SOUTH BEND, IN – The Concours d’Elegance at Copshaholm will showcase Amelia Earhart’s 1937 Cord and Charlie Chaplin’s 1936 Packard. The Cord’s introduction at the New York Auto Show in 1935 was revelatory, as luxury and performance were reimagined in the shadow of the Great Depression. Trailblazing aviatrix Amelia Earhart recognized a kindred spirit in the Cord’s lines and ambition and ordered a 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton Convertible for her daily transportation. With its louvered, wraparound “coffin nose” grille and low-slung bearing, the Cord was a styling masterpiece. The Cord also featured innovative engineering via its pioneering front-wheel drive. The Cord also featured retractable headlights, raised and lowered with cranks located on either side of that streamlined dashboard. Earhart’s affinity for the Cord may be attributed in part to its aviation-inspired styling. The instrument panel’s uninterrupted surface of machine-turned aluminum conjured a cockpit’s interior.
Charlie Chaplin’s 1936 Packard Twelve All Weather Cabriolet is only one of two known to exist. It appeared in 1972’sThe Godfather, and later appeared in The Betsy and also an episode of Remington Steele, featuring Pierce Brosnan. The Packard Motor Car Company produced only 682 Twelves produced in 1936. This particular All-Weather Cabriolet was bodied by legendary coachbuilder LeBaron Incorporated.
The Concours at Copshaholm’s Chief Judge is renowned automotive scholar and historian Matt Short. Judging will be French Traditional. The awards ceremony will be narrated by noted automotive raconteur, Bill Rothermel. Special guest at this year’s Concours will be renowned automotive author and historian, Ken Gross. Mr. Gross is a 32-year Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Chief Class Judge and a member of the Pebble Beach Concours Selection committee. He has authored over 25 books and has curated 14 critically acclaimed automobile exhibitions at major fine art museums. Mr. Gross will be presenting a lecture on Art Deco Automotive Design at 11am during the Concours in the Wiekamp Auditorium. He will also be selecting and presenting the 2023 Concours at Copshaholm’s “Ken Gross Digs This Car” award.
The Concours d’Elegance at Copshaholm is co-presented by LaVine Restorations & The JBS Collection and will be held Saturday, July 8, 2023, at the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, Indiana. The show field opens to the public at 10am and closes at 4pm. The Pass In Review and Awards ceremony begins at 2:30pm. To purchase tickets, visit concoursatcopshaholm.org/tickets.