Amelia Island 2025

Jim Weed

Volume 50 Issue 06

Mar 22, 2025

Amelia Island Concours brings a large variety of automotive history to the fields. Ferrari cars were just a small part, but the ones presented were certainly worth the trip.

WOW, what a weekend. Amelia Island Concours brings a multitude of automotive history to its fields. There is much to look at and discover, it makes this two-day concours a must-do event.

Under normal conditions Saturday is a Cars n’ Coffee event with many interesting cars not up to the level of fine concours. It is here you find the true grass roots of car culture. No matter what was brought to display you can bet there is love behind every car and the story that goes with it.

I say normal conditions, but this year the weather gods were not cooperating. The threat of rain on Sunday moved the concours to Saturday. Jam two day’s worth of cars into one day and there is much to see. More than enough to expand your automotive knowledge and feast on the splendor of nearly four hundred and fifty cars on display.

The week leading up was busy. Production of the market letter was moved up so I could leave on Thursday. If you got your paper version really early that is the reason.

I decided the 400 GT was ready for an extended trip and I was determined to drive from Atlanta all the way to Amelia Island in it. There was some nervousness in taking a forty-five-year-old Ferrari on a five-hour drive through one of the most desolate stretches of I-16 between Macon and Savannah.

I had resigned myself it would be a great side story to the actual concours. Either I would make it, or not. Either way it would be an adventure.

Saturday morning dawned a bit cold and windy but soon gave way to a bright and sunny day. It never really warmed up the entire weekend, not your typical Florida weather.

Across the lawn were rows and rows of cars. Some antique, some racing, some interesting and rarely seen, and exotics. There is always something for everyone at Amelia.

I was first greeted by a couple of Testarossas. One was from Atlanta, and I recognized the name. I had taken care of his cars when I was service manager. It had been about thirty years since we had met.

That is one of the fun things about Amelia Concours, you never know who you will run into.

I make my way around the lake to find more Ferraris. Along the way I pass an Aston Martin Valkyrie. One of the first in the country, possibly THE first in the country. Of course it was green; I should say, the carbon fiber was green.

I imagine this is Aston’s answer to the F80. It certainly looks like a supercar should. Lightweight with wings and openings to channel the air. It also has style, something I think the F80 misses.

At the other end of the spectrum was an Aston DB5 with all the operational features of 007’s movie car. The spinners came out and the lights dropped down to reveal machine guns. Several times during the day the rattle of the guns could be heard, and smoke filled the air often obscuring the nearby cars.

After passing many Porsches and BMWs lined up in rows, I came through to Italian cars. Here a couple Iso and Lamborghini held the line against all those German cars.

Farther down I came across a beautiful Daytona Spyder, S/N 16857, in blue with crema interior. Nearby was a Chairs and Flares Dino in argento with black interior, S/N 06432.

A few cars later was a green 308, no wait, it was a green 288 GTO! Fresh from the lawn of Cavallino, Lee Herrington was showing off this beautiful car.

The trouble with the 288 is that since all of them were born red it is difficult to get excited and also difficult to determine the serial numbers when they all look the same. This one certainly stands out from the crowd.

A gaggle of Superamerica graced the lawn. Two 500 Superfast; one in silver, S/N 7817 SF, and one in dark blue, S/N 6615 SF, and a lone 400 Superamerica, S/N 3931 SA. The Superfast was one of the last coach-built series Ferraris. The quality of these special cars shows the care Pininfarina put in to satisfy the discerning customers who ordered one.

When it comes to coach built, few cars match the Ghia Coupe, S/N 0191 EL, delivered to President Peron of Argentina. Today it is resplendent in two-tone cream with maroon lower areas.

Upon close inspection, details appear to reveal the little things Ghia provided on this car to showcase the ability of this coachbuilder. Little pieces of chrome adorn the outside while intricate handles and knobs add to the luxury inside.

Up on the hill are another set of Ferrari race cars. Three 250 GT LWB Berlinetta are on station. Looking nearly identical, except for paint color, there were things to see that show the individuality of each car.

The oldest, S/N 0733 GT, is blue with a red center stripe. This car has three louvers on the sail panel. Shown without bumpers this one looks as it did in 1957 when it came in second at the Tour de France.

Next is S/N 1161 GT, in dark green with a white central stripe. This one still has bumpers and has a single lover on the sail panel.

Serial number 1321 GT is red with a central yellow stripe. This one has extensive racing history being first in class at the 1959 Nürburgring 1000 km and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

No display of Ferraris can be complete without a NART Spyder. S/N 10749 was displayed, looking elegant in silver with a red leather interior. I’ve seen this car before, but it is always a treat to see it again.

That is all the Ferraris in the concours but there were plenty of other things going on throughout the weekend. Gooding & Company held their auction on Thursday and Friday. I was able to go both days to see what was on offer. (Report in this issue).

Broad Arrow also auctioned cars over two days, Friday and Saturday. Because of the change to move everything to Saturday it was difficult to split time between the concours field and the ongoing auction, but where there is a will… (Report in this issue, also).

The decision to move the show to Saturday was a good one. Sunday was one messy day with rain and cold winds throughout the day. Since we were not leaving until Monday morning, we walked around downtown Fernandina and got together with friends for a relaxing evening filled with good food and talk of Ferraris!

Seeing the cars is only one of the benefits of going to Amelia, the other is seeing and talking to old friends and making new ones. It is always interesting to hear stories about the cars. That’s what keeps me coming back.

About that coming back. I drove the 400 GT to and from Atlanta. Coming home was all in the rain. I thought I would have a story to write about what it was like to drive 900 miles in a forty-five-year-old Ferrari.

Fortunately, there is nothing to say. The drive over was flawless, nothing but the sound of six carburetors burbling under hood at 3,500 RPM. The drive home was also flawless with the lights and wipers working for much of the time. The seats are comfortable and the sound fabulous, a genuine GT car.

For those who read my “Why does service cost so much?” article (Vol. 49, No. 18), the result speaks for itself. As Ed Gilbertson has always said “Ferraris are meant to be driven!”

Yes, yes they are.