greenwich | New England Auto Museum

07 May

Greenwich Concours Is Coming Back This Fall

Hagerty’s first year of running the show will see a new format, and also a preview of Concours d’Lemons.

Autoweek photo

Greenwich, Conn. – Classic car events are still dealing with postponements and cancellations in the wake of the pandemic, but later this year the Greenwich Concours will return after a hiatus in 2020. The next edition of this popular northeast event will be held on Oct. 22-24, 2021.

It’ll also be the first year under Hagerty ownership, with the classic insurance company having acquired the event in late 2019 only to have to cancel the very next edition of the concours.

There are a number of big anniversaries this year; the 2021 concours will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Moto Guzzi, the 120th anniversary of Indian motorcycles, and 100 years since the founding of Duesenberg with featured classes.

Greenwich Concours will also feature a special class celebrating the 100 years of Allard, as well as 100 years of 3-Litre Bentley cars and 100 years of Springfield Rolls-Royce. Other classes will include Lancia, Right Coast Rods, Vintage SUVs, and Ford vs. GM.

The format of the event is changing a bit. If you’ve been used to visiting American cars on Saturday and then fighting for parking space on the Sunday of Concours Europa, which sees plenty of vintage and not-so-vintage European supercars, this year is going to be a little different.

Lancia will be among the featured classes at the 2021 concours.
Autoweek photo

Friday will see a Bonhams auction preview part as well as a Hagerty-hosted welcome party for VIPs—these two events will be invite only. Saturday will feature a Grand Tour open to all concours exhibitors that promises to cover the most beautiful roads in the border area of Connecticut and New York. The Bonhams auction will be held on Saturday, as well as Hagerty Seminars presented by the Madison Avenue Sports Car Driving and Chowder Society. A waterfront party with food and entertainment will also be held on Saturday, hosted either at the L’Escale restaurant or at the Indian Harbor Yacht Club.

Perhaps most importantly, Saturday will host a Concours d’Lemons Special Display ahead of the first actual Concours d’Lemons at Greenwich in 2022. Its arrival to Greenwich had been mentioned briefly in the spring of 2020.

Sunday will be the day (and the only day) of the main concours event itself, which will feature American and foreign cars. It’ll be interesting to see how this new one-day format for the concours ends up playing out, as the two-day schedule has been a fixture of the concours for years. The separate day for the Bonhams auction will perhaps be a welcome change right away, as the auction event has had to compete with the concours for attention on Sunday in past years, while attendee turnout on Saturday had usually been dwarfed by the crowds on Sunday.

The Saturday auction day and the one-day concours format on Sunday seems like it will be a successful change to the event, and it will allow the concours to use more of the park’s grounds on Sunday. The fall schedule should also be a welcome change this year, as Greenwich visitors have had to contend with temperatures above 90 degrees on its early June weekends, along with often-powerful afternoon thunderstorms that would roll through like clockwork at 3 P.M. sharp, right before the awards ceremonies would start.

Past years off the event have featured a very eclectic selection of foreign cars on Sunday.
Autoweek photo

Greenwich won’t be the only concours in the northeast this fall, as the second year of Audrain’s Newport Concours and Motor Week is scheduled for September 30 through October 3. It’s very first year was in 2019, and it achieved an impressive level of spectacle just due to the location of the event itself.

2021 promises to be a very interesting year for both concours events and their satellite programs.

Visit the Greenwich Concours website for the full schedule and ticket information.

Article Courtesy Jay Ramey, Autoweek

05 Jan

Greenwich Concours d’Elegance moving to October in 2021

green21

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Hagerty is transitioning the 2021 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance from its usual date on the first weekend after Memorial Day to the weekend of October 22-24.

“This was a difficult decision but we felt that moving to the fall for 2021 gives us the best chance to safely host a truly spectacular event without fear or massive restrictions for staff, volunteers, owners, judges, sponsors and attendees,” said Concours Director Tabetha Hammer.

The 25th Anniversary event – presented by Hagerty, a company dedicated to the love of driving – will take place, as usual, in Roger Sherman Baldwin Park in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Saturday, October 23, will feature the acclaimed Bonhams auction, family activities, sponsor test drives, popular local food vendors and beloved traditions like the Grand Tour and evening Waterfront Party. The traditional best-of-the-best Concours competition on Sunday, October 24, will feature international and domestic marques. Featured classes will include Ford vs. GM, Lancia, 100 Years of Duesenberg, 70 Years of Allard, Right Coast Rods, Vintage SUVs, and 120 Years of Indian and 100 Years of Moto Guzzi.

Throughout the weekend, Hagerty will add its own unique touches, including its popular “Ride & Drive,” which puts show-goers behind the wheel of cool classic cars, and the Hagerty Driving Experience, which teaches drivers ages 15 to 25 the art of operating a manual transmission.

Founded in 1995, the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance, recognized by the bestselling book, “1,000 Places to See before You Die,” has grown into one of the premier automotive shows nationwide. Overlooking the famed Long Island Sound, the Greenwich Concours backdrop is the beautiful Greenwich Harbor. Located just 30 miles from the heart of New York City, the event is just steps away from the luxurious Delamar Hotel, lavish restaurants and boutique shops on the world-famous Greenwich Avenue.

Tickets will go on sale in early 2021 at GreenwichConcours.com.

About Hagerty

Hagerty is an automotive lifestyle brand with a mission to keep driving alive for car lovers and drive positive change in the world. Hagerty is home to Hagerty Drivers Club, Hagerty DriveShare, Hagerty Valuation Tools, Hagerty Drivers Club magazine, Hagerty Media, MotorsportReg, Hagerty Garage + Social, the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance, the California Mille and more. Hagerty is the world’s largest provider of specialty insurance for enthusiast vehicles and supports keeping car culture alive through youth programs, the Historic Vehicle Association (HVA), the RPM Foundation and more. For more information, call (800) 922-4050 or visit www.hagerty.com.

17 Mar

2020 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance Canceled Due to Coronavirus

From out friends at the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance:

Dear Friends,

The Greenwich Concours d’Elegance is a highlight for thousands of car fans across the region and nation. But what matters most, at this moment of crisis, is the safety and well-being of our loved ones, friends and fellow car lovers. This is why we have decided to cancel this year’s Concours and instead focus our energies and passion on making next year’s event the biggest and best ever.

Our team is already cooking up some exciting and innovative ways to celebrate cars and driving in the months leading up to the 2021 Concours. We will share details with you as soon as we can.

In the meantime, please know that if you bought a ticket for this year’s event, you will receive a full refund through Showclix.com within 7-10 business days. If you have booked a room, please be sure to cancel with the hotel directly.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. Please contact our Director Tabetha Hammer at thammer@hagerty.com for any questions or concerns you have as she will be spearheading this transition into 2021.

Be safe everyone. And, when the time is right, keep on driving!

McKeel Hagerty
Greenwich Concours d’Elegance Chairman

08 Apr

Cars of Carrozzeria Zagato Headline 24th Annual Greenwich Concours d’Elegance June 1-2

Photo Greenwich Concours d’Elegance

Greenwich, Conn. – Celebrating its 24th year of showcasing significant cars, motorcycles and one-off automotive creations, the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance will feature the custom coachwork of Zagato on June 1st and 2nd, 2019.

Recognized as one of the most prestigious classic car shows in the United States, the Greenwich Concours will honor the centennial of the famous Italian atelier with displays of more than 20 significant cars bodied by Zagato.

The Concours continues its tradition of holding two unique Concours back-to-back, with American cars and motorcycles on Saturday, June 1, and foreign marques on Sunday, June 2.

The event takes place at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park overlooking Greenwich Harbor on Long Island Sound.

Andrea Zagato, grandson of founder Ugo Zagato, and his wife Marella Rivolta Zagato, will represent the Zagato marque and are this year’s Concours honorees. Marella is the granddaughter of Iso’s founder Renzo Rivolta, and works closely with Andrea at the Zagato family business in Rho, Italy.

According to Maxim Magazine, “The [Zagato] brand – formed in 1919 by plane and car laborer Ugo Zagato – is the only surviving Italian coachbuilder from that halcyon era that is still family owned. Andrea Zagato, the grandson of Ugo and living scion of the ‘Lightning Z’ crest, now leads the brand into the 21st century.

“The foundation of Zagato’s work was Ugo’s proficiency in aircraft, which allowed him to integrate aeronautic philosophies such as lightweight materials and aerodynamics into his designs.

“The company’s foundation was established with the racing success Zagato enjoyed in its first decade of existence. Collaborations with Alfa Romeo produced unprecedented success: From 1928 to 1930, Alfa Romeo 1750 Zagatos claimed first place in the Mille Miglia. In that last year, Zagato-built Alfas snatched the first four places cementing the brand’s legacy as one of the most successful performance-oriented coachbuilders of the prewar period.”

Iso, founded by Renza Rivolta, was an automobile and motorcycle maker, the product of Iso Autoveicoli S.p.A of Italy. The company was predominantly active from the late 1940s through the early 1970s. It is known for its iconic Isetta bubble car of the 1950s, and for a number of powerful performance cars in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Photo Greenwich Concours d’Elegance

One of the more compelling Zagato-bodied cars to be featured at the Concours is the 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Corto Spider originally built to order in 1933 for race-car driver Tazio Nuvolari. It was prepared by Raymond Sommer for the 1933 24 Hours of Le Mans, where Sommer and Nuvolari placed first overall. Three weeks later, it was driven by Sommer and Henri Stoffel to second overall in the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. Barron Collier became its next owner, winning the Mt. Washington (N.H.) Hillclimb in 1937. It was subsequently raced by various owners in the U.S. until the early 1950s. It will be shown at the Concours by its current owner, Scuderia N.E.

Other cars on the field designed by Zagato will include those of Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Maserati, Lancia, Jaguar, Nissan, Porsche, and Aston Martin. Also displayed will be examples of the rare Alfa Romeo Tubolare Zagato, a 1964 Alfa Romeo TZ1, a 1965 Alfa Romeo TZ2, and a 2012 Alfa Romeo TZ3.

Photo Greenwich Concours d’Elegance

To honor Marella Rivolta Zagato, there will be a special Iso class, featuring such cars as a 1970 Iso Rivolta Lele and a 1973 Iso Grifo.

“We are honored that Andrea Zagato and Marella Rivolta Zagato will celebrate this very special anniversary with us at the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance,” said Concours Chairman Mary Wennerstrom. “We will have a great variety of cars built by all three generations of Zagato, from the 1930s to the modern day. We also are pleased to honor Marella’s heritage with a special class of cars from Iso.”

The weekend will also feature cars of Stanley H. “Wacky” Arnolt, a Chicago industrialist who began importing foreign cars in the 1950s to the U.S. Although sold as American cars, the cars were true hybrids, with British mechanicals, Italian bodywork, and U.S. sales and distribution. A fortuitous meeting with Bertone at the Turin Auto Show in 1952 resulted in four collaborative efforts between Arnolt and Bertone.

Photo Greenwich Concours d’Elegance

His son, Michael Arnolt, will be an Honorary Judge at the Concours and will bring his Arnolt-Bristol Bolide. Arnolt-MGs, Arnolt-Bristols and Arnolt-Aston Martins will come to the Concours from as far away as New Mexico and Arizona.

American Orphan Marques and American Supercharged Cars are the special classes on Saturday. Cars of interest include a 1948 Tucker and a 1954 Kaiser in the orphan class. A one-off 1952 Packard Macauley Speedster with a McCulloch-supercharged 359-cu.in.straight-eight engine will be in the supercharged class.

Sunday’s Concours will host a special display of cars from the Bentley Driver’s Club in honor of the marque’s 100th anniversary, including models from the early W.O. Bentley and Derby Bentley eras, up to post-war and modern examples.

The weekend will also showcase orphan motorcycle marques. American Iron Magazine publisher Buzz Kanter will showcase limited production marques that no longer exist including a 1938 Mandille et Roux D2 “Passe-Partout,” a 1971 Münch Mammoth, and a 1950 Vincent Black Shadow Series C.

The Concours will again benefit Americares, a health-focused relief and development organization that responds to people affected by poverty or disaster with life-changing health programs, medicine and medical supplies. The Stamford-based organization is the world’s leading nonprofit provider of donated medicine and medical supplies.

A silent auction will be held to raise money for The Hometown Foundation, of Cheshire, Conn., which honors and assists five distinct areas of interest including Animal Welfare, Emergency Response Personnel, Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities or in Need, Major Illness and Military.

Advance tickets for both days are available online at $30 per day or $50 for both days and include early entry at 9:30 a.m. and event program
VIP Admission is $150 per day or $250 for both days and includes early entry at 8 .m., breakfast and lunch with the car collectors, entrance to Bonhams cocktail party on Friday night, poster, lapel pin, event program and VIP lanyard.
Tickets purchased on the day of the event are $40 per day or $60 for both days
Gates open at 10 a.m. for general admission
Children 12 and under enter free when accompanied by an adult
Saturday Night Gala tickets are available for $175
Tickets can be purchased at http://www.greenwichconcours.com/visitors/tickets/

Article courtesy Greenwich Free Press

11 May

Cannonball Outlaw Reunion set for June 2 in Greenwich, Conn.

Director Hal Needham and Pamela Yates with the infamous TransCon Medi-Vac Ambulance in 1979 - Archive photo

Director Hal Needham and Pamela Yates with the infamous
TransCon Medi-Vac Ambulance in 1979 – Gero Hoschek Photo

GREENWICH, Conn. – On June 2, in Greenwich, Conn., a group of original outlaws depicted in the 1981 film “Cannonball Run” will come together in one place to recount those outrageous stories of beating the law as they raced cross-country from New York City to Los Angeles in some of the craziest vehicles built for the endeavor.

This will mark the third reunion since the first car took off from the Red Ball Garage in New York City in 1971, and it will be held at the Cole Auditorium at the Greenwich Library. A number of the original outlaws will relive those desperado days relating their wild stories as they sped coast-to-coast, evading the law either with excessive speed or outlandish explanations for their escapades. Remarkably, they all avoided jail-time.

Pamela Yates, wife of Brock Yates, the originator of the Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, who was a patient in 1979 in the bogus TransCon Medi-Vac Ambulance speeding cross-country to a special hospital because her “condition prevented her from flying,” will tell her story.

Judy Stropus, who was part of the Right Bra team in 1972 of three women dressed in pink bell-bottoms and bodysuits, and portrayed loosely (and we mean loosely) by Adrienne Barbeau in the movie, will finally reveal her side of the story of their demise.

The Right Bra Racing Team Left to right: Judy Stropus, Peggy Nemecek, and Donna Mae Mims, “the Pink Lady” – Archive photo

Riding in a Travco motor home replete with gourmet chef creating fine dining for the crew in 1971, ’72 and ’75, Bill Brodrick (known as the “hat man” at the NASCAR races in the ’70s and ’80s), and Car and Driver writer William Jeanes will describe their adventures.

Other outlaws with zany recollections from the 1970s will include Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance wizard Bill Warner, who still owns and drives the Porsche 911 he piloted in 1975, and Jack Cowell, who, with Pete Brock and Dick Gilmartin, were the “Flying Fathers” in 1972 in a Mercedes-Benz 280SEL, loaned to them by M-B p.r. rep at the time, Leo Levine. Levine will be on hand to explain how he got away with that one. We’ll hear from Bob Brown, who drove with Brock Yates in 1972 in the Cotton Owens-built Dodge Challenger, and Rich Taylor, the official starter at the Red Ball Garage in New York City. We’ll also view videos from other outlaws, such as racing icon Dan Gurney, Pete Brock, Brock Yates Jr., and Anatoly Arutunoff.

Dan Gurney and Brock Yates with the winning Ferrari Daytona relax
at the Portofino Inn November 17, 1971 – Archive photo

Long after the dust settled from the original races, long-distance driver Alex Roy and David Maher, with filmmaker Cory Welles on board, set a new transcontinental record in a technology-laden BMW M5. Roy will share the wild highlights and show some never-before-seen footage from the record run!

Car collector, Cannonball fan, and well-known DJ Travis Bell will recount his meticulous recreation of the TransCon Medi-Vac Ambulance, with the support and blessing of Hal Needham and Brock Yates. They liked it so much, they signed the dash!

Cannonball cars on display will include:

Dan Gurney/Brock Yates Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona that won the race overall in 1971
Brock Yates’ iconic 1972 Dodge Challenger built by NASCAR’s Cotton Owens
Bill Warner’s 1975 Porsche 911T
Travis Bell’s TransCon MediVac Ambulance recreation
Alex Roy’s Polizei 144 BMW M5

Brock Yates’ Cotton Owens built 1972 Dodge Challenger
now owned by Wayne Carini – Amelia Is. Concours photo

The panel discussion will be hosted by Mike Spinelli, Executive Producer, TheDrive.com at Time Inc., co-host of The Drive on NBC Sports and co-founder of Jalopnik.

“This event is not to be missed,” said Roger Garbow, co-organizer of the event with Judy Stropus. “The chances of all these outlaws being reunited again in one place to relate their madcap stories are pretty slim. I guarantee that it will stand as an historic event of its own.”

The panel discussion, which will include excerpts from the original 1981 film, onboard video footage from Alex Roy’s 2006 run, a slide show depicting the early days, an auction of Cannonball memorabilia, an autograph session, and other surprises will complete the evening. The event is being held in cooperation with the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance (June 3-4) www.greenwichconcours.com and the Greenwich International Film Festival http://www.greenwichfilm.org/.

Tickets are $125 per person, which includes dinner (gourmet grilled cheese and lobster sliders) and drinks, and may be purchased at www.greenwichfilm.org. The evening begins at 6:30 in the courtyard of the Greenwich Library, alongside the Cannonball cars, with the program beginning at 8 p.m.

The proceeds of this dinner will benefit the New England Auto Museum, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization www.neautomuseum.org.

cb5

03 May

Greenwich Concours d’Elegance celebrates its 22nd year in 2017

Bugattis, Historic Race Cars, Hot Rods and Children’s Cars featured to benefit Americares

GREENWICH, Conn. – Recognized as one of the premier classic car shows in the country, the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance will celebrate its 22nd year of showcasing significant cars, motorcycles and one-off automotive creations on June 3-4, 2017.

The brainchild of the late Bruce Wennerstrom, the Concours continues its tradition of holding two unique Concours back-to-back at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park overlooking the Greenwich, Conn., harbor on Long Island Sound.

For 21 years, the proceeds from the Greenwich Concours have gone to support Americares, a health-focused relief and development organization that responds to people affected by poverty or disaster with life-changing medicine, medical supplies and health programs.

Organizer of the world-renowned Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, Bill Warner, has been named the Grand Marshal.

Saturday, June 3, will be the Concours Americana for American cars and motorcycles, while Sunday, June 4, will feature the Concours International for imported marques.

The inaugural hot rod display being organized by Velocity Channel’s Chasing Classic Cars host Wayne Carini will highlight Saturday’s show. A special exhibit of children’s cars and supercars will round out the day’s displays. Saturday’s ticket also allows attendees to preview all of the cars in the Bonhams auction tent.

Tickets are also available on Saturday night to a gala party and elegant buffet at the Greenwich Delamar Hotel, with luxurious yachts as a backdrop on the quay.

Sunday’s featured marque will be Bugatti and will include a collection of rare Bugattis from the American Bugatti Club. Sunday will also feature race cars from the Lime Rock Park Historic Festival. The Bonham’s auction begins at noon on Sunday and requires a separate admission.

Also showcased during the weekend will be the iconic outlaw cars from the original cross-country Cannonball Baker Sea to Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, held in the ’70s, along with some of the later non-outlaw entries. These cars will also be displayed at the Cannonball Reunion, a joint evening event with the Greenwich International Film Festival, at Cole Auditorium on Friday, June 2. Proceeds from this event will support the development of the New England Auto Museum, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a world class automotive display and educational facility in Connecticut.

Both days will include displays of the latest in new cars including BMW, Cadillac, Tesla, Lincoln, Jaguar, Land Rover, and Miller Motorcars of Greenwich will highlight its Ferrari, Bugatti, Pagani, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, McLaren, Bentley, Rolls-Royce and Maserati marques. Opportunities to test drive some of these new vehicles will be offered. There will also be a number of luxury yachts displayed at the adjacent Delamar Hotel docks.

“The Greenwich Concours is proud to partner with Americares to help families in need all over the world,” said Mary Wennerstrom, Concours Chairman. “Not only will attendees who appreciate these rare cars be treated to two days to delight their senses, they will also be contributing to one of the world’s most respected charities.”

“Americares is honored to be the Greenwich Concours’ charity of choice for more than two decades,” said Americares President and CEO Michael J. Nyenhuis. “Together we are helping families affected by poverty or disaster to get the health care they need — the health care they deserve.”

VIP tickets are available on a limited basis. A VIP ticket includes early entry to the Concours, breakfast and lunch with the car owners and judges, access to the VIP lounge and patio at the Delamar Hotel, entrance to the Bonhams Cocktail Reception on Friday night, lapel pin, poster and a VIP lanyard.

Gates open at 10 a.m. for general admission, 8 a.m. for VIP ticket holders
Advance tickets for both days are available at $30 per day or $50 for both days
Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult
VIP Admission is $250 per day or $450 for both days
Saturday Night Gala tickets are available for $175
Tickets can be purchased at http://www.greenwichconcours.com/visitors/tickets/
Admission to Bonhams auction is available on site at $40 for two people
To request media credentials, please go to http://www.greenwichconcours.com/press-links/

The weekend activities will include other events, open to the public, some in cooperation with the Greenwich International Film Festival:

For Greenwich Film Festival events please go to http://www.greenwichfilm.org/
For Cannonball Reunion tickets, please go to https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe.c/10164058 or www.greenwichfilm.org

About Americares
Americares is a health-focused relief and development organization that responds to people affected by poverty or disaster with life-changing health programs, medicine and medical supplies. Each year, Americares reaches more than 90 countries and all 50 U.S. states with over $600 million in innovative health programs and quality medical aid. Americares is the world’s leading nonprofit provider of donated medicine and medical supplies. For more information, visit americares.org

Baby Bugatti with a 1925 Bugatti Type 35A/51 Grand Prix at the Greenwich Concours site
Photo by Bearded Mug Media

18 Apr

Cannonball Reunion – June 2, 2017

Cannonball-invite-4.14A

DON’T MISS OUT! Tickets are now on sale for the Cannonball Reunion – in cooperation with the Greenwich (Conn.) Concours and the Greenwich Film Festival.

Featuring original Cannonballers and their cars, too! Seating is very limited so don’t delay.

Proceeds from the Reunion will benefit the New England Auto Museum, www.neautomuseum.org

To buy tickets, go to www.greenwichfilm.org

June 2, 2017 – 6:30 p.m. – program at 8 p.m.

Cole Auditorium at the Greenwich Library

101 West Putnam Avenue

Greenwich, Connecticut 06830

22 May

Greenwich Concours d’Elegance Showcases the Fastest Cars on Earth and in the Air

New York, New York (PRWEB) May 20, 2014 – The world’s fastest street-legal car, the 270-mph Hennessey Venom GT will slow down long enough to spend two days at the Greenwich Concours d’ Elegance, May 31st and June 1st at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park in Greenwich, Connecticut. It will be joined by the latest version of America’s only flying car, the Terrafugia Transition®.

These two extremes of automotive technology will join 250 of the most beautiful classic automobiles in the world on a verdant peninsula in Greenwich Harbor. The two-day Greenwich Concours, now in its 19th year, uniquely features American classics on Saturday and imported classic models on Sunday. Show-goers can also board Sunseeker Yachts and America’s Cup 12-meter yachts on both days.

2014 is of course the 50th anniversary of the Ford Mustang and the 100th anniversary of Maserati, and the Greenwich Concours will celebrate with special displays for both. The Mustang display includes the Shelby GT350R that American racing legend Mark Donohue raced early in his career.

Speaking of racing legends, another unforgettable highlight of the 2014 Greenwich Concours will be the one-of-a-kind 1966 Fitch Phoenix, a sports car designed by one of America’s greatest drivers, and World War II fighter pilot, John Fitch (1917-2012). The Greenwich Concours might be a last chance for many to see the dramatic Phoenix, as it will be auctioned off by Bonhams.

In another Greenwich Concours tradition, spectators will be able to check out the latest models from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Cadillac, Maserati, Aston Martin, Ferrari, McLaren, Bentley and Volkswagen, the event’s many prestigious sponsors. A special section of classic Cadillacs will celebrate the brand’s history from 1900’s to the glorious postwar tailfin era.

AmeriCares, the international relief organization, is the charitable beneficiary of the Greenwich Concours d’ Elegance.

Two Events In One
Unique among classic automobile events, the Greenwich Concours has, since its inception in 1996, presented two separate concours events over a weekend: The Greenwich Concours Americana features American cars from the 1900s to the present, and Sunday’s Greenwich Concours International is exclusively for imported sports, competition and touring cars.

Each event features some 125 cars and awards trophies for Best-of-Show, Peoples’ Choice and various classes. And, so it is possible to see classic American Auburns, Cadillacs, Cords, Duesenbergs, Packards and Pierce-Arrows along with Corvettes and 1960’s muscle cars on Saturday, and then Bentley, Ferrari, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce models and many others on Sunday. Classic American and imported motorcycles are on display both days.

Featured as the poster car for the 2014 Greenwich Concours, the Fitch Phoenix will be offered for sale in the Bonhams auction on Sunday, June 1st that is part of the Concours event. Among other ultra-rare cars to be displayed are a 1914 Detroit Electric Brougham once owned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s mother-in-law; a one-of-a-kind 1950 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith; one of the few Russian-made Volgas in the country, and a Glasspar G-2, which preceded the Chevrolet Corvette as one of America’s earliest fiberglass sports cars.

Return of the Flying Car
The Terrafugia Flying Car prototype made its debut at the 2009 Concours. This year, the near-production Terrafugia Transition®, the only light-aircraft designed to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, will display its conversion abilities on the Concours show field.
Wayne Carini, the well-known collector and the host of the Velocity Channel’s “Chasing Classic Cars” TV show, will serve as Grand Marshal for the Greenwich Concours. Noted Packard collector and actor Edward Hermann will be chief judge. Radio host Bob Long will broadcast live from the Concours for two hours each day.

Featured sponsors include Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Maserati, McLaren, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce, Volkswagen and Sunseeker Yachts. All the sponsoring auto companies will have new vehicles on display.

Classic Racing Yachts
The Greenwich Concours uniquely offers an amazing opportunity for sailing enthusiasts. Berthed across from the Concours grounds in Greenwich Harbor, the ex-America’s Cup 12-meter yachts America II and Lionheart will be on view for Concours spectators to look over the magnificent vessels.
Like the competition cars on display at the Concours, the majestic racing yachts represent the pinnacle of their period’s technology for generating speed, in this case on water.

Bonhams Auction Open to Spectators
The Bonhams Auction of rare and important collector cars and automobilia on Sunday, June 1st allows Concours spectators to view the consigned vehicles on Saturday, included with Concours admission.

There are usually another 90-100 classic automobiles to see in the auction tent, many of them rarely seen models from private collections. (Admittance to the auction tent on Sunday requires purchase of a catalogue by bidders and spectators.)

AmeriCares
Ranked as one of the most efficient charitable organizations in the country, AmeriCares has since 1982 delivered more than $11 billion in aid to help people in 164 countries. The organization responds to humanitarian emergencies including earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes, and was on the scene with aid during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

Greenwich Concours Basics
The Greenwich Concours Americana and the Concours International are open from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday. The admission is $30 per day, or $45 for a two-day pass, and children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. Parking is free, and food service is available on site. The dates for 2014 are May 31 and June 1, rain or shine.

The ease of getting to the Concours also contributes to its popularity, for it’s immediately off Exit 3 of I-95, and within a block of the Metro North train station with express service from New York and Boston. And, within walking distance, is Greenwich Avenue – the Rodeo Drive of the East – with all of its many restaurants, antique shops, luxury stores, and numerous boutiques. Hotels, ranging from the modest to ultra-luxe, are also close by, with the Delamar, the host hotel, right at the Concours site. The Concours web site, greenwichconcours.com includes a map, driving directions, and contact information.

No wonder the North American edition of 1000 Places To See Before You Die lists the Greenwich Concours as one of those places!

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/GreenwichConcours/ClassicCars/prweb11869416.htm