'Rhapsody In Blue' Captures Top Awards At Washington Crossing Rebels & Redcoats Car Show

WASHINGTON CROSSING, PA — A 1940 Lincoln Continental - Rhapsody in Blue - took top honors at the Rebels & Redcoats car show held Sunday at Washington Crossing Historic Park.

The vehicle, owned by Bucks County philanthropist and car enthusiast Gene Epstein, stood out from the rest for its museum-like quality and its vibrant blue coloring, winning first place among American cars and a special George Washington Award.

The meticulously restored 1940 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet, complete with its original interior, recreates the all-blue Continental ordered by orchestra leader Paul Whiteman more than eight decades ago. The car is named after the George Gershwin song, “Rhapsody in Blue,” which Whiteman commissioned as a theme song for his band.

The unique Rebels & Redcoats car show featured American, French, British and German cars, all representing the four countries involved in the American Revolutionary War. According to organizers, the show drew a record 220 registrants and more than 1,000 spectators.

Other winners at the show included:

American Cars

• 1st Place: 1940 Lincoln Continental — Gene Epstein
• 2nd Place: 1928 Pontiac Landau Coupe — Terry Schweikert
• 3rd Place: 1964 Chevrolet Corvair — Kurt A. Goszyk

British Cars

• 1st Place: 1974 Triumph TR6 — Philip Aronow
• 2nd Place: 1969 Jaguar E-Type FHC — Sal Monopoli
• 3rd Place: 1963 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III — Ken Swanstrom

French Cars

• 1st Place: 1986 Citroen 2CV — Matt Goldman
• 2nd Place: 1965 Renault Dauphine — Tony & Kathy Lardani
• 3rd Place: 1999 Renault Clio Mk2 — Mark Oxenreiter

German Cars

• 1st Place: 1976 BMW 2002 — Jim Damon
• 2nd Place: 1964 Porsche 356 C Coupe — Lawrence Nork
• 3rd Place: 1965 Volkswagen Type 2 Bus — Terry Huffle

Special Awards

• George Washington Award: 1940 Lincoln Continental — Gene Epstein
• George Washington Award: Open Class: 1991 Nissan Figaro — Craig Gallun
• Biggest Oil Spot: 1968 MG B — Andrew Lubin
• Most/Best Chrome: 1951 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight Holiday Coupe — David Bray
• Most Elegant: 1963 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III — Ken Swanstrom
• Best Original: 1963 Ford Falcon Futura — Lynda Lilyestrom
• Most Unique: 1966 Batmobile Replica — Paul R. Curtis
• Best Pre-1950 Car: 1930 Ford Model A — James Melson
• Best 2-Seater Sports Car: 1966 Shelby Cobra — David Kampf
• Best Utility Vehicle: 1969 Range Rover Series IIA Dormobile — Lawrence Anderley
• Best Post-1950 Car: 1957 Ford Thunderbird — Don McMillan
• Best Paint: 2000 Chevrolet Corvette — Ralph Carita

The show was part of an extended weekend of Fourth of July events at the park, which included Colonial Toys and Games on Saturday and an Independence Day Colonial celebration on the Fourth.