Ford GT40, Duesenberg take top honors at Amelia Island Concours

A race car that twice conquered the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the French classic endurance race in the 1960s, and a passenger car that represented the very best of what American automakers could build prior to World War II took top honors Sunday at the 18^th Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. While most concours for classic cars pick just one Best of Show, Florida's largest such show picks a car for elegance and one for sport — from a field this year that included more than 300 vintage and classic cars, race cars and motorcycles.

The concours honored American race driver turned television analyst Sam Posey as its honored guest, and the Porsche 911 and Ford GT40 were the featured marques.

A 1968 Ford GT40 owned by the Rocky Mountain Auto Collection of Bozeman, Mont., was named Best in Show Concours de Sport, while a 1936 Duesenberg SJN, owned by The Nethercutt Collection of Sylmar, CA, took the Best in Show Concours de Elegance.

The GT40 program was driven by then Ford Motor Co. chairman Henry Ford II who wanted a racecar to beat Ferrari at its own game, and close to its backyard. And the GT40 did just that, with the Amelia-winning car winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1968 and 1969. Chassis No. 1075 has quite a provenance, winning six of the 11 races in which it competed.

Wayne Daudet, the car’s caretaker, said the Rocky Mountain Auto Collection has owned the car for 15 years, and it has not been restored. The body shows the cracks and paint chips earned in competition, and he said he was quite surprised to see the car win top honors.