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Amelia Island
Concours d'Elegance

March 2014

Amelia Island, Florida

The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance celebrated it's 19th year thanks to Founder, President and Chairman Bill Warner.  You could not ask for a more conducive facility and venue. The Ritz Carlton and the Golf Club of Amelia Island at Summer Beach, Florida is where it all takes place. Over the past 19 years the gathering has become a bench mark for other Concours events. The eclectic mix of Quality Cars and the number or Private Collections that are showcased each year has made Amelia a World Class Automotive event

Sunday's Concours includes well over 300 Automobiles being Presented on the lawn of the Golf Club or displayed in the many Special Collection exhibits. Along with the Concours there is a Fashion Show, Artist and Dealers from the American Fine Art Society (AFAS) setup and display their work, sponsoring manufacturer displays by; Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Porsche, Jaguar, Breitling, McLaren, Lamborghini and more along with RM Auctions offering of collectible car's

The Amelia experience starts on Thursday with RM Auctions offering Vintage and Classic Cars to the highest bidder. Friday begins with Breakfast and a Driving Tour for the cars competing in Sundays Concours, followed by Seminars, Receptions and Dinners. Saturday morning begins with a "Cars and Coffee" Show which is open to Cars not competing in Sundays Show, many high end automobile companies offer Test Drives, Seminars, and Book Signings. Sunday is the day of the Concours which opens to the public at 10:00 am.

You generally... as a rule, do not see many Duesenbergs at your local Car Club Cruise-Ins or while shopping at Walmart. It usually requires a Premium Automotive event, like the Auburn Reunion, Pebble Beach or the Amelia Concours. There were at least six Duesenbergs competing this year. I spotted three 810 / 812 Cords but I apparently missed the '1932 Auburn Phaeton that was listed in the program

This 1966 Duesenberg usually resides in the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum in Auburn, Indiana. Duesenberg production ended with the closing of the Auburn Automobile Company in 1937. Sometime after World War II ended August Duesenberg tried without success to revive the Duesenberg name, a few later attempts also failed. In 1964 Fritz Duesenberg (August's son) headed up another Revival attempt with Virgil Exner as the stylist. The Revival Duesenberg started life with a donor Chrysler Imperial chassis and drive line. The car was bodied in Italy and was powered by a Chrysler 440 CID V8 engine rated at 350 HP. Despite it exceeding 20 feet in length and being a 4 door sedan the car is Beautifully proportioned. Projected manufacturing cost and pricing eventually put a stop to plans of ever producing the New Duesenberg. Joe Bortz, of Concept Car Collecting fame, is the current owner. Visit Joe's website, www.bortzautocollection.com to view all his Concept Car Collection