The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance 2012 was held Sunday, March 11th on the 10th and 18th fairways of The Golf Club of Amelia Island adjacent to the Ritz-Carlton on Amelia Island.
With upwards of 300 cars in attendance, the Amelia Concours judges were tasked with a difficult job of not only picking class winners, but also awarding the Best of Show Winners. The Concours awards Best of Show for two designations: Concours d’Elegance and Concours de Sport.
Best of Show Concours d’Elegance at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance 2012 went to the 1938 Bugatti Type 57C from the Off Brothers Collection of Richland, Michigan. One of only three surviving Aravis Drophead Coupes bodied by Gangloff, this green Bugatti Type 57 arrived in the United States in 1961 and was fully restored in 2009. Bugatti produced the Type 57 between 1934 and 1939, ceasing production of the world’s fastest stock production car shortly after the beginning of WWII.
Best of Show Concours de Sport was awarded to the 1962 Ferrari 330 LM / GTO of Jim Jaeger, one of the first two four-liter GTOs built by the Ferrari factory. The GTO (serial number 3765GT) has been restored to its original livery as entered for the 1962 Le Mans 24 Hours race for Mike Parkes and Lorenzo Bandini. Although the GTO retired at Le Mans after 56 laps due to overheating from an accident, it would have much success on the European hilllclimb circuit in the years to follow.
“Every year I’m amazed at the extraordinary vehicles I see grace the field, and this year was no different,” said Dick Messer, former Director of The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. “Both winners are perfect examples of style and sport and are very deserving of their awards. I congratulate the judges on their stunning choices.”
Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance 2012 – Best of Show Photo Gallery
Amelia Island Concours de Sport 2012 – Best of Show Photo Gallery
[Source: photo credit: Al Wolford; Neil Rashba Photography]
I was at the Amelia show. Very hard choice for best of show because so many fantastic cars were on the field.
Both of the winning cars were exceptional.
Amelia is my favorite show of the year because of the wide variety of cars and the ease of attendance. Make your way to the show next year, you will not be disappointed.