Chrysler wins top gong in South Carolina

| 3 Nov 2015

An immaculate 1933 Chrysler Custom Imperial Phaeton has scooped the Best of Show award at the 14th annual Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival in South Carolina. 

The car was presented by owners Joseph and Margie Cassini of West Orange, New Jersey, and previously belonged to renowned automobile designer Ralph Roberts, who gave it to his wife as a gift. Its Best of Show award comes hot on the heels of class honours at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

A 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster also proved a hit with the crowds, picking up the People’s Choice award against stiff competition. The car had travelled from Windermere, Florida, where it resides in the Rare Wheels Collection of Dr Richard Workman. 

Also from Florida was a 1956 Dual Ghia Convertible owned by David and Doreen Salzman, which was the recipient of the Paul Doerring Founders Award. 

The final prize of the day –  the Lee Iaocca Award – was presented to William and Christine Snyder of Hudson, Ohio for ‘dedication to excellence in perpetuating an American automobile tradition’. 

“We are extremely proud to have presented the final award at our event,” said Festival president Carolyn Vanagel. “We congratulation the Snyders for their extraordinary dedication to and passion for the classic car hobby. These are the qualities that the Lee Iaocca Award has come to represent.”

In addition to the stunning show cars, the Festival also played host to the first Hilton Head Island auction, organised by Auctions America. A 1967 Ferrari 330GTC was the top seller at $638,000, followed by a 1984 Ferrari 512BBi at $360,250 and a 1989 Lamborghini Countach, which achieved $343,750.

Click here to see a gallery of the top auction cars