The spotlight at this year’s Euro Auto Festival might have been on Mercedes-Benz, but it was a couple of aristocratic British cars that drove off with the top awards after the October 20 show. The premier award at the show, the People’s Choice Award, is voted upon by all of the registered attendees. This year, it went to this magnificent 1914 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, owned by Don and Darby Wathne of Charleston, South Carolina.
Tops in the Best of the Best category, made up of previous multi-year winners, was this immaculate 1964 Aston Martin DB5, owned by Gary Arrowood of Greenville, South Carolina. You’ll be seeing a feature on Gary’s car in a future issue of Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car.
More than 60 Mercedes-Benzes were on the lawn, many of which were owned by members of the Mercedes-Benz Club of America. Started in 1996 by the Foothills British Car Club of South Carolina, the Euro Auto Festival has grown to become one of the largest European auto shows in the Southeast. More than 400 cars from a dozen states filled the beautifully landscaped lawns at the BMW Visitors Center in Greer, South Carolina.
Next year’s 18th annual Euro Auto Festival is scheduled for October 18-20, 2013, when the featured marque will be Ferrari. According to event chairman John Budinich, organizers are already at work on a number of events to coincide with the show, including a possible question-and-answer session with a panel of former NART Ferrari team drivers. Stay tuned for details, and enjoy some images from this year’s show below.
Ken Hoffman of Anderson, South Carolina, took home a first-place trophy in the Austin-Healey class with his 1960 Mk I “Bugeye” Sprite.
This very sharp 1965 Porsche 356 SC belongs to Gerlad McCormick of Hendersonville, South Carolina.
Richard and Gale Johnson’s 1956 Jensen 541 coupe is one of just 173 built; it’s powered by a 3-liter Austin straight-six, and has a fiberglass body.
Kenny and Kathy Seely’s delightful 1961 P210 Duett won the Crowd Pleaser award in the Volvo class.
This 1975 De Tomaso Pantera GTS belongs to Guy Trigaux of Simpsonville, South Carolina.
Tom Shoup’s 4.2-liter 1969 E-type was one of many beautiful Jaguars on the lawn.
For those without the garage space for an E-type, may we suggest a pedal car? These were produced by the Tri-ang Toy Company from 1961 to 1970. Fully restored in 2001, this example belongs to Mark Lovello of Taylors, South Carolina.
