Fred Guyton collection to feature 2014 Pebble Beach Concours Best in Class winner;
William “Tom” Gerrard recognized for Post-War collection and key Concours contributions
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Each year, the Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours d’Elegance features leading automotive collectors from around the world and the 14th annual edition of this celebration follows suit. Among the notable names visitors and enthusiasts will encounter at the 2015 event are Fred Guyton and William “Tom” Gerrard, selected respectively as this year’s Pinnacle and Honored Collectors. The men and their award-winning collections will be featured in the Motoring Midway, Oct. 31 & Nov. 1, 2015 at the Port Royal Golf Club on Hilton Head Island.
“The Pinnacle and Honored Collector awards recognize individuals whose passion and devotion to preserving automotive heritage and history ensures the enjoyment of significant cars for generations to come,” said Carolyn Vanagel, the Festival’s president. “It is their commitment to showing these vehicles in public that makes events like ours possible. We are thrilled that Fred and Tom are bringing eight very special cars from their collections to share with the 20,000-plus automotive enthusiasts we are expecting this year.”
2015 Pinnacle Award Collector: Fred Guyton, St. Louis, Missouri
The Pinnacle Award debuted in 2013 in conjunction with the Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concourse d’Elegance’s move to the world-class Port Royal Golf Club. For 2015, Fred Guyton joins fellow Pinnacle Award recipients Joseph and Margie Cassini (2014) and Sam and Emily Mann (2013). To celebrate what will be their first participation in the event, Guyton has chosen to showcase three cars, including the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Best in Class winner.
· 1939 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Coupe by James Young
Considered the epitome of post-Art-Deco styling, the Phantom was originally fitted with a pair of Purdey shotguns and custom luggage. The car was awarded the Gold Award in the 1938 London Motor Show for “Owner-Driver Coachwork” and was used by famed London dealer Jack Barclay in RAC Rallies & Trials. Most recently, the car was awarded the first place prize in the Rolls- Royce Class at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
· 1909 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Silver Ghost Roi des Belges
In 1907, AutoCar magazine proclaimed Rolls-Royce as the “Best Car in the World.” This model features a 7.5 liter, 6-cylinder engine with three-speed transmission and was originally bodied with Landaulette coachwork by Hooper. This car was recreated with ‘Roi-de-Belges’ style (created in 1901 by King Leopold of Belgium) by Willis in 1972. Silver Ghosts were built from 1906 to 1925 in England and from 1921 to 1926 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
· 1930 DuPont G-985 Waterhouse Convertible Victoria
Exhibited by DuPont at the 1931 New York Auto Show, this car features coachwork by Waterhouse of Webster, Massachusetts and an eight-cylinder Continental engine producing 125 horsepower. It is the only survivor of 13 Convertible Victorias sold by DuPont.
2015 Honored Collector: William “Tom” Gerrard, Big Sky, Montana
No celebration of the automobile exists without the support of collectors. Every year, the Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours d’Elegance recognizes one Honored Collector for their continued participation and support. The 2015 Honored Collector will feature William “Tom” Gerrard of Big Sky, Montana.
“Tom and his family have been exhibiting at the Concours d’Elegance since our inaugural event. With an extensive collection that is housed in both Montana and Florida, his top-tier Post-War car entries have consistently helped to raise the Concours’ profile with other leading exhibitors and collectors. His participation and the quality of cars that he has shown over the years has been invaluable in helping us grow into one of the top automotive Concours events in North America,” said Vanagel. Gerrard will be showcasing five cars, including:
· 1956 Packard Caribbean
One of only 276 factory-built cars, this Packard’s previous awards include a Best in Class honor at the 2005 Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance.
· 1959 Pontiac El Catalina
This one-of-a-kind prototype was produced by Pontiac as a possible competitor for the Chevrolet El Camino for the 1960 model year. Although parts for three cars were manufactured, only one was ever completed.
· 1964 Pontiac LeMans GTO
This vehicle is one of the most fully-optioned PHS-documented GTO convertibles known to be built by the Pontiac factory in 1964.
In addition, Gerrard will also show a 1958 Buick Limited and a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray.
Tickets for the 2015 Motoring Festival are now on sale at www.HHIMotoringFestival.com/Tickets.
For more information, visit the official Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours d’Elegance website at www.HHIMotoringFestival.com.
ABOUT THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND MOTORING FESTIVAL & CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE:
The Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours d’Elegance will celebrate its 14th year in the fall of 2015. The Festival kicks off with the Savannah Speed Classic, Oct. 23 – 25, on the Grand Prize of America road course situated on the property of The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa. The festivities will continue on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, Oct. 31 – Nov. 1, at Port Royal Golf Club where the Concours d’Elegance (Nov. 1) will take center stage. New to this year’s Motoring Festival are the Hilton Head Island Auction by Auctions America (Oct. 31), the Flights & Fancy Aeroport Gala (Oct. 30) and the Aero Expo (Oct. 31) featuring an array of vintage and new aircraft. Motoring Festival Partners for the 2015 Festival include the Port Royal Golf Club,The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa,The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa,BMW Group,Porsche of Hilton Head,Volvo,Lexus,Mingledorff’s,Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport,Hargray, the Hilton Head Island/Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and Visit Savannah. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.HHIMotoringFestival.com/online.
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