The Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours d’Elegance has announced that the Honored Marque for its 15th annual event will pay homage to the 1925-1948 era of European Classics. With the 2016 events scheduled for October 28 to November 6, the HHIMF is one of only a few national automotive gatherings to combine collecting and racing with enthusiast and lifestyle activities in a single, action-packed week.
Working strictly on the Classic Car Club of America’s designation, marques such as Bugatti, Hispano-Suiza, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz and Alfa Romeo (above) will line the fairways of the Port Royal Golf Club on South Carolina’s Hilton Head Island during the final Sunday’s Concours portion of the festival. Three classes have been dedicated to this year’s Honored Marque, one each for Roadsters, Phaetons and Sedans.
“The artistic styling, overwhelming elegance and rich history of these cars made them, as a whole, a worthy selection as this year’s Honored Marque,” said Carolyn Vanagel, president of the HHIMF. “By celebrating this era in European history, we’re celebrating some of the amazing survival stories of World War II. The fact that these cars survived such destruction and devastation is, in and of itself, miraculous.”
This is not the first time the HHIMF has selected a grouping of cars as its Honored Marque. In 2008, Brass Era Cars were featured, and in 2006, the Cars of Indiana paid tribute to that state’s place in automotive manufacturing before the days of mass production.
This year’s HHIMF will also celebrate American Cars of 1956, 60 years of the Fiat 850 and 124 Spider and, for display only, offer a special tribute to the Anderson, a South Carolina-made car celebrating its Centennial this year. Other signature events on the 2016 HHIMF schedule include the Savannah Speed Classic, which kicks off this year’s HHIMF on the weekend of October 28-30 at The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa with more than 175 racers, and the Hilton Head Island Auction by Auctions America. For more information on the Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours d’Elegance, please visit www.HHIMotoringFestival.com.
