​WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — (May 6, 2019): A weekend full of horsepower, friendships and history came to an exciting end Sunday, when the 1938 Darracq/Talbot Lago owned by J.W. Marriott Jr. and shown by David Carte of Edinburg, Virginia, was presented with the Best of Show Award at The 2019 Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance.

The one-of-one special-ordered Talbot Lago roadster featured totally enclosed front fenders, with headlights recessed in the fender. The car was ordered in Portugal by Count and Countess Juilo Anahory de Quental Calheiros and remained with its first owner until 1975. The most recent restoration was completed by Classic and Sport Auto in Virginia in 2006.

The yellow and blue Darracq/Talbot wasn’t the only big winner on Sunday. Class champions were named in each of the 11 classes that were presented on the showfield, with surrounded the iconic front entrance at The Greenbrier.

“The overall quality of the cars on the show field Sunday made the job of all the judging teams difficult,” said Phil Neff, Chief Judge, The Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance. “There were multiple cars in almost every class competing for the top awards.

“It was a true honor to be able to lead such a distinguished group of judges from all over the United States, Canada and Europe.”

Class winners included:
Veteran Era Cars: 1903 Cadillac Rear Entrance Tonneau (Jim Elliot; Yorktown, Va.)
Classic Cars: 1931 Buick 8-94 Series (David Landow; Potomac, Md.)
Pre-War Production Cars: 1931 Studebaker Model 54 Regal Roadster (Robert Williams; Rustburg, Va.)
Post-War Production Cars: 1956 Continental Mark II (Wendell Irby; Oakton, Va.)
Sports Cars: 1974 Porsche 911 Targa Carrera (Peter Kauffman; Wirtz, Va.)
Exotic Sports Cars: 1959 OSCA Coupe (Peter Boyle; Oil City, Pa.)
British Sports Cars: 1934 MG PA (Randy Morgan, Lebanon; Pa.)
Preservation Cars: 1966 Chevrolet Corvette (Mark Davis; Landrum, S.C.)
Race Cars: 1955 Kurtis Indy Roadster (Bob McConnell; Urbana, Ohio)
Muscle Cars: 1967 Pontiac 2+2 Convertible (Richard Larabee; Farmington Hills, Mich.)
Rolls-Royce/Bentley: 1934 Bentley 3.5-Litre Sports Saloon (Dennis Frick; Lewisberry, Pa.) 

In addition to the class awards, 11 special awards were presented at the trophy ceremony, including:

People’s Choice: 1936 Packard V12 (Doug Pray; Broken Arrow, Okla.)
Honorary Chief Judge’s Award: 1951 Chrysler Windsor Deluxe (Joseph Grasso; Uwchland, Pa.)
Duke of Windsor Award (Most Elegant Closed Car): 1938 Delahaye 135MS Coupe (Robert Jepson Jr.; Savannah, Ga.)
Princess Grace Award (Most Elegant Open Car): 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster (Todd and Holly-Faye Jenkins; Chesterfield, Va.)
Dorothy Draper Award (Most Stylish Interior): 1956 Austin Healey 100M (James Harris; Middleburg, Va.)
Sam Snead Award (Best Country Club Car): 1935 Pierce Arrow 845 (William Ayd, Glen Arm; Md.) 
Eisenhower Award (Best Cold War Era Car): 1950 Buick Special (Jeffrey Hardin; Forest City, N.C.)
Artist’s Award: 1938 Steyr 220 Sport Roadster (Peter Boyle; Oil City, Pa.)
Most Historically Significant Road Car: 1961 Mercedes-Benz 190b Ponton (Anne Buntin; Moneta, Va.)
Most Historically Significant Race Car: 1952 Nash Healey LeMans Prototype (Jose Fernandez; Bridgeport, Conn.)
Hagerty Youth Judges’ Award: 1929 Ford Model A Station Wagon (Thomas Fitzgerald; Selma, N.C.)

Sunday’s Concours, which featured impressive automobiles in every class, was the culmination of a weekend full of events for car owners from across the country.

On Friday, The Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance started its engine with two drives, The Kate’s Mountain Drive and The Summit Drive. The Kate’s Mountain Drive began with breakfast at Kate’s Mountain Lodge, followed by a spirited drive to Cass Scenic Railroad State Park. The Summit Drive included lunch at The Summit, the exclusive lodge that is part of The Greenbrier Sporting Club, and was followed by a drive to Paint Bank, Va. 

That evening’s Welcome Reception at Kate’s Mountain Lodge included food and fellowship, as well as the unveiling of Bentley’s new Continental GT Convertible, which was shown for the first time in North America at the reception as part of The Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance’s celebration of the 100th anniversary of Bentley Motors. 

Saturday began with the International Car Show, which featured cars of all types displayed on the world-class golf courses at The Greenbrier. That was followed up with a seminar on the history of the automobile at America’s Resort™, and the evening concluded with a Charitable Dinner, which benefitted the Mountaineer Autism Project, as well as the AACA Library and Research Center. 

All of those events served as appetizers for the main course on Sunday, as the finest collector cars in the world were judged by Neff and his qualified team of concours judges. 

“It was just an amazing weekend from start to finish,” said Cam Huffman, a member of The Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance Steering Committee. “The weather was beautiful, the cars were fantastic and, most importantly, everyone had a great time. We’re already counting down the days until the next one.”

Organizers are working hard to make sure The 2020 Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance exceeds the expectations that have been created in the event’s first two years. The dates for 2020 are set for May 1-3. For more information, visit GreenbrierConcours.com. 

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — (April 29, 2019): Bentley’s newly redesigned 2020 Continental GT Convertible has made its way to the United States, and the first chance for the American audience to get a glimpse of the luxury car maker’s newest offering will come at The Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance, May 3-5 at America’s Resort, The Greenbrier.

In conjunction with event sponsor Bentley Tysons, The Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance will first unveil the pinnacle open-top grand tourer at its Welcome Reception on Friday, May 3, at 6 p.m. Tickets are still available to attend that reception by visiting GreenbrierConcours.com/welcome-reception.

The new Continental GT Convertible will then be on display, along with the Bentley Bentayga V8 SUV, at the International Car Show on Saturday, May, 4, and Bentley Tysons will schedule ride-and-drives with qualified applicants following the show, which runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Greenbrier Golf Club.

That same evening, the two Bentleys will be on display at the Charitable Dinner, which benefits the AACA Library and Research Center and the Mountaineer Autism Project. 

On Sunday, May 5, the Continental GT Convertible and the Bentayga V8 SUV will be displayed in conjunction with a featured Bentley/Rolls-Royce Class that celebrates the 100th anniversary of Bentley Motors at the concours. The weekend’s premier event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in and around the iconic front circle and the Virginia Lawn of The Greenbrier. 

The eight-car featured class will include everything from a 1925 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost to a 1934 Bentley 3.5-Litre Sports Saloon, a 1954 Bentley R Type Saloon and a 1961 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud 2. It will be one of 11 judged classes on the showfield on Sunday.

Designed, engineered and handcrafted in Britain, the all-new Continental GT Convertible represents everything Bentley knows about creating the world’s most stylish and elegant Grand Tourers. The elegantly-tailored convertible roof sweeps open in 19 seconds to reveal exquisite interior, and the unique Z-fold roof offers sportier appearance and three-decibel noise reduction. The car will go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 3.7 seconds with a top speed of 207 miles per hour.

The Bentley Bentayga V8 SUV is a contemporary styled and visually dynamic version of the world’s most luxurious SUV. 

Learn more about these new offerings by visiting tysons.bentleymotors.com.
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To purchase tickets or learn more about The Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance, visit GreenbrierConcours.com. 

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — (March 13, 2019): On January 18, 1919, Bentley Motors Limited was founded by W.O. Bentley in Cricklewood, North London, and the company quickly became known for speed and precision, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1924, 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1930.

This year, The Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance will honor the 100th anniversary of Bentley Motors with a featured Rolls-Royce and Bentley Class at the second annual Concours d’Elegance, which will be held May 3-5 at America’s Resort™, The Greenbrier.

“Bentley Motors has been one of the premier automotive brands in the world for a century now, and we’re excited to honor that legacy at The Greenbrier,” said Tom Cox, a member of The Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance Steering Committee. “We have some amazing vehicles lined up to compete in what will be a wonderful featured class.”

Among the automobiles already registered for the Rolls-Royce/Bentley Class are a 1925 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, a 1925 Bentley 3-Litre Speed Model, a 1934 Bentley 3.5-Litre Sports Saloon, a 1949 Bentley MKVI Drophead Coupe, a 1953 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith, a 1953 Bentley R-Type Continental and a 1954 Bentley R-Type Saloon.

After a successful debut in 2018, The Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance is building on that inaugural event with a weekend full of activities honoring the long connection between The Greenbrier and the automotive industry.

Two spirited drives, The Summit Drive and the Kate’s Mountain Drive are on the schedule for Friday, giving car owners the opportunity to test the power and precision of their vehicles on beautiful mountain roads.

Saturday will be International Car Show day, bringing car clubs and individual owners together to celebrate their love for the automobile on the world-renowned golf courses at The Greenbrier. The Charitable Gala later that evening will benefit the Mountaineer Autism Project, as well as the AACA Library and Research Center.

Sunday’s main event, the concours, will bring more than 100 of the finest collector cars in the world to The Greenbrier’s iconic front circle and throughout the hotel.
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For ticket information, registration or to learn more, visit GreenbrierConcours.com.

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. – (January 30, 2019): Veteran concours judge Phil Neff was recently named the new Chief Judge for The Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance, which will take place May 3-5, 2019 at America’s Resort™, The Greenbrier.

Neff, a West Chester, Pennsylvania, native, has successfully showed, rallied and judged cars at events across the country. He is currently the Director of Research at USAppraisal, a firm specializing in the valuation of collector cars. He occasionally collaborates on book projects with Coachbuilt Press in Philadelphia.

Neff has been a board member at the 100 Motor Cars of Radnor Hunt, where he chaired the Car Selection Committee. He served as Operations Director for The Elegance at Hershey in 2011 and 2012 and has been invited to judge at many concours events across the country.

“I’m extremely excited about this new opportunity,” said Neff. “The Greenbrier is a special place that has a long history with the automobile industry. The inaugural Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance in 2018 was a huge success, and we’re looking forward to building on that foundation.”

Also new to The Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance team is Dr. Paul Sable, who will serve as Honorary Chief Judge.

A native of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, Dr. Sable is a retired university marketing professor and an automotive historian and writer. He’s a fervent collector of unique cars of the 1950s, and he has judged at nearly every major concours in the United States.

The Greenbrier Concours d'Elegance made its debut in 2018, honoring the rich automotive tradition at The Greenbrier resort with a weekend filled with events for car enthusiasts across the nation. From The Summit Drive to Saturday's Car Club Day and onto the featured Sunday event, the inaugural Greenbrier Concours d'Elegance was one that will long be remembered, as a premier automotive experience finally came to the premier luxury destination. The backdrop of The Greenbrier's iconic Front Entrance created beautiful visuals in a setting unlike any the concours world has seen.

This year, The Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance will honor Rolls-Royce and Bentley with a featured class, as Bentley celebrates its 100th anniversary. Two spirited drives, The Summit Drive and the Kate’s Mountain Drive are on the schedule for Friday, giving car owners the opportunity to test the power and precision of their vehicles on beautiful mountain roads.

Saturday will be International Car Show day, bringing car clubs and individual owners together to celebrate their love for the automobile on the world-renowned golf courses at The Greenbrier. The Charitable Gala later that evening will benefit the Mountaineer Autism Project, as well as the AACA Library and Research Center.

Sunday’s main event, the concours, will bring more than 100 of the finest collector cars in the world to The Greenbrier’s front circle and throughout the hotel.

​For ticket information, registration or to learn more, visit GreenbrierConcours.com.

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. – (May 8, 2018): The Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance wrapped up its inaugural edition on Sunday, May 8, handing Carl Baxter’s 1934 Swallow Sidecar (Jaguar) SS1 Saloon its Best in Show trophy in front of the iconic front circle at America’s Resort, The Greenbrier.

The rare automobile that took home the Best in Show honors is one of six known to survive with all of its original running gear. Its interior features the Lyons-designed Sunburst door upholstery that replicated the archway leading into the Lyon’s original Swallow factory.

The unique trophy given to the winner, designed on The Greenbrier property by Virtu Glass, wrapped up a weekend full of events.

​The opening day on Friday, May 4, featured 40 cars participating in The Summit drive. Drivers took their cars to the top of the mountain at The Summit at The Greenbrier Sporting Club for lunch and then traversed scenic West Virginia backroads, testing the power and precision of their vehicles along the way.

Saturday’s Car Club Day featured nearly 100 cars scattered throughout The Greenbrier’s famous golf courses, as spectators milled around looking at their favorites. That evening, car owners, sponsors and guests mingled while listening to entertainment and watching the Kentucky Derby at the Charitable Gala. Money was raised to support two important charitable initiatives, the Mountaineer Autism Project and the Antique Automobile Club of America Library and Research Center.

A rare overnight storm dropped five inches or rain and flooded the golf courses on Sunday, rendering the original plan of holding the Concours d’Elegance on the same showfield impossible. Organizers quickly came together and implemented an entirely new blueprint to hold the event in front of the hotel on the paved front circle and inside the declassified nuclear bunker that is housed on property.

Less than two hours after scrapping the original plan, nearly 100 cars were spread throughout the two new locations, and the move proved to be a good one, providing a spectacular backdrop for photos as well as easy access for shelter during spotty rain showers throughout the day.

“Overall, it was a fantastic weekend,” said Show Director Wayne Long. “Mother Nature provided us with some obstacles along the way, but we were able to find positive solutions. The move to the front circle proved to be a blessing in disguise, and I’ve heard nothing but positive feedback from car owners and patrons who came out to enjoy the weekend.”

At the end of the weekend, 11 class champions were crowned in addition to the Best of Show winner. Those champions are listed below.
 
Class 1 – Brass Era Cars: 1911 Stanley Steam Car, Model 63 owned by Eric Arbuckle
Class 2 – Classic Cars: 1928 Isotta Fraschini 8A SS owned by Peter Boyle
Class 3 – Pre-War Production Cars: 1934 Swallow Sidecar (Jaguar) SS1 Saloon owned by Carl Baxter
Class 4 – Post-War Production Cars: 1953 Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet A owned by Martin Stickley
Class 5 – Foreign Sports Cars: 1960 Triumph Italia 2000 GT owned by Alan Anspaugh
Class 6 – Exotic Sports Cars: 1966 Ferrari 275GTB owned by John Gerhard
Class 7 – American Sports Cars: 1957 Ford Supercharged Thunderbird owned by Marvin Hill
Class 8 – Preservation Cars: 1967 Chevrolet Corvette owned by Mark Davis
Class 9 – Race Cars: 1957 Ferrari 500-TRC owned by David Carte
Class 10 – Muscle Cars: 1967 Ford Shelby GT350 owned by Hunt Palmer-Ball
Class 11 – Vipers: 2017 Dodge Viper owned by Bob Miller
 
Plans are already being made for The 2019 Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance, and officials are excited about the possibilities of growing the event for years to come.

“We really couldn’t have asked for a better start, but it’s just the beginning,” said Long. “We proved we could do it, we learned some lessons and we’re incredibly excited about the future. We expect many who participated this year to return, and we’re excited about bringing some new car enthusiasts to this amazing property, as well.”

Four main sponsors were critical to the success of the Concours – Astorg Auto, Foreign Cars Italia, Grand Home Furnishings and Mountaineer Automotive.

The 2019 Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance will take place May 3-5 at The Greenbrier.  

​To view and download pictures from the 2018 event, including the class winners, click here.

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. – The history of the automobile and the history of The Greenbrier have been intertwined from the beginning. New cars have been unveiled on the storied grounds, and automobile dealers and manufactures from across the country have met in The Greenbrier's grand ball rooms and dined on the resort's award-winning culinary offerings.

This spring, a new story in The Greenbrier's automotive history will be written when the automotive world is introduced to The Greenbrier Concour d'Elegance, which will take place May 4-6, at America’s Resort, which has played host to celebrities and dignitaries for more than 250 years.

The newest Concours in North America will include a wide array of automotive events throughout the 11,000 acres of The Greenbrier and The Greenbrier Sporting Club over the course of three days. Automotive enthusiasts will be treated to unique and unforgettable experiences that will make The Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance one of the most talked-about car events of 2018.

“The Greenbrier has a long history with automotive manufacturers and fine car owners, but this will be the first time we’ve had the pleasure of hosting an automotive event of this magnitude,” said Jill Justice, D.O., President, The Greenbrier. “There isn’t a better place to feature some of the finest cars in the world than at The Greenbrier, which has built a tradition of luxury for centuries. We’re incredibly excited to hold the first event of what we expect to be a can’t-miss tradition.”