Smith Heritage Invitational

Smith Heritage Invitational

A collection of some of the most rare and sought-after automobiles from the world’s top collectors, the Smith Heritage Invitational at the famed Charlotte Motor Speedway brings together a once-in-a-lifetime assemblage of exclusive vehicles that pays tribute to the history and artistry of all things automotive. The show is FREE with purchase of Saturday AutoFair tickets!

Schedule

Smith Heritage Invitational: 8:00AM-1:30PM
Opening Ceremonies: 9:00AM-9:10AM
Stage Panels: 9:30AM-12:00PM
Awards: 1:30PM-2:30PM

Eyes on the Road

What to expect looking forward to our 2024 event

This 1934 Jaguar SS1 Open Sports Tourer spent most of its life in India until it was exported to the UK by a diplomat around 1990. The former director of Cadbury’s Chocolates, in England, owned the car from the early 1990s through 2022. After illness necessitated its sale, Scott and Natalie Bluestein purchased the SS1 and restored the exterior design from red and black to single-toned Ulster Green, a SS Cars color from the 1930s. It features a roomy cockpit, original horsehair seat stuffing, and reaches speeds of approximately 75 miles per hour. Of the 202 Open Sports Tourers manufactured in 1934, the very height of the Great Depression, less than 30 are believed to still exist.

Howard Marmon himself coaxed Marmon company engineer Ray Harroun out of retirement to take on the very first Indianapolis 500 in 1911. Designed to be long and narrow, the yellow and black Marmon “Wasp” was a single-seat car, which spurred competitors to file to have Harroun disqualified, stating that he wouldn’t be able to see drivers approaching from behind. He adapted quickly, affixing what is believed to be the first rearview mirror on an automobile, a feature inspired by something he had seen on a horse-drawn carriage in Chicago. Harroun argued his case and was allowed to race. Years later, he would admit that at speed, the rearview mirror vibrated so badly that it was completely useless. Ever the engineer, Harroun had done tire testing and determined that he could reduce time lost to pit stops by driving a few miles per hour slower. The strategy worked. Harroun took the checkered flag – then immediately retired again.

No. 74 of 149 built, this 2021 McLaren Elva embraces the principles set down by Bruce McLaren’s original race-conquering, roadgoing open-top sports cars of the late 1960s. Viciously fast and highly exclusive, the heritage-inspired Elva delivers the ultimate connection between car, driver and the elements. Lightweight at only 2,800 lbs and featuring a 4.0 liter twin turbo V8 engine with 804 horsepower, it boasts speeds of zero to 62 mph in under three seconds, zero to 124 mph in 6.7 seconds, and a top speed of 203 mph.

This 1991 Ferrari F40 designed to commemorate Ferrari’s 40th anniversary was the first in Rob Kauffman’s collection and the last to be personally approved by Enzo Ferrari. One of only 213 examples built for the U.S. market, it accelerates from zero to 60 mph in just three seconds, reaches a maximum speed of 201 mph, and is considered by some to be the greatest road-going Ferrari ever.

The 734 was available as a boattail Runabout, a Phaeton, a Victoria coupe and a sedan, with a non-boattail roadster added later. The bodies, built in-house by Packard, were narrower and lower than regular Packards, and the boattail rear left little room for luggage. But practicality wasn’t the objective. These were supposed to look and drive fast. A performance-modified DeLuxe Eight motor, which featured block castings unique to the Speedster line, provided up to 145 horsepower when equipped with the optional high-compression head. It reached top speed in excess of 100 mph. Drawing inspiration from race cars – despite the fact that Packard wasn’t racing anything at the time – Runabouts were fitted with staggered seats so a passenger wouldn’t impede visibility at speed.

One of France’s oldest marques, Peugeot propelled racing cars to victory at the 1912 and 1913 French Grand Prix. Their legacy was respected by many, including a Parisian named Emile Darl’mat. In the late 1920s, Darl’mat owned one of the world’s largest Peugeot dealers, located in Paris. Less than a decade later he had gained enough pull with the company to be allowed to produce a sporting car bearing his name. Because of its exceptionally streamlined body and well-tuned Peugeot 4-cylinder, the Darl’mat Special Sport Roadster would place first in its class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1938. Emile Darl’mat would produce just 53 examples of the Roadster, with only around 30 examples surviving today. Stahl’s took possession of the car in 2018, and it recently won The Chairman’s Award at the 2023 Pebble Beach Concours.

This lovely Berlinetta is a rare, one-of-a-kind 250 GT SWB Ferrari specially designed for American car enthusiast Lennart Erickson. In a letter possessed by owner Nick Soprano, Enzo Ferrari wrote to Mr. Erickson “I have tested this car and am now at your complete disposal in case of any future assistance you may need.” It boasts a sprint speed of 0-60 in just six seconds, and reaches an impressive top speed of 165 mph. This one-of-one example is finished in its original “Rosso Rubino” color with natural leather interior, and is an especially unique union of Ferrari, Pininfarina, and the vision of a businessman brought to life.

One of the most significant roadgoing 275 examples in existence, this one-of-a-kind 1966 Ferrari GTB is remarkably original and unique. Featuring a one-of-one finish in paint-to-sample Del Rio Verde Medio, this Ferrari is beautifully presented in the original color combination including factory-appointed Pelle Orange VM 3104 interior. A particularly desirable example of Maranello’s celebrated four-cam 275, its one-of-one identity will no doubt enthrall any Ferrari enthusiast.

Number 17 of 72 manufactured, this 1960 Ferrari 250 GT features a four-speed manual gearbox, independent front suspension with parallel A-arms and coil springs, and 280 brake horsepower. In 1960, it was sold to Italian entrepreneur Renato Bialetti, known fondly as the Mr. Coffee of Italy due to the role he played in the invention of the Moka Pot stovetop espresso maker. It benefits from few changes in ownership, and has achieved success in many notable racing events, tours and concours throughout the world.

The Porsche 959 was manufactured from 1986 to 1993, first as a Group B rally car and later as a road legal production car designed to satisfy FIA homologation regulations requiring at least 200 units be produced. The twin-turbocharged 959 was the world’s fastest street-legal production car when introduced, achieving a top speed of 197 mph, with some variants even surpassing 210 mph. In 2004, Sports Car International named the 959 No. 1 on its list of Top Sports Cars of the 1980s. Combining race performance with luxury comfort and everyday drivability in dry, wet and snowy conditions, it was considered the most technologically advanced road car of its time.

Joseph L. Hudson dreamed of producing a quality automobile that could retail for under $1,000 and later debuted the first model in 1909. Automobile manufacturing ceased production at the start of WWll, but Hudson would go on to build many items used in battle. Most notable was the Invader engine that powered the landing craft onto the beaches at Normandy. Hudson resumed automobile production at the conclusion of the war, eager to sell to a hopeful buyers’ market. Sales slumped despite their success on the track. In 1957, the name Hudson would be no more. Their legacy lives on through the incredible cars they made, like this magnificent 1927 Hudson Super Six featuring a five-litre, six-cylinder engine and a Vanden Plas-style body reminiscent of the sporting coaches made famous by Le Mans.

Completed at the Porsche factory in 1967, chassis 906-158 was the second of four long-nose, short-tail fuel-injected 906Es, each of which were used as race cars. This example was restored and modified after sustaining damage in Daytona, including the addition of yellow and black 2-inch electrical tape to create the tiger stripe livery. Nicknamed “El Tigre' and piloted by then-owner Armando Caprilles, this car successfully raced throughout South America and won the Bolivarian Championship - four different endurance races each lasting six hours - in 1967. “El Tigre” and Capriles returned to the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1969, taking 10th overall and third in the two-liter prototype class.

Sixty-two Allard K3s were built and sold by famed racer and rallyist Sydney Allard. This car, like most of Sydney’s sports and race cars, innovated by combining a lightweight aluminum body and a large American V8. One, an Allard J2, was raced extensively by Carroll Shelby and provided inspiration for the Cobra. This 1953 Allard was raced in early SCCA events and is equipped with a period-correct 331 c.i. Cadillac V8 and GM four-speed Hydramatic transmission. Similar to other great sports cars of the day, it features a De-Dion semi-independent rear suspension. Its previous owner was handicapped, and prepped the car with an updated steering box and cruise control. No trailer queen, the K3 is driven regularly and has been a star on such tours as the Copperstate 1000.

One of only three examples fitted with this attractive body style, this 1931 Bentley ‘Silent Bloc’ Saloon by Vanden Plas was constructed with aluminum panels assembled in such a way as to avoid squeaks and rattles – hence the name. Having avoided the fate of modernization and “specials” that befell so many eight-litres, the ‘Silent Bloc’ survives in the original form in which it was supplied to cigarette manufacturer John Player, complete with its factory-installed frame, engine with closely-numbered SU carburettors, gearbox (no. 8105), and handsomely well-proportioned coachwork. Even the original smoker’s companion is intact.

Edsel Ford and Ford Motor Company had the magic touch. While Chrysler and DeSoto’s streamlined Air Flows had a lukewarm public response, the Lincoln Zephyr was an immediate sensation at the 1936 New York Auto Show. It wasn’t just the beautiful design – the Zephyr’s V12 engine was smooth, whisper-quiet, fuel-efficient at 20 miles per gallon, and had plenty of horsepower. This 1939 Zephyr Twelve features a three-speed manual transmission, reaches a top speed of 90 mph, and is just as elegant as ever. Purchased in 2023, it has no known entries in car shows.

Developed in 2002 using Formula One technology, the Ferrari Enzo Red is a mid-engine sports car named after the company’s founder. It features F1-style automated-shift manual transmission and carbon fiber-reinforced silicon carbide ceramic composite disc brakes, as well as technologies not allowed in F1 such as active aerodynamics. In 2004, American magazine Sports Car International named the Enzo No. 3 on their list of Top Sports Cars of the 2000s, while American magazine Motor Trend Classic ranked the Enzo fourth on their list of the 10 greatest Ferraris of all time.

this example is the second of only three Riviera Convertible Sedans built by the Brunn Coachworks of Buffalo, New York, and is the only one built on the shorter 142.5 chassis with a naturally aspirated, straight-eight 265 horsepower engine. It was the first four-door convertible to have a fold-down top that could be completely concealed when folded. After passing through the hands of several owners, it was bought by Frank Lloyd Wright’s son-in-law, William Wesley Peters of Wisconsin, who passed it on to Jim Aiken in 1967. This elegant, luxurious and mechanically advanced model is believed to have been constructed near the close of 1933, and has been slightly adapted to feature a modernized fender skirt and trunk rack.

One of the most iconic sports cars in automotive engineering history, the Porsche 550 Spyder gained a reputation for its speed, agility and handling not long after its first introduction in 1953. The marque’s first ever racing car, the 550 produces 110 horsepower and 83 lb-ft of torque, propelling it from zero to 60 mph in just nine seconds. Incredibly nimble and lightning-fast, it boasts a top speed of over 140 mph. Chassis 550-0073 is one of only 90 produced, and in 2022 it underwent a 5,000-plus man-hour restoration in an effort to make it the most faithful 550 Spyder restoration in existence.

Rarely does a car reach iconic status before the first example even hits the assembly line, but the Ferrari 288 GTO managed to accomplish just that. Each and every model was distributed and sold before production started in 1984, and with only 272 built, the 288 GTO is just as desirable and sought after now as it was then. First-class beauty meets raw performance in this five-speed manual transmission, twin turbocharged V8 engine Berlinetta. Light bodywork materials help the car accelerate from zero to 60 mph in five seconds and zero to 125 mph in 17 seconds. With a top speed of 189 mph, the 288 GTO is one of the fastest street-legal production cars of its time.

Awarded Best-in-Show at the 2018 Porsche Parade in Ozark Lake, Missouri and at the 2017 Porsche 356 Registry National Holiday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, this beautiful 1951 Porsche 356 features original Adria Blue Metallic paint and gray interior. An early production in March of 1951, it was manufactured just after the 500th car ever made by Porsche. It was restored by Lee and Neil Schlabaugh of Stallek Inc. in 2014, and is now in the collection of Chip and Monica Perry of Blowing Rock, North Carolina. It frequently stretches its legs on the nearby Blue Ridge Parkway.

Believed to be just the third steel-bodied XK120 ever built, this beautifully restored example is an icon of automobile racing history crusaded by one of California’s most famed teams of the 1950s. After its acquisition by renowned Team Edgar owner John Edgar, this sensational XK120 was entered into the Fourth Annual Palm Springs Road Race piloted by acclaimed driver Jack McAfee and donning the number 98. After spinning out early in the race, McAfee was forced to allow the remaining cars to pass him before he was allowed to re-enter. Despite his rocky start, the capable McAfee managed to retake the lead for a magnificent victory. Repainted in beige, this car features a commemorative “98” and “Palm Springs 1952” checkered flag detail.

Complete Gallery

Event Recap

Rear View Mirror

Looking back at 2023

Gallery: A Look Back At 2023

Gallery: A Look Back At 2023

Gallery: A Look Back At 2023

Gallery: A Look Back At 2023

Gallery: A Look Back At 2023

Complete Gallery