Amelia Island Concours (2005) – Recap & Photo Gallery 07

From March 10โ€“13, Floridaโ€™s Amelia Island played host to what, over the past 10 years, has become perhaps the East Coastโ€™s preeminent concours. And, as in previous years, racecars and the history of racing played a central role.

1958 Kurtis Kraft 500 Roadster of Robert McConell.
Photo: Hal Crocker

Located on the sprawling grounds of The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island, this yearโ€™s event honored the Alfa Romeo marque, as well as NASCAR racing legend Bobby Allison. A display of many of the racecars that played a role in the career of Allison stood as a colorful contrast to the 50 significant, gleaming red Alfa Romeos that spanned everything from the early 1750 GS to the P3, C308 Indianapolis car and famed Tipo 33.

However, Alfas were not the only racecars on display and when the scoring was tabulated it was the Collier Museumโ€™s stunning 1953 ex-Carrera Panamericana Porsche 550 Coupe that claimed the overall prize as Best in Show, Concours de Sport. Other racecar winners included Robert McConellโ€™s 1958 Kurtis Kraft 500 Roadster in the Racecars, 1946โ€“1958 category and the Collier Collectionโ€™s 1966 Ford GT40 MKIIB in the Racecars, 1959โ€“1973 category. Other winners with a racing pedigree included Dr. Bernardo Martinezโ€™s 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA in the Alfa Romeo Post-War racing category and Edward Reichโ€™s 1933 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS in the Alfa Romeo Pre-War category.

Best in Show, Concours Sport winner, the Collier Collectionร•s 1955 Porsche 550 Coupe.
Photo: Hal Crocker