One of the top car events of the year is happening this week just north of Jacksonville, Florida: the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. Now in its 20th year, this event showcases over 300 rare vehicles from collections around the world at The Golf Club of Amelia Island at the Ritz-Carlton.
In addition to showcasing beautifully restored classics like a 1938 Supercharged Cord Convertible, Sir Stirling Moss’s Jaguar XK120, and a stunning white BMW 328, the event will also feature a range of unique concept cars. These include the futuristic 1954 DeSoto Adventurer II and the Buick Avenir, which recently stole the spotlight at the Detroit Auto Show.
The DeSoto Adventurer II, with its 276 cubic inch Hemi engine, was designed to set a new direction for Chrysler’s DeSoto division. Had the project continued, it might have rivaled the performance of Chevy’s Corvette. Unfortunately, Chrysler shut down the DeSoto division in 1960.
The Packard Predictor, created in 1956, was intended to restore Packard’s premium status in the 1950s. It introduced features like swiveling bucket seats and clamshell headlamps, but the brand could not recover and ceased production in 1959.
The Mercury XM-800, shown at the 1954 Detroit Auto Show and recommended for production by Benson Ford, featured individual seats, a wraparound windshield, and a 270 hp V-8 engine. However, it was halted when Ford decided to expand its product line with the new Edsel division.
The 1963 Pontiac X-400, based on the Grand Prix and equipped with a supercharged 421 ci V-8, was a standout among GM concept cars. It set the stage for Pontiac’s future successes, including the legendary GTO of the 1960s and 70s.
Buick’s Avenir, unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, has received high praise. Buick’s director of interiors, Liz Wetzel, described the Avenir as a blend of elegance and athleticism, offering a new vision of luxury that could influence future Buick models.
The 20th annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance will take place from March 13-15, 2015. For more details, visit their official website or call for information.