The 2010 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance was held Sunday, March 14th on the 10th and 18th fairways of The Golf Club of Amelia Island adjacent to the Ritz-Carlton on Amelia Island.
With nearly 300 interestingly diverse cars in attendance, we will have multiple stories on the event, starting with the Best of Show Winners. The Amelia Island Concours awards Best of Show for two designations: Concours d’Elegance and Concours de Sport.
Best of Show – Concours d’Elegance went to Sam and Emily Mann’s 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster, beautifully finished in silver paint with blue pigskin leather. One of three 540Ks bodied with a covered spare tire, it was believed to have been originally delivered to Adolph Eichmann when he resided in Argentina. The Manns’ are multiple Best of Show winners at Pebble Beach, Meadow Brook and Amelia Island, having won Best of Show Concours d’Elegance in 2008 with their 1935 Duesenberg Model J Roadster.
Best of Show – Concours de Sport went to the 1960 Maserati Tipo 61 “Birdcage” owned by Jonathan Feiber. The Birdcage was entered in the 1960 Cuban Grand Prix by Camoradi USA (CAsner MOtor RAcing DIvision) and its owner “Lucky” Casner. Driven to victory by Stirling Moss, the win was the only professional victory under the Castro regime. Moss later teamed with Dan Gurney in the Tipo 61 to win the 1000 KM of Nurburgring.
Both Amelia Concours Best of Show winners came from featured classes at this year’s event, as Mercedes-Benz was the featured marque and the Cars of the Cuban Grand Prix was a featured offering.
2010 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, Best of Show Concours d’Elegance Category
2010 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, Best of Show Concours de Sport Category
[Source: Photo credit, Al Wolford]
Oh, what I would do to own the Camoradi Birdcage – perfect race car in my mind. Congrats to its owner!
The Jonathon Feiber Maserati T-61 that took the award is one of the few that still exists in reasonably original condition. Too many are new cars built around the original shift knob, but this car has the original frame and body. A substitute engine, but that is understandable. This car also won the Riverside USAC race in April, 1960, and was sold to Jim Hall, who drove it a few times. Bob Schroeder then raced it extensively out of the Hall shop in the 60-61 period.
A truly magnificent car! That Mercedes-Benz—wow!
The one and only time that I saw the “Birdcage” at speed was at Bridgehampton. It was very impressive to look at whether it was just sitting or at speed. I’m not sure now but I thought it was piloted by Walt Hansgen.
Maserati = bella macchina!! Molte grazie!
The T-61 Birdcage Maserati, the stuff dreams are made of …..