CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (October 2, 2023) – More than 140 rare and significant cars of all ages from around the world are entered in the Concours d’Elegance at the fourth annual Chattanooga Motorcar Festival Sponsored by Millennium Bank. The Concours is the featured event on Sunday, October 15, which will close a spectacular weekend of family-friendly activities in the Scenic City.
All proceeds from the weekend will benefit the Neuroscience Center at CHI Memorial and the Neuroscience Innovation Foundation of Chattanooga. The Festival continues to support neuroscience research through Fifty Plus Foundation, Inc.
Twenty-one categories will be judged by world-class judges for a number of awards, topped by the Best in Show, the most prestigious award presented in the collector-car world at a concours.
“This is the most comprehensive and exciting field of cars ever shown at the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival,” said Ken Gross, Concours Director. “There’s something for everyone.”
Here is a taste of some of the significant cars that will be displayed in West Village, some of which will be vying for awards:
1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast Series II Coupe – DeFoor Brothers, Chattanooga, Tennessee
First introduced at the 1964 Geneva Motor Show and derived from the 400 Superamerica, this car is fitted with a special 400hp 5.0-liter V-12 engine with six Weber carburetors. It was delivered through Chinetti Motors to Barbara Hutton, heiress to the Woolworth Store fortune and mother of racer Lance Reventlow. (Image courtesy of Mecum Auctions)
1933 Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow Sedan – The Richard Driehaus Automobile Collection, Chicago, Illinois
Designed by Phil Wright, the car debuted at the New York Auto Show. Five V-12 chassis were pulled from the assembly line and shipped to Pierce-Arrow’s parent, Studebaker, where the cars were completed in just three months! Many modifications were made in the interest of aerodynamic efficiency. Top speed was claimed to be 115mph. Three of the five streamliners produced remain today. (Image courtesy of Stephen Murphy)
1953 Ferrari 250 Europa 2-Door Coupe, Vignale – Kevin Cogan, Louisville, Kentucky
Ferrari presented this car at the 1953 Paris Motor Show. Designed for the European market, it replaced the 212 Inter. The body design is by Michelotti with coachwork by Vignale, and is one of the final Ferraris bodied by Vignale. Only 22 were built before the introduction of the second-series 250 Europa GT. This is the first road car in a series of 250 Ferrari GTs and is the first Ferrari road car to sport a 200hp 3.0-litre V-12 engine based on the design of Gioacchino Colombo. (image courtesy of Kevin Cogan)
1957 Packard Predictor Hardtop Coupe Concept – Studebaker National Museum, South Bend, Indiana
Designed by Richard Teague, the car was based on a stock Clipper chassis with coachwork by Ghia of Italy. Ghia completed the car in 90 days to debut it at the 1956 Chicago Auto Show. Its features are its electrically operated retractable roof panels, back glass, the headlight doors and side windows. The car features a push-button Packard Ultramatic automatic transmission. (Image courtesy of Kyle Sater)
1937 Chrysler Imperial C-14 Convertible – Bruce Allen, Garfield, Arizona
The car’s styling was similar to the six-cylinder Royal as Chrysler abandoned the controversial styling of its Airflow eight-cylinder models. It has a 110hp L-head in-line eight-cylinder engine. The big Imperials rode a longer wheelbase with larger tires, an extended cowl and hood as well as more luxurious interiors befitting the Imperial name. According to its owner, this is one of four known to exist. (Image courtesy of Bruce Allen)
1935 SS Cars, Ltd. SS1 Airline Saloon – Jim and Lisa Hendrix, Chesterfield, Missouri
Jaguar started in 1922 as the Swallow Sidecar Company, Ltd., a motorcycle sidecar manufacturer. Founder Sir William Lyons in 1927 also made bodies for the Austin Seven while operating as the Swallow Coachbuilding Co. The SS series was introduced in 1931 with a long bonnet and low silhouette which became a company hallmark. This is one of 624 manufactured over a two-year period. It is finished in “all silver” with a “special light blue” interior celebrating, as new, the 25th Silver Jubilee of King George V of England. (Image courtesy of Jim and Lisa Hendrix)
1953 Porsche 356 1500 Super Pre-A Coupe – Michael Copperthite, Falls Church, Virginia
About 50 hand-built coupes and cabriolets were produced in Austria by Porsche. In 1950, the factory relocated to Germany and series production began. Cars produced prior to the 1956 model year are referred to as “pre-As” – those built before the introduction of the updated 356A model. This car is one of the first factory-prepared race cars built for customers. It was campaigned through the 1950s at SCCA events and rallies, winning numerous races (Image courtesy of Mike and Kimberly Copperthite)
1925 Rolls-Royce 40/50 Silver Ghost “Springfield” Piccadilly Roadster, Rolls-Royce Custom Coachwork – Guy Lewis, Pinecrest, Florida
Introduced in 1906, this 12th chassis built featured an aluminum body by Barker with silver-plated exterior fittings and a silver-plated brass plate bearing the name “Silver Ghost.” It was ordered new by 20-year-old Howard Hughes in 1924, specifying three-piece monogrammed luggage, a lowered windshield, custom paint and an extensive tool roll. It is one of only 79 U.S.-built Rolls-Royces with a Piccadilly Roadster body. (Image courtesy of Guy Lewis)
1959 Chevrolet Fuel-Injected Corvette Convertible – Al and Barbara Mason, Purcellville, Virginia
This four-speed Corvette is one of 745 powered by the optional Rochester Ramjet fuel injection which boosted horsepower to 290 from the small block 283cid V-8. The option was quite expensive. Finished in Roman Red with Snowcrest White coves, the vehicle was restored almost entirely by Mr. Mason in his home garage. (Image courtesy of Al and Barbara Mason)
The Festival will also include Targa Sixty Six high-speed track action at the Pace Grand Prix at the Bend on Friday and Saturday, October 13 and 14, The B-52s concert on Friday, October 13, the Concours d’Elegance in West Village on Sunday, October 15, and other family-friendly events throughout the weekend. Information on purchasing tickets and other details may be found at chattanoogamotorcar.com.
Chattanooga is known for its interactive attractions that include the Creative Discovery Museum, High Point Climbing, an IMAX movie theater, a variety of shopping options, and the award-winning Tennessee Aquarium. All activities are walkable from the main event and the host hotel, The Westin, making it perfect for families of every age to enjoy.
Tickets to the Fourth Annual Chattanooga Motorcar Festival, sponsored by Millennium Bank, and the Friday night concert with The B-52s may be purchased at https://www.showclix.com/event/chattanooga-motorcar-festival-2023.
Event tickets allow access to all the Festival events, including the Concours d’Elegance and the awards ceremony on Sunday, the Mecum Auctions on Friday and Saturday at the Convention Center, high-speed track action at the Pace Grand Prix at The Bend, and other events in West Village and nearby locations.
Festival Ticket prices are:
- Three-Day Festival Ticket – $120.00
- Friday All-Day Festival Ticket – $89.00
- Friday Festival Day Ticket – $44.00
- Friday Evening Festival Ticket – $65.00
- Saturday Festival Ticket – $65.00
- Sunday Festival Ticket – $65.00
Children under the age of 12 are allowed entry free of charge, if accompanied by a ticket-holding adult.
A full weekend of events includes:
- Targa Sixty Six high-speed track action for historic and modern sports and race cars at the Pace Grand Prix at The Bend
- Canossa Fall Rally Chattanooga
- Mecum Auctions
- Concours d’Elegance
- Luftgekühlt’s celebration of Brian Redman
- Car Club gatherings
- Saturday evening fundraiser, “Unlock My Brain” (separate/additional ticket required)
- Friday night concert with The B-52s
- Torque Show with Justin Bell and Tommy Kendall
- Coker Tire and Zip Corvette present “V8’s in the Village” Saturday
- Great Race Ride-Alongs sponsored by Coker Tire from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday
- Panel discussions and other entertainment on the Main Stage throughout the weekend
- J. Willard Marriott Club display of historic Ferraris
- Gathering of the Greats – Porsche Edition
- Family-friendly activities for all
Registration is open for these 2023 Chattanooga Motorcar Festival, Sponsored by Millennium Bank, events:
- Official Chattanooga Motorcar Festival Website: https://chattanoogamotorcar.com/
- Event Tickets: https://www.showclix.com/event/chattanooga-motorcar-festival-2023
- Targa Sixty Six at the Pace Grand Prix at The Bend Registration: https://chattanoogamotorcar.com/the-pace-grand-prix/
- Car Clubs Application/Registration: https://chattanoogamotorcar.com/car-clubs/
- Concours d’Elegance Application/Registration: https://chattanoogamotorcar.com/concours-delegance/
- Canossa Fall Rally Chattanooga Registration: https://chattanoogamotorcar.com/rally-by-canossa/
Registration for Mecum Chattanooga 2023 is open at https://www.mecum.com/auctions/chattanooga-2023/.
Event media credentials may be requested at www.chattanoogamotorcar.com/media.
Details on each event may be found at www.chattanoogamotorcar.com.
A gallery of images for the 2022 Festival, for editorial use only, may be found at
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0jh6f72ex4s54uh/AADufqXTOgmMWPL751A8dqPsa?dl=0. Please credit Chattanooga Motorcar Festival.
About Chattanooga Motorcar Festival, Sponsored by Millennium Bank:
Proceeds from the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival Sponsored by Millennium Bank, support neuroscience research through Fifty Plus Foundation, Inc. Approaching 13 years of supporting Alzheimer’s and neuroscience research, Fifty Plus Foundation created the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival to bring both local and global support to back research that is already making a difference in saving lives. Learn more at chattanoogamotorcar.com.
About Millennium Bank:
Millennium Bank was founded on June 21, 1999 in Chattanooga, Tenn. Millennium Bank is dedicated to providing a personalized, community-oriented approach to personal and business banking in Chattanooga, as well as Lake City, Gainesville and Ocala, Fla. Millennium is locally owned and operates nine branches in Tennessee and Florida. For more information, visit https://www.millenniumbank.com/.