Timeless Chrysler classics debut at Amelia Island

Three decades of Chrysler concept cars from the '40s, '50s and '60s will be on display at the 19th annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance on March 9.

The Thunderbolt roadster and Newport will be on hand to show off design elements inspired by the land-speed record duals of the 1930s in Bonneville. The Thunderbolt is being presented on behalf of the Driehaus Collection and the Newport will be provide by The National Automotive Museum of Reno, Nev. It's one of only five ever produced.

As for the Hemi-generation cars, Sam and Emily Mann's 1952 New Yorker-based Chrysler d'Elegance will be displayed alongside Michael Schudroff's 1952 Paris Auto Show concept Chrysler Ghia and the recently restored 1954 La Comtesse from Chrysler's corporate collection of historic automobiles. The La Comtesse has not been shown publicly in more than 50 years.

Linda and Paul Gould will show their 1956 Diablo/Dart that shows design elements inspired by Virgil Exner.

“These are important cars,” said Bill Warner, founder and chairman of the Amelia Island Concours. “They are not just typical cosmetic packages of pastel colors and big tail fins. They showed the way to Chrysler vice president Virgil Exner's 'Forward Look' design revolution that shook the American car industry to its core in 1957.”

The Bortz Auto Collection is bringing out a 1955 Chrysler Falcon. Linda and Paul Gould will show their 1956 Diablo/Dart, another streamlined Exner design. A 1958 Dual Ghia will be presented unrestored by Fred and Dan Kanter.

The 2014 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance will be held during the weekend of March 7-9 on the fairways of The Golf Club of Amelia Island. Check out www.ameliaconcours.org for more information.

By Brad Wiley