the first Phoenix Concours is this coming Sunday, at the Biltmore, starting at 830, awards at 2pm

PHOENIX – The manicured lawns of the historic Arizona Biltmore Resort will be the setting on Sunday, January 12, for an exceptional new event, the inaugural Arizona Concours d’Elegance, which gathers a collection of 77 superb vintage automobiles for a high-end show and competition.

The oldest entry in the Arizona Concours is a 1905 Mitchell D-4 Runabout, and the youngest is a 1975 Lamborghini Countach. The honored marques for the first year are American luxury brand Packard and Maserati, the Italian sports and racing brand that commemorates its 100th anniversary during 2014.

The Arizona Concours begins at 8:30 am on Sunday, January 12, with the awards ceremonies starting at 2 pm. The Concours is open to the public with tickets available at www.arizonaconcours.com or at the Biltmore on the day of the event. As a special feature, the Arizona Concours will be shown live in a web cast on www.arizonaconcours.com starting at 11 a.m.

Top concours judges will pore over each entry to pick the class winners as well as the coveted Best of Show. John Carlson, one of the nation’s most acclaimed concours judges, will preside as chief judge. The trophies were designed by acclaimed Arizona painter and sculptor Ed Mell, who created them from a 1930s-vintage art deco toy car. They are being cast at Bollinger Atelier, a foundry in Tempe.

The beautiful automobiles will be displayed in an intimate setting within the art deco elegance of the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired Arizona Biltmore. Keith Martin, publisher of Sports Car Market and American Car Collector magazines, will serve as emcee for the Arizona Concours.

Proceeds from the Arizona Concours benefit Make-A-Wish Arizona, the founding chapter of the national organization that grants wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses.