The 2019 Craftsman/Phil Hill Restorers Award Announced

February 20, 2019 by Amelia Island Concours

Hill's legacy is honored as The Amelia and CRAFTSMAN recognize the best new restorations on the field.

Jacksonville, FL - Twenty-seven fresh restorations will compete for the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance's CRAFTSMAN/Phil Hill Restorers Award. They will be presented to the best new restoration for a production car and for a sports/race car never before submitted for judging in a concours d'elegance.

'We're always searching, trying to get the best rare, interesting and special cars for The Amelia; cars that have never been shown before,' said Bill Warner, founder and Chairman of the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. 'We want to honor the people, the artisans, who did the actual restoration. That's why it's named for Phil.'

Before Hill won Pebble Beach's Best of Show with his family's Pierce-Arrow 41 LeBaron Convertible Town Cabriolet in 1955 the typical concours field was composed of new cars. It was a custom dating to the Parisian concours d'elegance that thrived between the wars. Phil Hill and his Pierce-Arrow changed that overnight.

'When Phil was our Amelia honoree in 1997 it wasn't just for his legendary racing accomplishments,' said Warner. 'Hill has his own page in the history books as America's first Formula 1 World Champion and the only racer to win the world title and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the same year. He was also a gifted mechanic and restorer who understood and believed the edict of five-time World Champion Juan Fangio, 'Victory begins in the garage.'

'Every other concours award, trophy or ribbon is for a machine,' said Warner. 'Amelia's CRAFTSMAN/Phil Hill Restorers Award honors human automotive achievement. I think Phil would approve.'

About The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance

THE AMELIA will be held March 7-10, 2019 at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island and The Golf Club of Amelia Island. For the Amelia's full events schedule, including Saturday's Cars & Coffee at the Concours and Sunday's premier Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, visit www.ameliaconcours.org. The show's Foundation has donated over $3.45 million to Community Hospice & Palliative Care and other charities on Florida's First Coast since its inception in 1996.