Earning Automotive Respect at The Amelia Concours d'Elegance

In its 27th year, the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance pulled out all the stops for the highly attended event hosted at The Ritz-Carlton and Golf Club of Amelia Island. When the number of entrants reached the 220 mark, the planning committee knew it would be a true display of magnificent classic cars and fine collectible automobiles.

With the celebration for all things automotive taking place over a three-day program schedule, this year’s itinerary included car themed-events, points of entertainment, luxury shopping, auctions, seminars, new vehicle driving experiences provided by manufacturers, a Cars & Coffee event and culminating in the finale: the grand Concours d’Elegance.

In relation to other automotive concours events, Amelia Island is unique as it boosts a collection of vehicles more specific to the tropical, sporty climate. To commemorate the event’s start, Porsche hosted its Annual Porsche Winemaker’s Dinner: ‘A Celebration of Dreamers’ at the Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, which also paired nicely with the Porsche Driving Experiences throughout the weekend. Additional manufactures also held driving experiences, new vehicle reveals, and delivery presentations.

NASCAR was represented by a seminar series, hosted by Hall of Fame Crew Chief Ray Evernham, that featured a panel of former NASCAR greats speaking about racing through the decades as NASCAR became one of the biggest forms of motorsport.

RM Sotheby’s also returned to the Ritz-Carlton,Amelia Island this year for the company’s 23rd annual sale as the official auction house. It has been recorded as a single-day, live auction success for 2022 with sales totaling $46,636,640 USD and an incredible 89 percent of all lots offered finding new homes. Two of the most notable sales included the 1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Victoria by Dietrich, selling for an astounding $4,130,000 USD and the 1930 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan by Murphy which shattered its high estimate by over a million dollars: selling for $3,525,000 USD. This auction had the audience on the edge of their seats!

This year, a new program, the Concours d’Lemons Car Show, showcased a collection of almost-drivable, would-have-never-been stylish methods of transport; hence the name Lemons. Nevertheless, a fun addition to The Amelia that entertained both children and those amused by quirky design.

The main show takes place on the grassy lawns of The Golf Club of Amelia Island. Here is where you will find 200 of the top cars on display, judged and presented with the coveted “Best of Show” at the end of the event.

In 2022, the celebrated vehicle classes were within their anniversary year at the show: Ferrari (75th Anniversary), the Lincoln (100th Anniversary), the 24 Hours of Daytona (60th Anniversary), the 12 Hours of Sebring (70th Anniversary).  Also within the specialty car class, highlights included the “Pre-War Custom Coachwork” class, models from coachbuilder ‘Waterhouse,’ Duesenberg and the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. Taking home the titles were a 1934 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe and a 2017 Cadillac DPi-V.R, crowned this year’s Best in Show winners.

The event, which was produced by Hagerty, has received a large amount of notable respect for their critical judging guidelines.

“Congratulations to this year’s ‘Best in Show’ winners and to all of the collectors who shared their cars at The Amelia,” said McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty. “These incredible cars and their owners make The Amelia what it is: one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the automotive calendar every year. This was Hagerty’s first time operating the show, and we are enormously grateful for the hard work and support of our amazing sponsors, our volunteers who come back year after year and the entire car community.”

Michael Snell Luxury Contribution Polo Lifestyles 2022