The sixth annual 2023 Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance attracted a field of incredible classic and vintage cars, trucks and motorcycles to White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, earlier this month, May 5th through the 7th. A 1928 Auburn 8-115 Speedster earned this year’s Best of Show trophy. Owner Richard Harding accepted the award, which was made by glass artists at Lamp Light Glass Art at The Greenbrier.
The Auburn 8-115 Speedster was originally built in Auburn, Indiana by the Auburn Automotive Company. Its sleek design features a raked windshield, doors and hood louvres and the famous “boat tail” rear end to give the impression of speed. This bright green example was found in an Ohio field by Richard Harding’s father in 1992, who spent many years collecting parts and bringing it back to life. After his father passed, Harding began and completed the vintage car’s frame-off restoration. He did all the work himself apart from paint and upholstery.
“First, I thought of my dad,” said Harding to show organizers while reflecting on his reaction to hearing his named called for the day’s top award. “He would be surprised. We had never had an opportunity to show a car here before for one reason or another, but the facility is just fantastic. I had never been to a resort like this. It’s just unbelievable. I would encourage anybody to come here for a visit. It was an honor just to be here.”
Harding’s meticulously restored Auburn was one of 11 other class winners parked on the picturesque show field. “We had some incredible cars and there was such a wide variety that our judges had to consider,” said Phil Neff, Chief Judge, The Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance. “Their jobs are never easy, because of the quality of the cars in the field, but I’m proud of the job they did. We have an amazing team.”
According to the event’s press release, the 2023 Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance Best-in-Class winners are as follows:
- Personal Luxury: 1965 ISO Rivolta GT (John Gailey; Malvern, Pennsylvania)
- Foreign Sports Cars (Closed): 1963 Porsche Carrera 2 Coupe (Thomas Zarella; Gloucester, Massachusetts)
- Foreign Sports Cars (Open): 1970 Porsche 911E Targa (Brad Shisler; Columbus, Ohio)
- Race Cars: 1957 Ferrari 250 FT LWB (Frederick Fischer; Wildwood, Missouri)
- Pre-War Cars: 1912 Cadillac Torpedo (Jim Elliot; Yorktown, Virginia)
- Motorcycles: 1971 Honda SL350 (James Gannon; Hico, West Virginia)
- Post-War Convertibles: 1967 Pontiac 2+2 Convertible (Richard Larabee; Farmington Hills, Michigan)
- Muscle Cars: 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge Convertible (Steven Race; Cumming, Georgia)
- Classics: 1929 Dusenberg Model J Roadster by Murphy (Dwight Schaubach; Carrollton, Virginia)
- Packards (Open): 1923 Packard 126 Single Six Runabout (Dwight Schaubach; Carrollton, Virginia)
- Packards (Closed): 1938 Packard 1608 Twelve Town Car by Rollston (Bob Tiffin; Red Bay, Alabama)
Twelve other special awards were also presented, including:
- People’s Choice: 1959 BMW 600 (David Lowen; Roanoke, Virginia)
- Chief Judge’s Award (Selected by Phil Neff): 1958 BMW 507 (Thomas Pesikey; Wilmington, Delaware)
- Duke of Windsor Award (Most Elegant Closed Car): 1938 Packard 1604 Super Eight Coupe by Mayfair (Ralph Marano; Garwood, New Jersey)
- Princess Grace Award (Most Elegant Open Car): 1940 Packard 180 Custom Super Eight Darrin (Greg Ornazian; Rochester Hills, Michigan)
- Dorothy Draper Award (Most Stylish Interior): 1979 Cadillac Coupe DeVille (Jared Aiello; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
- Sam Snead Award (Best Country Club Car): 1956 Continental Mark II (John Keesee; York, Pennsylvania)
- Eisenhower Award (Best Cold War Era Car): 1946 Packard Custom Super Clipper LWB Sedan by Henney (Don Wood; Johnson City, Tennessee)
- Artist’s Award: 1948 Jaguar Mark IV 3.5-Litre Drophead Coupe (Roger Crawford; Tallahassee, Florida)
- Most Historically Significant Road Car: 1973 Jaguar XKE Convertible (Ralph McGee; Concord, North Carolina)
- Most Historically Significant Sports or Race Car: 1979 Spirit/AMX (Michael Weaver; Joppa, Maryland)
- AACA “Spirit of the Hobby” Award: Entire Motorcycle Class (James Gannon; Hico, West Virginia)
- Bill Davis Memorial Award (Best Car from West Virginia): 1951 DeSoto Custom Convertible (Timothy Holbert; Bridgeport, West Virginia)


















