TOP POSH EVENT: Highlights of Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance March 2013

Amelia Island in northeast Florida hosts an elite event each March not to be missed, even if you’re not a car buff. It’s a time of glamour, glitz and gleaming chrome. There will be more treasure than the pirates (who once roamed Amelia Island’s shores) could have ever imagined. A single automobile can surpass the value of a high-end oceanfront property on this tiny resort island during the March weekend, at the Amelia Concours d’Elegance.

Amelia Island hosts one of the world’s rare auto shows

Preview Rare Amelia Concours d'Elegance Cars, Fernandina
FREE PREVIEW of rare Amelia Concours d'Elegance autos, in Fernandina on Centre Street, Friday, March 8, 2013, be there by noon.

If ever there’s ever a time to visit Amelia Island, it’s in March for the island’s posh event of the year with glowing global reputation, the Amelia Concours d’Elegance. Don’t consider yourself a car buff? Being one is not a prerequisite to thoroughly enjoy the Amelia Concours. It’s a time of glamour, glitz and gleaming chrome.

This barrier island is small, but the spirit of car enthusiasts is big and the value of collector cars is enormous. There will be more treasure than the pirates (who once roamed Amelia Island’s shores) could have ever imagined. A single car can surpass the price of a high-end oceanfront property on this tiny resort island during the March weekend, at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. The automobile inventory here on Amelia Island, Florida may be more valuable per square mile than anywhere else on the eastern seaboard (perhaps across the nation and even across several continents).

Not just a car show, it’s a history lesson that’s far more fun and glamorous than sitting in a classroom.  “The Amelia” is an educational journey for the novice, but also attracts the top experts in the industry — the“Who’s Who” of the automotive world.

This event of global appeal brings investors of rare collector cars, motorheads, automotive experts, top industry journalists, and car lovers in general.  This year “the Amelia” celebrates the Ford GT40, the fabled Corvette Sting Ray,  Porsche 911, Lamborghini (the glamorous Italian supercar),  and the cars of American race car designer Harry Miller.

Free to the public are a few special events in 2013, worthy of a trip to historic Centre Street in Fernandina Beach on Friday, March 8, 2013 and a visit to The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island on Saturday, March 9, 2013 (more details follow further below).

The main event, the 18th Annual Concours, is Sunday, March 10, when nearly 300 rare classic and prototype cars as well as race cars will be on display along two fairways at The Golf Club of Amelia Island, adjacent to The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia IslandOther activities happening during the long weekend include road tours, auction of rare collector cars by RM Auctions at Ritz-Carlton (browse online auction catalogue), seminars, a black tie Mercedes-Benz USA Gala Dinner and silent auction fundraiser. Additionally, a second auction is held on separate turf at Omni Amelia Island Plantation, by Gooding and Company (browse online auction catalogue).

Each year the Amelia Concours selects a member of racing’s greatest as its Honoree. In 2013, the 18th Annual event features Honoree Sam Posey who will drive onto the show field at Golf Club of Amelia, Summer Beach on Sunday, March 10th at 9:45 am in one of his historical race cars. Show parking is available at the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport on Sunday of show weekend. Parking for 2013 will be $15 per car and includes shuttle service to The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. The airport lot will close at 8 pm on Sunday.

*** NOTE THAT ONLINE TICKET SALES ENDED FEBRUARY 26, 2013.  Check this listing of where around Amelia Island and in Jacksonville to buy tickets in advance (cash or check only, adult tickets $55).

  • SUNDAY’S MAIN SHOW EVENT, MARCH 10, 2013: General admission tickets $70 day of show at the door.

FREE ADMISSION EVENTS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Passport Transport Marque Road Tour on Friday, March 8, 2013 (Free admission)

Head to historic Centre Street in downtown Fernandina Beach by noon on Friday, March 8th to see a splendid display of extraordinary, featured cars of the Amelia Concours d’Elegance, to be parked along Centre Street.  Those participating in the invitational Passport Transport Marque Road Tour finish the road trip downtown for lunch, with cars showcased to the public (Centre Street is closed to regular vehicular traffic for this event.) Wander along Centre Street admiring amazing vehicles while the drivers enjoy lunch in charming Fernandina.

duPont REGISTRY Cars & Coffee at the Concours, Sat., March 9, 2013 (Free admission)

The latest must-see event at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance is the duPont REGISTRY CARS & COFFEE AT THE CONCOURS open to the public with no admission fee. The Saturday morning event (3/9/13) sponsored by Heacock Classic Car Insurance is scheduled from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on the 18th fairway of the Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. This year’s inaugural event has been chosen by Chevrolet for the first North American unveiling of the new Generation 7 Corvette Sting Ray after the Detroit International Auto Show. The morning will not only showcase the Generation 7 Corvette Stingray, but will feature the latest offerings from Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari, McLaren, BMW, Infinity, Bentley, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz. Members of invited local car clubs will display their rare and exotic cars on the Saturday field along with many new offerings from automotive partners.

Complimentary manufacturer’s test drives will also be held on Saturday, March 9, 2013 in front of the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, open to the public.

The highlights of this year’s Amelia Concours event are summarized below.  For more information also visit the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance 2013 event website. Note that this special event each year raises funds for the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance Foundation, a 501(c)(3) corporation that has donated over $2.0 million since 1996 to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida and other charitable organizations across North Florida.

Celebration of Ford’s GT40

Ford’s legendary GT40 to be featured at the 2013 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. The GT40 was created in 1963 and will be honored on the show field, celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Ford’s GT40 “centerpiece” of 2013 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.
Photo: Ford GT40. 2013 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. Celebrating 50th Anniversary of legendary GT40s created in 1963.

Ford GT40 Seminar:  Le Mans winner Dan Gurney, the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance’s 2002 Honorary Chairman, returns to ‘The Amelia’ in 2013 to join a panel of international racing celebrities and experts honoring the 50th anniversary of Ford’s game-changing GT40 prototype.   Gurney will join fellow Ford GT40 racers Brian Redman and David Hobbs, and John Wyer Racing Team Manager John Horsman, Lee Holman – President of Holman Automotive, Inc. and Holman Moody, Inc. and Alan Grant of the Le Mans-winning Shelby American team on the panel of the Celebration of Ford’s GT40 Seminar, presented by Kelly Services at 10:00 am, Saturday, March 9, 2013 in the Talbot Ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. Tickets are $30 per person, for more information visit  www.ameliaconcours.org.

The Porsche 911 Seminar: Porsche’s Flagship at 50

At 4:00 PM on Friday, March 8, 2013 at the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, the Porsche 911 Seminar will be empaneled by a pride of Porsche 911 legends, tickets are $25.  “The Porsche 911 is one of those classic shapes, instantly recognizable from any angle, in any light and at any speed,” said Amelia Concours founder and Chairman Bill Warner. “I’ve owned and driven 911s for decades. Visually and dynamically, there is no other car like the 911. It is the car that made Porsche. It’s more than Porsche’s flagship, it’s the heart and soul of the company and one of the most desirable automobiles in the 127 year history of the automobile.”

Rare Coupe De Ville Cadillac to make appearance

There are limited production cars, there are rare cars and there are concept cars that never find their way to the showroom.  A fleet of Cadillac’s rare and mythic Motorama and Detroit Auto Show Concept Cars will take to the field at the 18th Annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance on Sunday March 10, 2013. For the first time in 64 years the first Cadillac to wear the name “Coupe de Ville” will make a public appearance, to be showcased on Amelia Island, Florida.

2014 Corvette Stingray to be showcased

Chevrolet has chosen the 18th annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance to showcase the seventh generation of its iconic Corvette. This year “the Amelia” celebrates the 50th anniversary of the fabled Corvette Sting Ray and exhibits publically the latest Corvette to wear the Stingray name. It’s the most powerful standard Corvette model in history. With 450 horsepower and 450 pound feet of torque from its new LT1 6.2 liter Active Fuel Management small block V-8 engine, the 2014 Stingray is the fastest and most fuel efficient Corvette in history.

Cars of Harry Miller

The supercharged, Miller 91, front drive Indianapolis 500 racer that set a speed record in 1928, will be making an appearance at the 18th annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance on March 10, 2013. Leaving its permanent home at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, the historic car be part of the Concours’ “Cars of Harry Miller” class, which will honor the work of legendary American race car designer Harry Miller.

Unique mystery mustang headlines Amelia’s Unique WWTT Class

The 18th annual Amelia Concours d’Elegance’s “What Were They Thinking?” class will host eight category defying cars that would not find a home on any other Concours field. The “What Were They Thinking? Class is much more than a place for what some might label weird, odd or strange. The class, with a philosophy unique to “The Amelia,” is a place for significant and interesting cars that fit no class, category or commercial orthodoxy. Nearly half a century later, we still don’t know what Ford was planning when they commissioned the creation of Bill and Chris Snyder’s 1964 ½ “shorty” Mustang. We do know that they created one man’s dream car. We just don’t know why.

The only original Lamborghini Miura Roadster ever built comes to The Amelia Island Concours 

 The 18th annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance has also announced that it will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lamborghini, the glamorous Italian supercar. In support, Lamborghini will bring the rare Miura Roadster from Switzerland for the celebration. The historic roadster will be joined by its contemporary, the Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster, a full class of historic Lamborghinis, as well as a surprise from Lamborghini’s new motorsports team, Squadra Corse.

Sports Car Class of the 18th annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance

Don’t miss Edsel Ford’s “continental car,”  a custom boattail speedster, that will take its rightful place in the Sports Car Class of the 18th annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. In the shape of Edsel’s seminal speedster is the genesis of Ford’s legendary design department.

Prince Heinrich Benz Racers reunited at “THE AMELIA” 

In the early 1900’s, at the dawn of the automotive motorsport age, one of the most significant race venues was the Prinz Heinrich Tour, named after Prince Albert Wilhelm Heinrich of Prussia, automotive enthusiast and brother of German Emperor Wilhelm II. Benz produced the ‘Prinz Heinrich’ cars from 1908 to 1910 in various engine configurations. Still running strong, two of the cars from the Prinz Heinrich legacy will drive onto the field at the 18th annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance on Sunday, March 10, 2013.  Both Prinz Heinrich Benz models are presented in museum quality. One, the 21/80 horsepower 1910 racer comes directly from the Mercedes-Benz Museum collection in Stuttgart, Germany. The other, is from Bruce McCaw’s private collection here in the U.S.

Ducati motorcycles will be the honored motorcycle of the 18th Annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.

A field of 18 rare and significant Ducatis will appear at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance on March 10, 2013, led by the seminal “Cucciolo” that, in 1946, began Ducati’s rise to the pinnacle of motorcycle excellence and success. Ducati is a member of an exclusive club of motor manufacturers that grew from the rubble of post war Europe. Like Ferrari and Porsche, Ducati has strong pre-war roots.

For more information and complete event schedule, visit the 2013 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance event website.