Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance 2013

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Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance 2013 Photos and Stories.

March 8th through to the 10th 2013
Ritz Carlton Resort, Amelia Island, FL, US

Photos and story provided by Geoff Wheatley Contact Photographer for Information.

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Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance 2013

Mercedes-Benz

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This was the 18th Amelia Island Concours held at the Ritz Carlton Resort, Florida, with an estimated crowd on the final day in excess of 25,000. (I can certainly believe it!)

In short, many beautiful cars, but for some of us, a tad too many people. Having said that let me add that the selection of vehicles on display was simply outstanding. It's been a long time since I have seen so many 99/100 point cars in one location, while the variety extended from the turn of the last century through to today and even tomorrow with the Concept Exhibits! If you like Brass Cars you would not be disappointed with the Amelia display. Sixteen cars every one over a hundred years old shone in the spring sunlight. A 1902 Delahey and the 1909 Pierce-Arrow were excellent examples of the period but no reflection, so were all the others. (I just like Brass Cars!).

Almost 300 cars were registered for the Concours how many actually arrived I do not know but would guess, from the size of the display, that most turned up and perhaps a few extra that were not original entries. Apart from looking at the individual vehicle exhibits the usual guest tents sponsored by such manufacturers as BMW...Rolls Royce...Jaguar... Cadillac Porsche etc seemed to be doing a roaring business. These exhibits offered the visitor the opportunity to see the latest offerings by the manufactures. Example: Cadillac featured a 2014 Concept car that certainly drew a lot of attention. I managed to get a couple of pictures however it's certainly not in the familiar style of this manufacturer as you will see! If you like Corvette's you would not have been disappointed in the display and the fact that you could see the latest treat from that stable that carries the classic name of "Sting Ray". That should bring back a few memories to the older readers! Like Porsche, Corvette is also celebrating an anniversary, sixty years of production. Not bad from a car that the critics panned back in 1954!

The ever popular Ford Company had a good showing with special interest in the Ford GT 40, but to my mind the Ford Show Stopper had to be a 1932 Ford Boat Tail.

Turning to the British Sports car entries and there were a decent number, who can walk by a 1925 Aston Martin twin Cam Grand Prix or a James Bond Aston Martin DB4. (Yes that was the one they used in the movie) Now add a 1933 MGJ2 looking like it just came off the showroom floor, Out of the same vintage was a MG K2 and a 1935 MGPA. In the same group a 1936 SS Jaguar certainly caught my attention in company with a 1936 Lancia Astura. In the post war collection a nice MGTC and of course a MGTD. I was a little surprised to find that no Triumph and or Morgan sports cars were featured or any of the other popular British sports cars of the post war period. (The Morgan hit the 103 year anniversary last year!)

Of course I say that forgetting a wonderful example of a 1950 Jaguar 120 and a few steps away its younger brothers the Jaguar 140 and 150. I have always been fascinated by the post war (1946 to 1953) range of American cars, perhaps it's the abundance of chrome and the equally abundance of front grill that attracts me, or the plastic seat covers and large White Wall tires! However the general selection of American cars needed two days to review not a few hours with people everywhere, so all I can say is that if you, like me, have a favored US Post or Prewar vehicle I am sure that an excellent example was on display. All I can try and do is give a very broad picture of this event and encourage you to save up your pennies and go in 2014 but be prepared for large crowds, and take your own refreshments as you can waste a lot of time lining up for an almost cold beer! Parking is at best a challenge, the majority of people use the small local airport where you can park for $15 and then get a shuttle bus to the event, takes around an hour from the time you park the car till you enter the show. (Not distance but sheer volume).There are various private parking locations but be prepared to pay $50 for the visit. Regretfully I did not prepay for my entry tickets so the cost was $70, had I booked in advance it would have been $55. Without a doubt this is a must for any car buff but you need two days to see half of what is on display. Pictures are even more difficult with so many people also trying to get a decent shot so bear with my efforts in this regard as you view the selection.

You can attend on the Saturday when I am told there are less people, perhaps only 15,000!!

Remember the official figure of 25 000 relates to the paying guests not the staff, Special Exhibitors and of course the owners of the cars on display which in modest terms must represent another 1500 people. The two cars that took the top honors were a 1936 Duisenberg SJN Supercharged (Best in Show) and a1968 Ford GT40. That won the (Concours de Sport) award. This car won at LeMans both in 1968 and 1969.

It would have been very helpful if the organizers had provided a layout of the event so that the paying guests could locate whatever cars etc., which they were interested in. I wasted a considerable amount of time looking for particular displays and found that even when you asked an official, usually in a golf cart, they did not know!

Last year the total figure of two million dollars was recorded in financial gifts to worthy charities, obviously for 2013 it will be higher. Nice job Amelia, you should be truly proud of this achievement.
Geoff Wheatley March 2013

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Porsche 911
As this is the 50th anniversary of the Porsche 911 there was an excellent display of almost every model produced. In total no less than 31 vehicles graced the field going back to 1957 with a GT Speedster and a 1963 901 Prototype.

Abarth

Aston Martin

Bentley, body by Pinn Farina

Benz Prinz Heinrich 1908

Benz Prinz Heinrich Racing/Touring Car 1910

Duesenberg J 1931

Alfa Romeo Grand Sport Spider Corsa 1931
Not necessarily fast but certainly beautiful was a white Alfa Romeo that you would expect to see parked on the 1930's French Riviera Obviously a "one off", vehicle with unique, make that expensively unique, coach work,

Alfa Romeo Grand Sport Spider Corsa 1931

Many of these priceless cars are driven long distance in planed events (Ed.)

Bugatti

Cadillac Cien Concept 2002

Delahaye 135 M Competition 1937

Duesenberg Weymann 1932
If you like truly expensive vehicles there were seven Duisenberg's on display from 1929 through to 1936 with a fine example of the "La Grande Torpedo Phaeton"(1932 Vintage).

Ferrari 225 Sport Berlinetta Tuboscocca Vignale sn-0168ED 1952
Continuing with European exhibits there was an excellent display of Ferrari that drew quite a crowd including this scribe. The 1952 212 International and the equally attractive 1955 Europa GT took my eye but to be honest they all looked exciting.

Jaguar SS 100

Jaguar SS 100

Jaguar XK 120

Lamborghini Miura
I counted eight examples of Lamborghini from 1965 through to 1985, each one looking like it could show a clean set of rear wheels to any contender.

Lincoln
Several early Lincolns were featured on the field like a 1938 Passenger Limo, a Lincoln K Twelve and, wait for it...1932 KB Custom Dietrich.