1938 Bugatti Type 57C wins ‘Best of Show’ at 2014 Hilton Head Island concours

1929 Chrysler Model 75 and 1958 Studebaker Golden Hawk also earn high honors

A rakish 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante coupe and a 1929 Chrysler Model 75 dual-cowl phaeton respectively took "Best of Show" and "People’s Choice" honors on Nov. 2 at the 13th annual Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours d’Elegance, held at the Port Royal Golf Club on Hilton Head Island, S.C.

The 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante that was awarded "Best of Show" is owned by Richard Workman of Windmere, Florida. Considered by most automotive styling critics to be at the top of the list of prewar Classics, the Atalante body style is one of few Type 57 coupes built from 1936-1940. Examples can be valued at $1 million or more.

Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival attendees selected a 1929 Chrysler Model 75 dual-cowl phaeton as the "People’s Choice" winner. The car is owned by Robert and Alice Jepson of Savannah, Georgia. Painted in distinctive colors of the period, the award-winning Chrysler is one of only 227 built.

This year, the new "Paul Doerring Founders Award" was given to a 1958 Studebaker Golden Hawk owned by Mark James of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. James' Golden Hawk represents the final year of production for that Studebaker model.

“Established in honor of Paul Doerring, one of the key contributing founders of the Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival who passed away this year, this award is to be given to the most outstanding post-war car, a genre of car that Paul personally loved,” said Carolyn Vanagel, President for the Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival. “Paul was a close friend to all in the industry and the award in his namesake is our way of honoring his legacy and love for classic cars.”

The Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours d’Elegance is a fast growing automotive lifestyle event for enthusiasts of automobiles, motorcycles and boats. Phil Capossela, the Festival’s chairman Page 2 of 2 emeritus, noted, "We again reached our maximum of exhibitors this year and encourage owners to submit as early as possible for next year’s event. The world-class hospitality and facilities of our new venue, The Port Royal Golf Club, along with our yearly attendance records have resulted in an even higher quality show field than in past years, and this year’s winners truly point to our growth and success."

More than 500 automobiles made their way to the Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, Lowcountry this weekend to participate in the 13th Annual Festival. Edsel B. Ford II, the great-grandson of Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor Company, was in attendance as the 2014 Honorary Chairman along with other notable guests, including: Ian Callum, Director of Design for Jaguar; J Mays, Retired Chief Designer for Ford; former Indianapolis 500 Champion, Bobby Rahal; and other motorsports legends such as Hurley Haywood, Brian Redman and Davy Jones. Renowned collectors Joseph and Margie Cassini of West Orange, New Jersey, and William and Christine of Hudson, Ohio, were recognized as the 2014 Pinnacle and Honored Collectors, respectively.

The 14th annual Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours d’Elegance is scheduled for Oct. 23 – Nov. 1, 2015. For more information on the Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours d’Elegance, visit the official website at www.HHIMotoringFestival.com.