The Motor Trend Award For The Editor’s Choice–1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic David and Ginny Sydorick, Beverly Hills, CA. Note wheelcovers by Lmarr Disk LTD.
It just keeps on getting better and better..
By Robert Landman
Photos by Robert Landman
March 14-15th 2009 Amelia Island, Florida
Saturday
The weather is like the economy, grey and depressing, but the gloom soon lifts as we see that everyone present is happy to see friends whom they haven’t since last years’ Amelia Concours or Pebble Beach. Events like Amelia are as much about friends as they are about cars.
Saturday started of with a seminar about “The Great Roadster Drivers” introduced by the inspiring and witty Bill Warner, founder and co-chairman of the event, now in its fourteenth year. The drivers included Jim Rathman, Parnelli Jones, Johnny Rutherford and Bobby Unser (who replaced Lloyd ruby who could not make it because of a serious illness.)
The seminar was led by Bob Varsha, who as usual, was well articulated and to the point as he guided the panel and the attendee’s with questions and remarks.
Over at the RM Auction. the weather cleared up a little bit. Inside the Auction tent, we found that cars don’t cross the block anymore but are shown on a big screen above the ramp where they once drove over and away after being sold. Now you can see them on the big screen, and it’s very clear from all angles. It speeds up the process and the majority of the public seems to be confident with the new process. The auction starts with the memorabilia with very nice and rare radiator ornaments which sell for between $1200 and $2400.
The car auction starts of with Orient Buckboard from 1906 and sells for the low estimate amount of $10,000. The 1950 MG TD from 1950 goes for 18 grand, just in the middle off the low and high estimated amount. For complete results visit RM Auctions website, http://www.rmauctions.com/Results.cfm
Sunday
Bill Warner’s “Field of Dreams” drew well over 250 cars from seven countries. Chairman Bill Warner opened the Sunday festivities with a drive around the field in his golf cart, followed by honorary Chairman David Hobbs in his original Le Mans GT40 in Gulf Oil livery. David then parked his car alongside many of cars which he had also raced, including the Formula 5000, the Can-Am car, and BMWs.
Following this was a fashion show; the cars drove up and the driver and passenger were presented, dressed to match the cars’ era. It was a wonderful show, done by the Fashion Group International, North Florida.
Next there was a presentation of the SCCA Group 44 British Leyland cars in Honor of Bob Tullius with a terrific line up starting with the MG-B, Jaguar XJ-S , the Triumph TR8 and a Triumph TR6.
After an absence of 15 years, Mercedes Benz returned to F1 in 1954 with this stunning design. By 1955, however, the streamliner was been replaced with a more conventional and less attractive open wheel body.
One of the most beautiful racecars ever built was on hand this year at Amelia. Although German, the lines of the 1954 Mercedes Benz W196 streamliner from the Indianapolis Museum are flawless, striking and must be seen in person, as those old photos from mid-fifties magazines do not give it justice. It won the Mercedes Benz Club of America Most Historically Significant Mercedes-Benz award.
This year there were two Best of Show prizes. One for the Concours d’Elegance that went to the impeccable restoration done by Lee Munder with his 1931 Voisin C20 Demi-Berline. The Best of Show for Concours de Sport went to A. Dano Davis with his superb 1923 Miller Special 122 Supercharged.
The Voisin C20 represents Gabriel Voisin’s art-deco style and his love for aircraft; you can see that on his dashboard display with the layout off all the clocks and gauges. Under the bonnet is a V-12 cylinder engine built with a precision and eye for detail that is beyond one’s imagination. So beautiful and clean. The complete restoration was finished just days before the trip to Amelia Island. For more details on the Voisin, see https://velocetoday.com/archives/2180
The Spirit of Ferrari Award For The Ferrari Representing The Spirit of Enzo Ferrari–1950 Ferrari 166 MM Le Mans Berlinetta, Michael and Katharina Leventhal, Chicago, IL
The AutoWeek Award For The Most Significant Car of David Hobbs–1971 Ferrari 512 M Lawrence Stroll, New York, NY.
The Don Andrews Award For The Spirit of The Concours – A Driver’s Car That Is Driven Often and Enjoyed By Its Owner–1958 Ferrari 250 PF Cab Series I, Peter McCoy, Beverly Hills, CA.
1951 Cooper Barchetta, Howard and Diane Banaszak,
Fort Lauderdale, FL won best in class, Sports & GT Cars (Post War-1953). This car was patterned after the 166 Ferrari barchetta and was the impetus behind the AC and AC-Cobras.
1931 Voisin C20 Demi-Berline from the Munder Collection won Best in Show, Concours d’Elegance, and also won Best in Class for Coachwork, French (1937-1953).
The Gil Nickel-Far Niente Award For The Best Car In Which To Tour The Napa Valley–1914 Peugeot Type 150 Touring, Off Brothers Collection, Richland, MI.
An Amelia award for European Custom Coachwork French (1937-1953) went to the 1939 Bugatti T57C Aravis, Merle and Peter Mullin, Los Angeles, CA.
People’s Choice–1936 Delahaye 135 Competition Coupe Patterson Collection, Louisville, KY.
Buddy Palumbo Award For The Car Restored By and Driven To The Show By Its Owner–1966 Lamborghini 350GT, Ned and Rene Gallaher, Arden, NC.
The Road & Track Trophy For The Car The Editors Of Road & Track Would Most Like to Drive Home–1967 Lamborghini Miura, Lammot J. DuPont, McLean, VA.
The First Coast News Award For The Car Representing The Most Advanced Styling For Its Era–1938 Phantom Corsair Experimental, National Automobile Museum -The Harrah Collection, Reno, NV.
Best In Show – Concours de Sport–1923 Miller Special 122 Supercharged A. Dano Davis Jacksonville, FL
The Ford Motor Company-E. T. “Bob” Gregorie Trophy For Enduring Design Excellence–1968 Ford GT40, Harry Yeaggy, Cincinnati, OH.
The Spirit of the Mille Miglia Trophy For The Car That Best Expresses The Spirit of Road Racing–1936 Bentley 4.5 Litre, Andy Simo, Riverside, IL.
the 1931 voisin inspired the hummer no doubt.
and the 1953 fiat otto vu inspired the volvo p1800 (they should call it the standard pressed steel p1800).
> jack
Nice edition!!!
I continue to share and encourage my friends to sign up!!!
Keep up the great work…much appreciated!!!
All the best,
Bruce
dear Editor,the article and the pictures of Amelia Island Concours was very well written and intersting reading for any enthusiast.
At this point, iwould like to ask you or your readers for assistance:
i just bought a car ,AC BRISTOL 1956,in darkgreen and inside green,which has taken part in the Amelia Concours in probably 2002
or 2003.
What a pitty, there seem to be no records or old pictures of the car taking part in that event.
Maybe one of your readers or somebody has something on record to help us in the cars history?
I would be very happy to hear from somebody in this matter,
good motoring,Michael troesser
I can’t seem to figure out what just the “Amelia Award” is. I see on their site the list:
Best In Show
Best In Class
Amelia Awards
Corporate Awards
I can assume by the titles what Best in show, Best in class and corporate awards are but what is the Amelia Award given for??
Thanks
Dear Editor,
I have just seen the picture of the glorious 250 Cabriolet Ferrari 1958,Series one, owned by Peter McCoy, Beverly Hills, CA. The colour is most unusual….and reminds me of a photo I took with my very basic black / white camera around 1962 in Chichester, Sussex in England (i.e. near Goodwood) over the TT weekend .If Mr McCoy confirms that that gold is the origional colour, I would be very happy to scan and send him via your own good office, the photo I took for his Archive on his car.I am almost certain it was that car ,as I do remember the colour!
Thanks again for a great Site. Kind regards
Tony Childe-Freeman, London , England
The Amelia awards are for those cars that are just not good enough for best in class. This award is given by the judges after carefull inspection of both cars but only one can be best in class. It is confusing.
Best regards,
Robert Landman
To Melissa Gannen:
At Amelia, we have so many really great cars that it is very difficult to determine first, second, and third in class. Hence we took a page out of the Meadow BRook book and developed the Amelia award for those cars, that for one reason or another, did not win their class, but are significant none-the-less. Amelia Award cars do not qualitfy for best in show, but corporate and class winners do. Hope this clears this up for you.
Bill Warner
Grand Pooh-Bah
To Robert Landman:
We don’t mean to have it confusing, but when you have about 2-1/2 hours to determine the winners (out 30 classes and 250 cars), one just doesn’t have time to figure who is second and who is third, so why not just recognize their significance with an Amelia Award.
Bill Warner