The 2008 Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival was held October 30th – November 2nd in the low country of South Carolina and Georgia.
The Hilton Head Island Concours is the culmination of four days of events that also include the HSR-managed Hilton Head/Savannah Historics vintage race, held on the Hutchinson Island road course in nearby Savannah, and Worldwide Auctioneers’ Hilton Head Sports & Classic Car Auction.
Additional attractions included the “Quest for Speed and Style” exhibition, the personal collection of the event’s Honorary Chairman Nicola Bulgari, a selection of pre-WWII trucks, featured automotive artist Gerald Freeman and Saturday’s very well attended Car Club Jamboree.
The 7th annual Hilton Head Concours, held at the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, featured the cars of the Brass Era, plus the major anniversaries of General Motors, Morgan, Porsche and Edsel. More than 150 vintage cars were spread throughout the lawns and Spanish Oaks of the historic Honey Horn plantation.
The Concours field competed for “Best of Show” and “People’s Choice” along with the two new honors “Most Outstanding Car” for both pre and post-World War II cars. Dr. Paul Doerring, Event Chairman for the Hilton Head Island show, said, “we really grew these awards over the past seven years out of the fact that this Concours is now able to display such outstanding cars, that selecting a single “Best Of Show” has becoming nearly impossible. Thus, these two awards recognize ‘nearly-best-of-show’ status.”
As tough as the choice may have been, the judges awarded “Best of Show” to a 1928 Packard 4-43 Phaeton owned by Gordon Logan of Georgetown, TX. The Phaeton, originally purchased as new by Mr. Logan’s father, was sold in 1956. The car, which traveled as far the U.K. in its lifetime, was reacquired by Mr. Logan in 2004.
The dates for the 2009 event have been set for October 29 – November 1, 2009. Michael Spezia, Head Curator and President of the prestigious Gilmore Car Museum, a complex of automobile museums located in Michigan, has been selected as the 2009 Honorary Chairman. American Personal Luxury Coupes from the 1940’s through the 1970’s have been chosen as the Honored Marque and the theme of the Quest for Style and Speed exhibition will be How America Slept “on-the-road” Before Motels.
The Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance’s advantageous setting, weather, crowds and time of year will all help to ensure that the event is mentioned as a must-see Concours for years to come. For more information, visit www.hhiconcours.com.
2008 Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance Results and Photos:
Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance 2008 – Photo Gallery
