This is the 24th time there has been a concours on Amelia Island, and they just keep getting better and better. The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance is right at the top of the must do list of concours, both for entrants and spectators. There have been comparisons and contrasts with Pebble Beach, but the two shows are different enough that those just don’t work. Just accept that Pebble is the best of the west, and Amelia is the best of the east. There are other prestigious concours, as you have seen and will see covered in this magazine, but Amelia just overwhelms the others simply because the size of the field allows so much diversity. This year, for example, there was a class for Ferrari 250 Short Wheelbase cars, and 14 were entered. At the other end of the spectrum was a Volkswagen class, including coachbuilt VWs. A class for Jaguar 120s included some spectacular cars.
There was little concern about aerodynamics when Don Garlits ran Swamp Rat XIII. It was all about power.
A half dozen Mercedes 540Ks were displayed in a row. Drag racecars, including Don Garlits’ Swamp Rat XIII – you should have heard it when they lit them up all together. Cars that Jacky Ickx drove were shown; Ickx was honored at this year’s concours. There were four Isotta Fraschinis on the field. Four! In 1929, and Isotta cost $22,000, and the company would only accept payment in gold. Indy cars – from a 1914 Peugeot to a 1994 Penske PC-23, and a number of very interesting cars in between. Porsche 962s stretching into the distance. Remember when you could buy a car or a house out of the Sears catalog? Neither do I, but there was a 1908 Sears on display, along with a 1903 Holsman and a 1904 Success.
Posing with the 1908 Sears Model J
Amelia is a wonderful confusion of incredible cars – over 300 of them. That number doesn’t account for the ones not in the concours. Cars & Coffee on Saturday draws a full field of cars – a couple hundred of them – most of which are driven to the field. There are auctions starting on Thursday and ending on Saturday, including RM Sotheby’s, Gooding, Russo & Steele, and Bonhams, that are full of interesting cars. Top seller at RM was a Ferrari 275 GTB that went for $2,205,000.
After Boca Raton in February and Amelia Island in March, the concours season moves north as the weather warms. Amelia Island in early March is a very pleasant place. High temperatures in the 70s and a nice breeze blowing off the Atlantic make if comfortable. If you want a break from the cars, you can relax at the pool or walk on the beach. It is a very satisfying place to be, even on the morning after you have to spring forward into Daylight Saving Time.
BMW has a hsitory of artists painting their cars. The BMW Classic Center brought this Art Car done by Heiner Meyer.
Unusual cars can show up at Amelia even during Cars & Coffee. This La Dawri Sebring is one of only five known to exist.
For 1914, Benz used a long wheelbase chassis for their 18/45 Four Passenger Runabout.
Lalique roosters were popular. There were several at Amelia, including this one on a Bentley.
Probably the prettiest rear end at Amelia this year. 1930 Packard 734S from the Jepson Collection.
From a time when even the back side of a rear view mirror was pretty.
Jim Clark won the 1965 Indy 500 with this Lotus-Ford Type 38, effectively ending the era of the roadsters.
Just, WOW!
This is how they installed the turbo on a ’63 Watson roadster.
This 1982 Gurney Eagle won the the BMW Clasic Trophy for Engineering Excellence.
Innovation – some ideas were better than others. The turbine car was eventually banned, the Cooper provided a glimpse at the future, and the Duesenberg Cummings diesel opened the battle between the 2-stroke and 4-stroke diesel engines.
Damp when the light first shines at Amelia, 1960 Ferrari 250GT SWB Berlinetta.
One of the very few 250 SWB Ferraris not built by Pinin Farina – 1959 Betone design.
Carrozzeria Vignale produced cars with a unique style, including this 1951 Ferrari 212 Export.
In 1959, Zagato bodied their first Lancia, the Appia GTE.
Wow! What colors! 1938 Bugatti 57C.
People’s Choice Award – 1927 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A S Roadster.
Winner of an Amelia Award for Pre-War Race Cars – 1925 Lorraine-Dietrich B3-6.
Even the wheel chocks for this 1937 Bugatti Type 57 hillclimb car bear the Bugatti brand.
Rudolph Carraciola won the 1929 Irish TT in this Mercedes-Benz 710SS.
A quick little beast. When part of the Cunningham race team, this 1954 Stanguellini 750 Sport won the Queen Catherine Cup at Watkins Glen.
Bought new by Jack Gordon, an early rocket scientist, he won the Index of Performance at Sebring in this 1960 OSCA 750S.
