Words: Nathan Chadwick | Photos: Hilton Head Concours
A 1936 Horch 853A Special Roadster took the Best of Show title at the 20th Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance in South Carolina at the weekend. It was a banner event for the car, owned by Robert S Jepson, because it also scooped the Best Rolling Art prize.
The concours saw more than 600 vehicles from across the United States and beyond make their way to the Port Royal Golf Club on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. It wasn’t just cars – there were special displays for motorbikes, aeroplanes, watercraft and almost everything in between.
The concours wrapped up five days of exciting events, from gala dinners to a film festival, plus The Parr’s Island Experience driving tour, which took participants from Berkeley Hall across the coastal marshes, Chechessee and Broad Rivers, into historic Beaufort, home of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island. Events from diverse communities as Legends of the Autobahn East and the Austin-Healey South-Eastern Classic added to the allure, while the Design Among the Stars event allowed people to dine and mingle with leading designers such as Chris Bangle, Michael Simcoe, Ralph Gilles, Magalie Debellis, Tom Matsumoto and Cesar Pieri.
However, it was the concours that drew some of the most fascinating cars. The Best Production/Performance title went to Robert and Suzanne Thomas’s 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible, while a 1939 Lea-Francis Corsica Super Sports owned by Jim and Sue Wolf took home the Best Road & Track title. Andrew Meslin’s 1936 Brough SS80 won the Best Motorcycle title, and the ACE Hardware of Hilton Head People’s Choice Award went to the 1956 BMW 502 of Paul and Jayne Queck.
“Over the course of the past two decades, our vision has grown into one of the most robust motoring events on the East Coast,” said Lindsey Harrell, the festival’s president. “This weekend was an exciting moment to celebrate what this show means to its audience, from the people who enjoy cars regularly to the visitors who attended for the very first time. It is also an opportunity to reflect on our history, to plan thoughtfully for our future, and to say thank you. We are grateful to everyone who supports us in achieving our goals.”
More details can be found here.
Top Awards
Best Road and Track: 1939 Lea-Francis Corsica Super Sports (Jim and Sue Wulf). Also won Sports Cars – Rare English.
Paul Doerring Award (Best Production/Performance): 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible (Robert and Suzanne Thomas). Also won American 1948-1973 – Open – Luxury Marques.
Best Motorcycle: 1936 Brough SS80 (Andrew Meislin). Also won Motorcycles to 1961.
People’s Choice: 1956 BMW 502 (Paul and Jayne Queck)
Special Awards
Honoured Collector Award: 1937 BMW 328 (Dirk de Groen).
Pinnacle Collector Award: 1937 Horch 853 Voll & Ruhrbeck Sport Cabriolet (Anne Brockinton Lee).
Women Driving America Award: 1957 Ford Thunderbird (Margie Barton).
Hagerty Drivers Foundation Preservation Award: 1964 Chevrolet Corvette (Dave Leonard).
Hagerty Drivers Foundation Heritage Award: 1956 Buick X “Mitchell Buick” (Steve Plunkett Collection). Also won Outstanding Buick Award sponsored by the Brashares Family Foundation.
Grand Prize of America Award: 1912 Packard Race Car (Brian Blain, Ragtime Racers).
Inspiration Award: William Warner
RPM Foundation Outstanding Restorer Award sponsored by Prometheus: 1935 SS One Airline (Jason Manns, Manns Restoration)
Timeless Elegance Award sponsored by the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra: 1937 Lincoln Zephyr Coupe V12 (The NB Center for American Automotive Heritage).
Sports Car Market Spirit of Motoring Award: 1952 Avalle Alf Barchetta (Howard and Diane Banaszak).
Legacy Award sponsored by the Lowcountry Oyster & Motorcar Driving Society: 1966 Ford Mustang Fastback 2+2 (Michael Lewis).
Outstanding Cadillac Award sponsored by Jim Verraster & the Cadillac LaSalle Museum: 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz (Jimmy P. Leonard).
Chairman’s Award: 1954 Arnolt Bristol Bolide (William Clark).
William F. Hilton Award: 1956 Chyrsler New Yorker Convertible Coupe (John Cote).
The Grand Marshal Award: 1930 Bentley 4.5 Litre (Gordon King).
Class Awards
American Classics – Open: 1928 Auburn 8-115 Speedster (Richard Harding).
American Performance: 1965 Shelby GT350 (Alain Degraeve).
American 1948-1973 – Mustang: 1965 Ford Mustang 2+2 Fastback (Lawrence and Tees Booth).
American 1948-1973 – Open: 1957 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket Super 88 Convertible (Chris and Kathleen Koch).
BMW – M 50th Anniversary: 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL (Scott and Fran Hughes).
British Large Saloons – 1945-61: 1960 Jaguar Mark IX (Ed Lewis).
European Production – 1947-1975: 1973 Citroen SM (John B. Fryday).
Honoured Marque – Production – Autos von Deutschland BMW to 1975 sponsored by Warsteiner: 1960 BMW 507 TS Series II (Walter Scott).
Micro Cars: 1960 Fiat Jolly (Thomas and Kristin Zarrella).
Motorcycles 1962 – 1979: 1974 Yamaha RD 350 (Charles Johnson).
Motorcycles of Germany: 1929 BMW R52 (Paul Carthew).
Preservation – European: 1972 BMW 2002 tii (Bruce and Judi Hall).
Preservation sponsored by ACE Hardware of Hilton Head: 1964 Chevrolet Corvette (Dave Leonard).
Production – American 1948-1973 – Closed: 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe SS (Michael Chiavetta, Sr.)
Production – American to 1947: 1934 Plymouth PE Deluxe Business Coupe (Doran and Jane Johnson).
VIP Customs – Custom Ordered Cars built for VIPs: 1963 Chevrolet Corvette (Rare Wheels Collection).
Honoured Marque – Sports Cars – Autos von Deutschland – Mercedes SL sponsored by Warsteiner: Not Awarded.
Honoured Marque – Sports Cars – Autos von Deutschland – Porsche 356 sponsored by Warsteiner: 1957 Porsche 356 Carrera (Lynn and Michael Harling).
Honoured Marque – Sports Cars – Autos von Deutschland – Porsche sponsored by Warsteiner: 1973 Porsche 911S (John Weyrauch).
Sports Cars – American: 1953 Chevrolet Corvette (Lynn Libby).
Sports Cars – Austin Healey 100 & 3000 MkI: 1956 Austin-Healey 100M (Peter and Patricia Davis).
Sports Cars – MG thru 1955: 1935 MG PB Midget (Tom Metcalf).
Sports Cars – Austin Healey 3000 MK II & III: 1962 Austin-Healey 3000, BT-7 (Richard and Diane Salamon).
Sports Cars – Future Classics – Limited Production – German: 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT-R Roadster (Mark E. Elvin).
Sports Cars – International: 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster (Lorenzo Triana).
Sports Cars – Italian: 1957 Alfa Romeo (David Yager).
Sports Cars – under 2.0-litres: 1956 Arnott Sports 1100 Climax (Rob Adams).
Classics – Closed: 1937 Chrysler Imperial C-15 LeBaron Town Car (Howard and Roz Kroplick).
Automotive Beginnings – Brass Era to 1922: 1914 Simplex 50 (David and Patricia Peeler)
Class Reunion – Cars of 1962: 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air 409 Bubbletop (Jim and Beverly Gebhardt).
Featured Marque – Chrysler Imperials C14: 1937 Chrysler Imperial (Bruce Allen).
Class Reunion – Cars of 1962: 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air 409 Bubbletop (Jim and Beverly Gebhardt).
Fashion Awards
Best Match Fashion & Automobile – Female: 1965 Ford Mustang (Danielle Geisler).
Best Match Fashion & Automobile – Couple: 1950 Alvis TB-14 (Natalie and Scott Bluestein).
Best Match Fashion & Automobile – Couple: 1929 Ford Model A (Michael and Sharon Hamby).
