Victorious Mercedes debuts at Amelia Island

The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance brings out some of the rarest and most beautiful cars on the planet. We'll be keeping our eye on one particular gem at this year's show: a 1914 French Grand Prix-winning Mercedes.

The rugged racer will be the centerpiece of Mercedes-Benz's display along with the car's owner, George Wingard.

Wingard's classic is one of three winning Mercedes out of five that ran the seven-hour 466-mile 1914 Grand Prix of the Automobile Club of France. It was won by Christian Lautenschlager with mechanic Hans Reiger. The car averaged 65 mph over the course of the race. Once the contest was over, it was dubbed “the race of the century” by media outlets.

A century ago, a British motorsports journal described the winners.

“Most striking in appearance were the white painted Mercedes, whose acute V-fronted radiators, straight line bonnet and dash, and curved pocket tail – gave them that complete-from-every-point-of view appearance which gives such an individuality to war vessels of the British Navy and to many of the great railway express engines. They have lines which a camera cannot portray: a white marble of one would be a priceless possession.”

The 2014 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance is March 7-9 at the Golf Club of Amelia Island on the grounds of The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, Fla.

George Wingard
The 1914 French Grand Prix attracted crowds in upwards of 300,000.

By Brad Wiley