MUSCLE CARS OF 1970 FEATURED AT 2021 AMELIA ISLAND CONCOURS d'ELEGANCE
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Jacksonville, FL – A special class of 1970 Muscle Cars will celebrate the pinnacle of Detroit’s fast and loud Muscle Car era at the 26th annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance on May 23, 2021.
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1970 Dodge Charger R/T. Photo Courtesy of Peter Harholdt. |
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The first wave of Baby Boomers was graduating from college, America was winning the Space Race and high-octane gasoline was cheap when the Pontiac GTO and its competition alerted America’s automakers to the possibilities of big profits through high performance.
The Big Three discovered that enthusiast cars lurked unseen beneath the skin of their regular model lineup. It’s a simple recipe: one midsize two-door coupe or sedan and a seriously large V8 engine. Then, all that was required were a few new paint codes, a few square yards of wild graphics and some home-grown brute force: something Motown had in spades.
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1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 W30 Convertible and 1970 Buick GSX. Photos courtesy of Wellborn Musclecar Museum. |
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Modesty wasn’t required. GM led the charge. All four GM lines – Cadillac was spared – produced examples of the new breed known as muscle cars. Ford and Mercury entered the race, Chrysler assigned both Dodge and Plymouth divisions to fight the horsepower wars with the Hemi. In 1970 one of Chrysler Corp’s high wing “homologation specials”, won the Daytona 500 for the first time kicking off what has been called NASCAR’s “modern era." |
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1970 Dodge Charger R/T. Photo courtesy of Wellborn Muscle Car Museum. |
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Part of the muscle car’s allure was practicality. They could accommodate as many as six passengers and required no exotic materials or engineering. Even staid American Motors gave Muscle Cars a shot. But America’s insurance companies heard the muscle car explosion too and moved in for the profits and the kill. A little help from the federal government’s smog cops and some Middle East oil states ended the reign of the muscle car.
The Amelia would like to thank Tim and Pam Wellborn and the entire team at the Wellborn Musclecar Museum in Alexander City, Alabama for helping bring this wonderful special class to life. The Wellborn Musclecar Museum is devoted to the great American automobiles of the 1960s and 1970s, showcasing classics such as the Charger, the Road Runner and the SuperBee, as well as the nation’s largest high-performance Dodge collection.
“By 1972 air pollution controls hobbled all American cars with air pumps, etc. muscle cars suffered more than most,” said Bill Warner, founder and Chairman of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. “That’s why 1970 is considered the apogee of the muscle car era."
“For generations of American drivers the GTO, GSX, 442, Hemi Chargers, 'Cudas and Superbirds -- not Ferraris, Porsches or Lamborghinis -- are still the ultimate fantasy cars," said Warner. “These are the cars that GIs stuck in Vietnam dreamed about and lusted after. And the current collectable car market shows that. Muscle Cars are factory hot rods that put true high performance within the reach of many car buyers. Very democratic and very American.”
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1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 and 1970 Plymouth Superbird. Photos courtesy of Wellborn Musclecar Museum. |
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AMELIA ISLAND CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW
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Thursday, May 20, 2021
Guardians of Porsche Wine Maker's Dinner
6:30 - 10:30 PM at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island Talbot Ballroom
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Begin your AMELIA weekend with an intimate four-course dining experience. A sommelier pairs each course with wines complementary to the menu.
Cocktail Attire
Advance Reservations, Limited Seating
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Friday, May 21, 2021
Porsche Driving Experience
7:00 AM - 4:30 PM Departs from the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport
The Porsche Driving Experience departs from the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport immediately following the 7:00 a.m. check-in and 7:30 a.m. drivers meeting with coffee and donuts. Participants will travel in their personal vehicles to a yet to be determined location where they will enjoy activities to include an autocross in one of the latest Porsches and a spirited ride with a professional driver. The tour will also make a stop at the fabulous new Brumos Collection which began as an eclectic private automotive collection that was stored on-site at the Brumos car dealerships in Jacksonville, Florida. Many international and national award-winning cars, historical documents, and racing artifacts are housed in their new location.
- Limited to 125 cars
- Must be at least 21 years of age to participate in the event
- Required documents:
- valid driver's license
- Need not own a Porsche to participate
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Friday Seminar - Chevy Thunder
A seminar hosted by NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief Ray Evernham to celebrate Chevy Thunder, which was the GM Racing tag line during the ‘80’s. Panelists scheduled to appear include: Herb Fishel – Director of GM Racing for 40 years; George Follmer – UOP Shadow Racing; David Hobbs – 1972 SCCA F5000 and SCCA Trans-Am Champion and Brian Redman – 3 time SCCA F5000 Champion and IMSA GTP Champion, all in Chevy powered cars.
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM The Awards Tent on the Showfield
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McLaren Dinner
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm The Ritz-Carlton, Talbot Ballroom Talbot Ballroom
Cocktail Attire
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Saturday, May 22, 2021
Saturday Seminar - The All-Conquering Porsche 935
A seminar hosted by NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief Ray Evernham to tell stories of racing, preparing and writing rules for the all conquering Porsche 935 when it raced in IMSA. Panelists scheduled to appear include: Hurley Haywood – Interscope, Bayside and Brumos Racing; David Hobbs – John Fitzpatrick Racing; Kevin Jeannette – Swap Shop Racing crew chief; Mark Raffauf – VP of Competition at IMSA; Brian Redman – Dick Barbour Racing and Alwin Springer – ANDIAL.
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM The Awards Tent on the Showfield
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Sunday, May 23, 2021
The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM The Golf Club Amelia Island 10th & 18th Fairways
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2021 Honoree Lyn St. James |
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- General Admission Adult: $100 – Purchased July 6, 2020 - March 31, 2021
- General Admission Adult: $125 – Purchased April 1, - May 22, 2021
- General Admission Adult: $150 – Purchased at the Gate/Day of Event
- General Admission Youth 13-17 years old: $60 (12 and under free w/paying adult)
- Active Duty Military and Dependents with Active Duty ID: $60 each available on-site only
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Concours and More
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM The Golf Club of Amelia Island
- Ticket includes early entry into the show field at 8:30 AM
- A private lunch inside the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island(11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.) in the Talbot Ballroom
- Event Poster (to be distributed at lunch)
- Tickets not available day of show
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Club Amelia
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM Club Amelia Pavilion on the Showfield
Your Club Amelia Ticket includes:
- Early Admission onto the show field at 8:30 AM (One hour prior to gates opening to public)
- Collectible Program
- Collectible Poster
- Breakfast, Lunch and Afternoon Snack
- Hosted Bar
- Covered seating located in the Awards Presentation area
- Private restrooms for Club Amelia Patrons
- Parking decal provided.
It is not necessary to purchase General Admission tickets for entry onto the show field. Your Club Amelia ticket is your entry into the show field.
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All images are property of The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance / Deremer Studios unless otherwise noted
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About The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance
THE AMELIA is held May 20-23, 2021 at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island and The Golf Club of Amelia Island. The show’s Foundation has donated over $3.75 million to Community Hospice & Palliative Care, Spina Bifida of Jacksonville and other local and national charities since 1996. To learn more about the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, visit www.ameliaconcours.org.
The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance| 904-636-0027 | E-mail | Website
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