2012 Amelia Island Concours D'Elegance March 9-11

Amelia Island Concours D’Elegance Opens the Classic and Collector Car Show Season

By Steve Purdy
TheAutoChannel.com
Detroit Bureau

Amelia Island Florida, March 8, 2012 This weekend begins the classic and collector car show season with the 14th presentation of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance at the Ritz Carlton overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and a beautiful golf course just north of Jacksonville, Florida. Founder and chairman, Bill Warner, never fails to come up with great cars, and plenty of supporting events.

What will you see this year at Amelia?

I’m glad you asked. Here is a sampling.

You’ll see celebrity cars like Natalie Woods’ Mercedes-Benz 300SL, Ginger Rogers’ 1929 Deusenberg, Rita Hayworth’s Ghia-boddied Cadillac and Tom Mix’ Supercharged Cord.

Featured classes include 50th anniversary celebrations of the Ferrari GTO, one of the most valuable of the Italian maker’s cars, and Carroll Shelby’s original Cobras exemplified by the Daytona coupe that won the 1964 Le Mans 24-hour race.

General Motors is bringing three experimental Corvettes from their collection – the Astro II EP 880, CERV III and the original concept for the Stingray, Mako Shark.

And, of course, you’ll see over 300 fantastic, rare, beautiful automobiles strewn around the golf course. These always include the European and American classics from the brass era, luxury cars of the 1930s, exotics, experimental cars and racing cars.

Gracing this sparkling weekend as well are collector car auctions by two of the world’s most prestigious auction companies – RM Auctions and Gooding & Company. RM will be auctioning the premier collection of Lalique crystal hood ornaments as well as over a hundred beautiful cars.

Another event not to be missed is inside the Ritz where the Automotive Fine Art Society presents the works of many of its members. Painters and sculptors interpret the aesthetics of automobiles in many ways and here you’ll see the work of the finest of artists for whom the automobile is a central theme.

Racing is always a major theme at Amelia Island and this year two famous racers will be featured – Sam Posey and Vic Elford. Those racing icons will participate in an endurance racing seminar on Saturday with other famous colleagues, Hurley Haywood, Derek Bell, Brian Redman and Joe Buzetta.

The 2012 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance and all its peripheral events will be held March 9-11 on the 10th and 18th fairways of The Golf Club of Amelia Island at Summer Beach adjacent to The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. The show’s Foundation has donated nearly $1.8 million to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, Inc. and other charities on Florida’s First Coast since its inception in 1996.

For all the details go to: 2012 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance Web Site