The 23rd Annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance is branching out this year by offering some interesting car classes not usually seen on the fancy car show circuit. One look at the class list will have you scratching your head at how exactly beyond a few classes the word elegance fits into the mix. But hey, its about the fun of celebrating the diversity of automotive interests. There will be cool cars and unusual cars at the 2018 Amelia Island Concours.
The list of eleven car classes runs the gamut of what you expect to see to, well I’m not sure how they came up with the last one. Needless to say race cars dominate the classes.
Auburn – The classic American dream car of an era long past. Known for engineering and speed, these immensely stylish rides, while coveted, could not survive a recession, depression or poor management. While they lasted (1900 – 1937) Auburn built some beautiful and much loved automobiles.
Electric Car Pioneers – Electric cars are not a new invention. Henry Ford bought one for his wife because they were easier to start than the old crank start cars. It will be fun to look back where electric cars began.
Pre-War MGs – Morris Garages using initials MG began producing sports cars in 1923. In the 1930s the cars first appeared on the racing circuit. MGs were hugely popular in Post War Europe and America, where most of us remember them, Amelia Island will help us appreciate the delightful MGs wich came before WWII.
Porsche Carrera – Thirty years of the fastest Carrera models will be on display. The Carrera label has been attached to numerous Porsche models starting with the 356, the 904 and all the way to seven iterations of the 911. The appreciation for this car runs deep for Porsche enthusiasts.
Jaguar XKE – This iconic Jaguar fueled the automotive dreams of many youngsters, myself included, oh how I wanted one. Once called “the most beautiful car ever made” by Enzo Ferrari, this sexy car enjoyed life on the race track and was popular as a touring car amongst the stylish set.
IMSA GTP – 1981 – 1993 – These exciting race cars of a effervescent bygone era in endurance racing are sure to delight attendees.
N.A.R.T. at 70 – The North American Race Team was founded by North American Ferrari importer, Luigi Chinetti, as he was able to secure ex-Works racing cars for the American market. He realized racing success translated into sales and for three decades N.A.R.T. competed successfully all over the globe. (The title for the class is mildly unclear as most consider N.A.R.T. to have began in 1958.)
50th Anniversary of Ferrari Daytona – Officially designated the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 this iconic two seat grand touring car is many a car enthusiast’s dream. The Daytona moniker came from the 1,2,3 finish at the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona. The Daytona is often considered the last of the Enzo Ferrari cars, after which he sold the company to Fiat.
Cars of Martini Racing – The distinctive dark blue, light blue and red stripes of the Italian distillery Martini & Rossi has graced race cars since 1968.
Cars of “Big Daddy” Ed Roth – Cartoonist, illustrator and custom car designer, the guy who created the renown hot rod Rat Fink was one of the premier California customizers.
Hunting Cars – No this is not a typo. Apparently there are a group of customized cars specifically for the ranch life and rarely seen outside the fences. This should be interesting, I understand fancy Rolls-Royce cars created for the Maharajas for hunting tigers and the like could have and elegance about their design, but the lead car for this class is the King Ranch Buick.
If Pebble Beach or Villa d’Este both showcase the best of the best in collector cars, Amelia Island is more the every man’s show, with an assortment of automobiles designed to appeal to a wider audience. The “Big Daddy” cars are an exhibition of artistry and creativity. Hunting Cars? I’m not seeing it.
