Lancefield of London winner at Hilton Head Concours

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The 22th annual Hilton Head Concours d' Elegance was held last weekend November 2-3 on the fairways of the Port Royal Golf Club, South Carolina, USA.

Best of show this year went to a 1929 Stutz coupe bodied by Lancefield of London (owned by Richard and Irina Mitchell of Montgomery, Texas), one of five examples made but the only one that was supercharged. Also present was a supercharged 1930 Stutz Derham roadster, one of ten, whose owner purchased it at age 16, later sold it, and spent decades getting it back. Having two supercharged Stutzs together on the same show field is unheard of; too bad they couldn't have been parked side by side.

Perhaps the most stunning display was the day before the actual Concours, during Saturday's Motoring Midway and Car Club Jamboree. Noted collector Sam Mann of Englewood, NJ, was awarded Hilton Head's Pinnacle Award and by invitation brought three stunning cars from his well-known collection: a 1934 Voisin Roadster, a 1937 Delage D8-120 Aerodynamic Coupe, and a 1938 Delage D8-120 DeVillars Cabriolet. As well as all being French cars, the three vehicles share one other significant "trait": each has been awarded the prestigious Best of Show title at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, in 2002, 1996, and 2005, respectively. So three Pebble winners together as well!

Other notable cars included a 1901 Packard and 1929 Willys-Knight roadster with rarely-seen "Plaidside" paint scheme.

In just over a decade, the Hilton Head show has risen to the ranks of the best concours in the world. It's hard to see how it could be improved on, but knowing the people involved in putting on this event, it's almost certain that it will be even better next year.

(Text and five photos: Gregory Wells, 1929 Stutz photo courtesy Hilton Head Concours)
 

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