Coolest Collection of Corvettes

We would like to invite you to tour one of the  most outstanding special collections of Corvettes at our 9^th annual Concours d’Elegance . The display will feature Corvettes  ( Americas True Sportscar)  from 1953 to present with all generations represented from C-1 to C-6  with milestones for design, commemoratives,rare models,and performance representing  the “ Marque of Corvette “over the past 57 years. The historical display  will be the finest display of Corvettes  outside of a museum environment and will rival most of the finest museum displays anywhere with some of the most awarded,rare and pedigreed cars in the Southeast US.  Corvette has the honor of being the longest continuous production model of any automobile ever produced and was the first American car chosen as the honored Marque for this years event.  Please join with us to view this outstanding display only featured at the 9^th Annual Winter Park Concours.

2,700-HP AMG Cigarette Racing Boat Is Officially Revealed… and Coming to the Winter Park Concours d’Elegance

Urban Dictionary:

A type of speed boat originally designed for racing on the open ocean, 30-50 feet long and about 8 feet wide. Almost always equipped with at least 1000hp but often up to 2000hp, modern versions can go well over 100 mph. Drug runners made them famous in the 1970′s and 80′s but they are now popular as extremely expensive ($250,000+) show-off toys mainly for rich, otherwise blue collar people like construction contractors and business owners. The culture surrounding them strongly embraces decadent drinking, drugs, sex, and partying, and sometimes boating too. Most of them are used on lakes way too small and calm compared to their original purpose.

Edmunds Insider Lane Wrote:

MIAMI — Mercedes-Benz and Cigarette Racing teamed up to reveal an AMG-inspired custom racing boat at the 2010 Miami International Boat Show late last week. In a unique display of automotive and boating prowess, the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG was the first car ever to be shown at the boat show as it took its place alongside the all-new AMG 46-foot Rider on the Cigarette show stand.

Marketing partners for three years, Cigarette and Mercedes AMG both serve a common audience, according to Cigarette CEO Skip Braver. “We view Cigarette as much a luxury brand, as we do a marine brand,” said Braver, who bought the company in 2002.

AMG and Cigarette started working on the new boat two years ago, Cigarette’s Chief Marketing Officer Scott Preacher told Inside Line. “We were really inspired by the 563-horsepower lightweight aluminum SLS AMG,” said Preacher. “It encouraged us to push the boundaries of technology.” Preacher said more than 100 innovations can be found in the AMG Cigarette boat, including a redesigned bottom and a focus on cutting weight.

Not only is the AMG-inspired racing boat light, it’s also superfast, compliments of two twin-turbocharged 552-cubic-inch, 1,350-horsepower Mercury Racing engines for a whopping total of 2,700 hp. Although the boat has not yet been in the water, its speed is expected to exceed a hair-whipping 130 mph.

But Preacher insists that while “horsepower is the driving force, it’s really about the complete package.”

The new Cigarette 46-foot Rider features hand-applied AMG Alubem silver paint, the same color offered on the gullwing SLS AMG. This process, used exclusively by AMG, covers surfaces like a metallic skin to highlight the body’s stunning lines. Designo Mystic White metallic paint is also used to stripe the boat’s exterior.

Inside, the boat features marine-grade upholstery that resembles the two-tone AMG Designo porcelain and white napa leather found in the SLS AMG.

At the close of the Miami boat show, the AMG Cigarette boat moves to a display in Palm Beach, Florida, followed by additional U.S. locations before it heads to Genoa, Italy, where it will be on display at one of the largest boat shows in Europe. It will then move to the Middle East and Asia later this year.

Preacher said Cigarette talked to four interested buyers this weekend, but said that the AMG boat is intended to serve as “our technology showcase,” and that the inspired-by-AMG Cigarette will not be for sale until its worldwide tour ends. Preacher added that the all-new 46-foot Rider on which the boat is based is currently priced starting at $900,000, and takes four months to build to custom specifications.

The 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG will be available this May. Pricing has not been officially announced, but is expected to be just under $200,000.

Inside Line says: If you’ve got money to burn, what better way to light it than with an AMG Cigarette? — Kelly Toepke, News Editor

Up Close and Personal

The Winter Park Concours d’Elegance allows spectators an  up close and personal look at the cars America has coveted for decades. Specializing in classic, vintage and exotic automobiles the WP Concours offers car enthusiasts a variety of choice machinery to ogle over. Historical Winter Park’s, Park Avenue lines it’s streets with only the sexiest, toughest, rarest, of designer automotive genius.

The upcoming blogs will  feature highlights of this annual event, tips for an award winning car, key players in the automotive industry; the past,present, and future of some of the most established car manufacturers.

Last years event was the best yet with attendance reaching into the 60,000. This year we will be graced with the presence with some of the top cars and judges from the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. In addition, I must add our continued support for local non-profit charitable organizations. This year the Signature Aeroport Reception Gala will benefit Seminole Kids House and the raffle contest for Mini-Cooper will benefit New Hope For Kids. Each year we strive to give back the the community that reaches out to us.

Keep revving your engines.

Detailing Tips From Concours Competition

I would like to share a few important tips that I have learned over the years since the inception of the Winter Park Concours d’Elegance. This spectacular event draws automobile collectors and enthusiasts alike from all over the country.  Now in its ninth year, this show is on its way to becoming the pinnacle of concours competition.  One of the many reasons why this event is highly regarded is because it employs the finest nationally recognized and ranked automobile judges in the country who inspect each vehicle with precision.  One of the important reasons why car collectors participate in concours competition is for long term investment. Any vehicle that has won and placed in various concours competitions adds monetary value for the owner. With that in mind, let me share a few important tips that can help you bring your automobile from second to first.

First of all, you must allow yourself plenty of time when preparing for an event of this magnitude.  This is no ordinary detail process but rather a very in-depth and involved process that can take several months to successfully accomplish. It is important to strategized and prepare in stages. By allowing sufficient time, you can prioritize and list concerns that need to be address and corrected. For example, searching for a 1957 Porsche Speedster tool kit can be a time consuming process if you don’t have the right resources to help locate what you’re looking for. You’ll find plenty of aftermarket parts, but you will fare better trying to locate an original item if your goal is to win.

Another nice tip I enjoy sharing is telling my clients that the car needs to be cleaned before it can be detailed. A clean car is a prerequisite to the entire detailing process. It is much like brushing your teeth with food in your mouth; and a car is no different. A clean car is without clutter such as empty soda cans, water bottles, toothpick and gum wrappers that were not there when you first brought it. One of the goals when entering this event is bringing your car up to its original status like the day it left the show room floor. This means opening the hood area and removing oak leaves, pine needles and other decayed organic material prior to initial cleaning. I have had clients mention in the past that their AC is not working effectively and only to find debris clogging up the air ducts.  By doing this you’ll streamline your cleaning process while saving valuable time.

Another valuable tip I would like to share is helping my client think like a judge. Not Perry Mason, but acquiring the mind-set of the judges that inspect the vehicles at this prestigious event.  The main idea of the concours is to promote the preservation of each marquee in its original state.  One of the important common dominators I have discovered when it comes to winning is paying extra attention to how the car looked when it was first purchased with respect to originality, authenticity, condition and knowing that cosmetic concerns is secondary. Every car that enters this event starts as being in near perfect condition. Points are deducted when the judges look for imperfection and see what is lacking. Likewise, a mirror plug missing on a Porsche 930 turbo can be the different between first and second place.  When it comes to cosmetics, the judges who are collectors themselves understand that the vehicle is meant to be driven and the finish of the car should be consistence with its original assembly line appearance. If the finish shows rock chips, minor scratches, dents and dings than the judges will not over look them.  If something should have been fixed and was ignored this too will add up to costly deductions. The judges would rather see that you tried to make an attempt to correct the problem than none at all.

I shall conclude with common mistakes that often take place within the concours arena, as I mentioned previously, lack of knowledge of what the judges are looking for is costly. Something simple as not emptying the glove compartment is often overlooked. Everything begins with a plan and attempting to prepare and clean the car the day before the show will lead to embarrassment.  The goal is to impact the judges without making it look like your trying to sell them a vehicle. I have seen many collectors focus 90 percent of their time polishing and waxing the car, but spend only 10 percent on what is relevant such as the pedal cluster, seat cushion crevasses and other obscure place that most individuals would even think of looking at. One last thing, if you really are concerned about winning than it is best you leave the shiny dressing products at home. The last thing a judge wants is grease on his hands after wiping the dash board or the tires that looked like they were painted with shellac. Remember first impressions count and that these tips will help you bring your prized automobile from good to great.