Along with the grand spectacle of Pebble Beach in August, the Amelia Island Concours remains one of the most sought-after automotive events in the United States. Multi-million dollar auctions, relaxed fan gatherings and an exclusive concours competition come together in the pleasant Florida spring sunshine.
“And… sold,” murmurs auctioneer Lydia Fenet in the hall of the elegant Ritz-Carlton Hotel, her voice softer than that of many of her male colleagues. “This Porsche 959 S is selling for $5.5 million.” At the Broad Arrow auction, younger sports cars in particular changed hands almost as quickly as they appeared on stage. A white Porsche 959 Sport fetched $5.5 million. A red Ferrari Monza SP2 fetched $4.7 million. A Lamborghini Miura SV rose to $6.6 million, while a light blue Porsche Carrera GT fetched an astonishing $6.7 million. Broad Arrow alone grossed more than $107 million over the Amelia Island weekend. In addition to these prestigious classics, more ordinary cars are also becoming increasingly popular. A white Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet appears, then a Porsche 968 and suddenly the paddles are up for a dark Mercedes 560 SEL of the W126 generation.
Less than 500 meters away, Adam stands next to his bright green 1990 Lada Niva, its mirrored sunglasses reflecting the Florida sun. The Russian off-roader is covered in rust bubbles. It is one of the most unusual vehicles at the Radwood Festival, arguably the most attended event of the weekend alongside the auctions and exclusive concours. “I bought the Niva 1600 four years ago from a guy in Illinois and I just love it,” says the New England enthusiast with a broad smile. “Something’s always broken and it barely hits 50 mph on the highway, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.”
Amelia Island has been a cult destination for more than three decades. Fans not only travel from Florida, but from all over the USA to the Atlantic coast to spend a long weekend dedicated to cars. The event is much more than the central Saturday Concours, where wealthy collectors gather on the lush golf course next to the dunes. BMW is celebrating 40 years of the M3 by casually introducing the $180,000 Alpina XB7 before the brand begins a new chapter later this year. It’s the kind of motoring celebration that’s often missing in Europe. Brand clubs, enthusiastic owners, auction-hungry collectors and concours connoisseurs gather in North Florida every March. The atmosphere is relaxed and inviting, partly because of the location and partly because there are cars of every price range imaginable next to each other.
That the 1931 Duesenberg Model J Tapertail Speedster of William Lyon of Coto de Caza ultimately wins the prestigious concours is no surprise, even if tastes have changed in recent years. “We’re all still getting used to the idea that a car like a Nissan Skyline can sell for a million dollars,” explains Ramsey Pott of Broad Arrow auction house. “Many pre-war cars or models from the 1950s and 1960s are becoming increasingly difficult to sell. They still have their fans, but the trend is clearly towards cars that people remember from their childhood. That means Porsche, Acura or Nissan instead of Duesenberg.”
These modern classics appear not only at Sunday’s Cars & Caffeine meeting, but also in Radwood and at the many informal gatherings in parking lots and gas stations heading toward Jacksonville. There is no $180 entry fee and the air does not carry the sweet scent of cigars that hangs over the concours grounds. Visitors wear shorts and colorful polo shirts, while judges and long-time concours enthusiasts often appear in dark double-breasted jackets, light pleated chinos and straw hats. It is the unofficial uniform of Amelia Island.
There’s always time for a glass of champagne by the hotel pool later, perhaps after picking up some Amelia memorabilia or even a miniature Ferrari adorned with sparkling Swarovski crystals.
