The HDF & FIVA Preservation Award in Honor of Dr. Frederick Simeone:

1972 Chevrolet Corvette LT-1

Administered with FIVA (the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens or international federation of historic vehicles), the Foundation has honored many incredibly well-preserved treasures at major national and international events. This year at the Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance, a well preserved 1972 Corvette LT-1 owned by Shadrach Jones took home this important award.
With just one owner until 2014, this 1972 Corvette spent decades in storage covered in dust and dirt. Beneath the hood was the original 350 cubic inch “LT-1” engine mated to a close ratio 4-speed, waiting to be awakened.
A sensitive mechanical recommissioning of the Corvette commenced, with care not to disturb its original Steel Cities Gray paint and optional black leather interior. A light refresh of the LT-1 driveline meant that the high-winding small block was ready to roar once again. And roar it does – this year, Shadrach drove the car on a 1,500-mile trip from his home in Pennsylvania to the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky! He is not afraid to say this Corvette is a driver, and the odometer now displays about 69,000 miles.
The LT-1 option is the icing on the cake for this original Corvette. The four bolt main bearing , 350 cubic inch engine features numerous improvements such as solid lifters, a more aggressive camshaft, forged internals, and better breathing cylinder heads. This combination resulted in a small block that could wind up to 6,500 RPM!
This award celebrates the preservation of historic vehicles, and is presented in honor of the late Dr. Fred Simeone, a champion of the preservation of historic vehicles.

National Automotive Heritage Award:

1927 Duesenberg Model X “Boattail” Speedster

The National Automotive Heritage award celebrates vehicles that are historically important to our past and is presented by the Foundation based on the criteria of the National Historic Vehicle Register. Recognizing its important contribution to American and automotive history, we selected a 1927 Duesenberg Model X owned by the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum.

This one-of-a-kind 1927 Duesenberg Model X Boattail Speedster was the successor to Duesenberg’s first production car, the Model A. Components such as the engine and suspension were refined from the Model A, making the Model X capable of 100 miles per hour. This car, one of only 13 built, was fitted with a one-off aluminum “Boattail” speedster body by McFarlan in Connersville, Indiana. Aptly named, the body tapers to a point in the rear, resembling the hull of a boat. This body style would become one of the most distinctive and well regarded of the 1930s custom coach-built era. The sleek speedster was built to be displayed at auto shows around the country to drum up interest in the new car. Interestingly, this Duesenberg is said to be the inspiration for Auburn’s famed Speedster and preceded it by one year! The Model X was short lived, as Duesenberg was purchased by the Auburn Automobile Company in 1926, and the company was directed to build an even more grand automobile, the Model J.

This Speedster was reportedly purchased by Chicago magnate Arnold Kirkeby directly off the floor of the 1928 Chicago Auto Show, and later passed through a subsequent chain of owners, undergoing numerous changes. In the late 1990s, restoration of the Speedster was finally completed, with the owner Dr. Peter Heydon sparing no expense to return the car to its original configuration. Dr. Heydon and his wife Rita graciously donated the 1-of-1 Model X to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum in Auburn, Indiana, where it is now enjoyed by the public.

Watch a video on the Model X here: