The SAH Annual Awards were presented at the Awards Banquet held in Hershey, October 5, 2023. Here is the list of the 2023 winners.
Cugnot Award, English Language
The 2023 Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot Award, English Language, has been presented to Detroit Steel Artists: How Edsel Ford, Ray Dietrich, Tom Hibbard, and Ralph Roberts Turned Motor City into a Styling Mecca Before Harley Earl by Matthew Kilkenny. Published in 2022 with the assistance of Beaver’s Pond Press. An exhaustive and beautifully compiled study of the avant-garde artists and key figures of the evolving 1920’s and 1930’s American automotive business – the outcasts and disruptors who changed Detroit forever – and made styling a selling point. Societal changes, including the modernization of business and the women’s movement, were powerful factors for styling’s rise in significance. https://detroitsteelartists.com
The Cugnot Award, English Language, is awarded to one or more books published in a given calendar year that best advance the understanding of the history of the automobile. Traditional automotive histories, including those focused on vehicles, manufacturers, individuals and events, as well as social histories of the automobile that examine the effect of the automobile on society, culture, and everyday life, are eligible for the Cugnot.
Cugnot Award, Language other than English
The 2023 Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot Award, Language other than English, has been presented to Alles Mit Motor, Die Standard/Gutbrod Story by Otfried Jaus, Paul Schilperoord, and Andy Schweitzer. Published in 2022 by CEAUTO Gmbh. This German-language book records in depth the history of these unique cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles and brings to light the challenging conditions under which they were manufactured and sold.
In addition, a Cugnot Award of Distinction, Language other than English, has been presented to Itala – Splendore e declino di una grande marca by Donatella Biffignandi. Published in 2022 by AISA. Other than the history of the Peking-to-Paris rally, little has been known about the broader events of this manufacturer throughout its brief history; this Italian-language book definitively fills that void. https://www.aisastoryauto.it/libri/itala-splendore-e-declino-di-una-grande-marca
The Cugnot Award, Language other than English, is awarded to one or more books published in a given calendar year that best advance the understanding of the history of the automobile. Traditional automotive histories, including those focused on vehicles, manufacturers, individuals and events, as well as social histories of the automobile that examine the effect of the automobile on society, culture, and everyday life, are eligible for the Cugnot.
Benz Award
The 2023 Carl Benz Award has been presented to “Sebring’s Forgotten Man—1949 Crosley Hotshot” by J. Michael Hemsley, published in the September, 2022 issue of Sports Car Digest. https://sportscardigest.com/sebrings-forgotten-man-1949-crosley-hotshot
In addition, a Carl Benz Award of Distinction has been presented to “Chrysler’s Birth of the ‘Solid-State Electronic Age’ – Part 2” by Rick Hirsh, published in the January-February, 2022 issue of Chrysler Power.
The Benz Award recognizes excellence in the presentation of automotive history as an article in a commercial, club or academic periodical.
Bradley Award
The 2023 James J. Bradley Distinguised Service Award has been presented to the Documentation Center of the National Automobile Museum of Turin, Italy, MAUTO https://www.museoauto.com/il-museo/centro-documentazione
The Bradley Award recognizes museums, archives, and libraries for exemplary efforts in preserving motor vehicle resource materials.
Brigham Award
The 2023 Richard & Grace Brigham Award has been presented to Collectible Automobile, for the 2022 calendar year. John Biel, Editor.
After over 27 years as Editor of Collectible Automobile, John Biel retired earlier this year. We wish John all the best in his well-deserved retirement.
The Brigham Award recognizes exemplary editorial, graphic and automotive historical content published in a given calendar year by commercial, institutional or club periodicals, printed or digital. Award evaluations are based on issues for the entire calendar year, rather than a single issue.
Friend Award
The 2023 Friend of Automotve History Award has been presented to Rubén Verdés.
A lifetime automotive enthusiast whose interest in automotive history took off when he became Editor of the member publication for the Florida Region of the Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club in the late 1990s (in the eve of his finance career in international banking). He has produced 65 issues of the SAH Journal since becoming Editor of the publication over ten years ago. He is also the current Editor of The Classic Car and the CCCA Bulletin for the Classic Car Club of America. He recently launched a digital publication called marque2market, which explores automotive news and history through the lens of auctions and concours. He has supported the SAH in various other ways, e.g., as Treasurer for several years, and as the layout designer for the last four issues of the SAH’s annual publication: Automotive History Review. Rubén is president emeritus of the Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club, a trained RROC judge, and was a contributing editor for the club’s magazine, The Flying Lady, for eleven years, and past Treasurer and Board Member of the Rolls-Royce Foundation. Rubén serves as a judge in various concours around the country, from Pebble Beach to Greenwich, and serves on the car selection committees of several concours. Rubén specializes in automotive acquisition/disposition consulting, producing history/restoration books for concours cars, and is a member of various other car clubs and organizations.
The FOAH Award recognizes an individual who has made a profound contribution to the automotive history community and the historical record.
Ingersoll Award
The 2023 E.P. Ingersoll Award has been presented to Bill McGuire’s Mac’s Motor City Garage. https://www.macsmotorcitygarage.com
The Ingersoll Award recognizes the best presentation of automotive history in media other than print. Video documentaries, oral histories and sound recordings, podcasts, websites, blogs, social media, cell phone and tablet apps, computer software and art are eligible for consideration.
Scharchburg Award
The 2023 Richard P. Scharchburg Student Paper Award for the 2022-2023 academic year has been presented to Columbia University graduate student Meave Sheehan, for her paper “Quality Assured: Autoworker Stories from the Chrysler Newark, Delaware Assembly Plant.”
In addition, a Scharchburg Award of Distinction has been presented to University College Cork, Ireland graduate student Cassady Calder, for her paper “Community Representation in Corporate Automotive Museums.”
No nominations were received for undergraduate student papers written during the 2022-2023 academic year.
The SAH confers both undergraduate and graduate-level Scharchburg Awards to encourage research and writing in automotive history by university students. The award is named for Richard Scharchburg, late Professor of History at Kettering University, eminent automotive historian, and past vice president of the Society of Automotive Historians.
See a list of all previous award winners.