The hills were alive with the sound of exhaust notes – over 1,000 of them, to be exact. The Concours in the Hills took place on Saturday, April 19, in Fountain Hills, Arizona, and continued its longstanding tradition of bringing together collector cars for a charitable cause. Since 2018, the concours has raised about $2 million for Phoenix Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.
The event has become one of the region’s favorite and best-attended annual automotive attractions in the state. Event founder Peter Volny answered a few questions for me about this year’s program, which we’ll get to later in the story. For now, I’d like to show you a handful of cars that stood out to me on the show field.
1953 Packard Caribbean Convertible
Manufactured between 1953 and 1956 in Detroit, the Caribbean was a full-sized luxury car with sporty aspirations. Some of its defining characteristics were a hood scoop, radiused rear wheels, and standard continental kit. A 1953 convertible listed at $5,210 when new.
1966 Chevrolet Impala Hardtop
The fourth-generation Impala was built between 1965 and 1970 on the General Motors B-body platform. For 1966, the car could be identified by its revised grille and horizontal taillights. The Impala was a strong seller when new, and it was offered in convertible, sedan, hardtop and station wagon variants.
1999 Porsche 911 Carrera
As part of the “996” generation, the 1999 Carrera was significant because it marked the introduction of a water-cooled engine instead of the previously air-cooled engine. Design-wise, it carried forward the iconic 911 silhouette, although the windshield was more raked and the wheelbase was lengthened.
2001 Audi RS4 Avant
Powered by a Cosworth-developed 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6, the RS4 Avant is rare in the United States because it was not originally sold in this market (only sedans were brought stateside). The car fits the definition of a “sleeper” thanks to its powerful drivetrain combined with ample cargo capacity.
2003 Dodge Viper SRT-10
Speaking of power, the Viper takes the cake with its massive 8.3-liter V10 that was rated at 500 horsepower and 525 lb-ft of torque. The SRT-10 had stiff structure, a refined suspension and a responsive driving experience. “Brutal” and “unforgiving” are often used to describe it.
2010 Aston Martin Rapide
The British-built Rapide was Aston Martin’s first foray in the four-door sedan market, and the car competed with the Porsche Panamera and the Mercedes-Benz CLS. Despite its passenger-friendly intentions, the Rapide still looked the part of a coupe with a sleek silhouette.
2023 Maserati MC20 Cielo
Maserati’s convertible supercar was built in Italy and came with a mid-mounted 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 mated to a TREMEC eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. The “Cielo” name came from the Italian word for “sky,” and the retractable roof couple open or close in 12 seconds.
2024 Lotus Emira
Lotus has pledged to shift focus to electric vehicles in the coming years, so some enthusiasts see this as the last internal combustion car the company will produce (and also the last manual transmission). The Emira “1st Edition” on display had a 400-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 with an Edelbrock supercharger.
Interested in learning more about the concours? See below for my Q&A with Peter:
What set this year’s event apart from prior events?
This year, we were thrilled to feature a large number of new cars that haven’t been part of any previous shows. The race car section, one of my personal favorites, expanded and included some truly iconic, award-winning vehicles. Additionally, the Limited-Edition Exotics Section grew, showcasing some incredibly valuable cars from private collections—vehicles you simply won’t see driving around. There were about eight helicopters, including military and civilian models, such as a Blackhawk and the new MCSO Bell 429. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office also brought their SWAT and Bomb Disposal vehicles, and I was especially excited about the K9 unit, which is always a hit with the crowd.
Did the award categories change from the five that were given out last year?
The trophies were awarded for Best Import, Best Domestic, Best Race Car, Best Car Club Display, Best Off-Road 4×4 and Best of Show. After reviewing the entries, I can confidently say that the competition was fierce across all categories.
Now that the event is beyond its 10th year, what is your vision for how it will evolve over the next 10?
Looking ahead, it’s hard to say exactly what the future holds. When I first envisioned this event, I thought it would be a small gathering of about a hundred cars with a handful of spectators. About four or five years in, Rus Lack, the show’s architect, walked me around the park and predicted we’d have 1,000 cars. At the time, I thought he was crazy — but he was right. Now, we fill the entire park, and we’ve reached the point where we have to turn away both cars and sponsors, which presents its own challenges. This year, we’re expanding onto Saguaro Boulevard, which borders the park. The town has even offered to close off Avenue of the Fountains, which could give us room for hundreds more, but we’re weighing the pros and cons. I’d love to hear feedback from the community. Equally important is the remarkable amount of money raised for Phoenix Children’s Hospital, which now exceeds $2 million, benefiting the Oncology and Cardiac departments.
What kinds of measures has the town of Fountain Hills taken to help support and accommodate the event?
The town has been incredibly supportive, and the staff has been fantastic to work with. My wife, Linda, and I have called Fountain Hills home since 2004, and we absolutely love it here. I hope the show has brought positive attention to the town. From the mayor and council to the entire staff, everyone has been willing to help with even my more ambitious requests.
If you could give any advice to a young car enthusiast who wants to someday own one of the “dream cars” at the Concours, what would it be?
Having immigrated to the U.S. from Australia, with stops in Canada and England along the way, I’ve experienced firsthand how incredible this country is. To succeed here, all it takes is hard work, and this show is proof of that. When I first started, I didn’t have a clue about putting on a show like this, but my passion for cars drove me to give it a try. I’ve put in a lot of effort, but the rewards have been well worth it. My advice to young enthusiasts is simple: work hard, and you’ll be gratified at the rewards to come. There’s very little traffic on that extra mile, and we look forward to welcoming you soon, hopefully with your own set of wheels on display.
Many thanks, Peter, and to all who helped support the show and its charitable cause!
Stay tuned to upcoming news and announcements related to the Concours in the Hills via the website.