.

By Christmas miracle, he saw the listing for on the eve of the holiday, and he drove 1,100 miles to Pennsylvania to lock down a deal.

"There was a snowstorm, it was Christmas, and it was the end of the year," he said.

But the harrowing journey to get the "red devil" proved successful, and the car with only 7,000 miles on it shipped to its new home in Sarasota.

Moore said he enjoys the camaraderie of the yacht club and was proud to participate in this season's show for the first time as an exhibitor.

Renae Fjugstad exhibited her 1984 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet.

"It's a European car, which means it has a bigger engine than most of the American cars that came out that year," she said, pointing out the pearl white leather interior and roll bar that was only included in cars manufactured that year.

Renae and her husband, Geir, travel almost every weekend to showcase their vehicles in acclaimed car shows, but they were particularly excited to share them with close friends at the club.