What is a Concours d’Elegance?

Literally translated, Concours d’Elegance means “parade of elegance” which might serve equally well to describe an Embassy Ball or opening night at the Met. But since its inception, the term referred to a very special type of carriage or, later, automobile show. The French were first to stage a Concours d'Elegance as an elegant marketing effort in the 1920s.

• Amelia Island
  1996 The first Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance is organized by Bill Warner and held on The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island property. Honorary Chairman is Sir Stirling Moss, world-famous Grand Prix driver. Inaugural sponsors are Mercedes-Benz and The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. Amelia Island, FL

• Concorso Italiano
  Founded in 1985, Concorso Italiano® is a gathering of all things Italian, especially Italian cars. The setting is at the picturesque Bayonet Black Horse Golf Course over-looking beautiful Monterey Bay in California.
  
  Concorso Italiano® has evolved into a must-attend convergence of sophistication, taste and affluence and embraces all the cultural elements of Italian style, including music, cuisine, fashion, and travel. The event is centered around as many as 1,000 collectable Italian automobiles, motorcycles, and boats. Non-Italian exotic and classic automobiles are also welcomed and represent a significant contingency as well. The Concorso emphasizes display and appreciation over competition and although the cars are truly magnificent, this event is not just about cars; it's about people too; widely recognized as a fun yet sophisticated event where you can really enjoy yourself.
  

• Cranbrook
  Marvin Towns Jr., president of MTi Advertising in Southfield, Mich., organized his first Concours event in 2002, The Southfield Concours d’Elegance. The success of that experience convinced Towns to try it again on a larger scale. Towns founded and served as executive director of the Cranbrook Concours d’Elegance, held on the stately grounds of the Cranbrook Educational Community in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
  
  The Buick Motor Division of General Motors was title sponsor for the Concours and Bob Lutz, GM North America chairman and vice chairman of product development, served as honorary Concours chairman and chief judge. According to Towns, Cranbrook is the perfect venue for an event of this type. “Cranbrook is one of the most significant and historic art and educational communities in the country. Its 315 acres of rolling lawns, gardens and Elegance trees are interspersed with sculptures by renowned artists from all over the world.” And indeed, a stunning array of more than 200 motorcars graced the grounds. Among them, a 1937 Talbot Lago 150-C that took Best of Show and a 1936 Stout Scarab. Both vehicles were invited to Paris for the Louis Vuitton Classic (one of the most prestigious Concours in the world), after appearing at Cranbrook. Bloomfield Hills, MI

• Forest Grove
  In 1973 the Forest Grove Rotary Club created the Forest Grove Concours d'Elegance to raise funds for scholarships and community service projects. Each year, the net proceeds are divided equally among the two. And thanks in part to this event, the Concours d'Elegance and the Rotary Club have returned substantial projects to the community, plus provided scholarships and financial aid to hundreds of Washington County students to Pacific and other Universities.
  
  The Concours d'Elegance is an outstanding event. It is made possible by the innumerable hours of service and dedication by the many volunteers in the community. Volunteers, young and young at heart, men and women, Rotary members, their families and non-Rotary workers have spent a vast amount of time and effort to accomplish this task. The Forest Grove Concours d'Elegance is held on the 3rd Sunday in July, on the campus of Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. Over 300 antique, collector and special interest automobiles will be on display.  Forest Grove, OR

• Greenwich
  Since 1996 Greenwich Concours d' Elegance at Roger Sherman Baldwin Park in Greenwich, Connecticut. Bruce and Genia Wennerstrom, who co-chair the event, plan to include a display of both vintage and contemporary power boats. Now acclaimed as one of the top events of its kind in the country, the Greenwich Concours helps benefit Americares, the international relief organization.  

• Hilton Head
  Since 2001. Honey Horn on Hilton Head Island, SC  

• Kirkland
  Since 2003, Carillon Point Kirkland, WA

• Los Angeles
  The Inaugural Los Angeles Concours was presented by Assistance League of Southern California at the Rose Bowl and adjacent Brookside Golf Course on Sunday, May 21, 2006.  Despite the threat of rain, thousands turned out to see extraordinary cars of the past century that have won hearts, minds and awards with their racing histories, beauty and design. The Best in Show Pre-War trophy winner was the 1931 Bugatti from the Nethercutt Museum and the 1949 Alfa Romeo owned by Tim Walker was the Best in Show Post-War.
  
  All proceeds benefit the more than 100,000 individuals served each year through the 8 program services of Assistance League of Southern California (ALSC), a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit corporation. ALSC has been serving the greater Los Angeles area since its founding in 1919, with a membership of 850 volunteers and a staff of 225, providing a variety of services benefiting all ages from infants to the elderly and impacting over 200,000 lives annually.
  

• Meadow Brook
  Since 1978, the Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance is one of the largest and most prestigious classic car shows in the world. It commands the presence of some of the world's foremost car collectors, auto executives, auto enthusiasts and automotive media. It takes place at scenic Meadow Brook Hall, an automotive mansion on the campus of Oakland University, which is the fourth largest historic house museum in the United States. Proceeds from the event go to Oakland University and the preservation of Meadow Brook Hall.  Auburn Hills, MI 

• Newport Beach
  Since 2003 The Newport Beach Concours d'Elegance. From the beginning, the motivation for a group of volunteers to assume responsibility for creating such an event was to raise money for a very worthwhile social program— the Assessment and Treatment Services Center. Prompted by the success of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and the Santa Barbara Concours d'Elegance, ATSC Board Member, Catherine Thyen, initiated a research and development effort, spearheaded by Francie Carver, Lani Straman and Judy Gertner.
  
  The determined group of women was unwavering in their intent to pull off a "victory" with their inaugural event. These women recruited notable individuals from the automotive world, developed a motivated steering and field committee, enticed owners of some of the finest automobiles in California to display cars— many that had never been seen by the public, recruited knowledgeable judges (who were naturally suspicious of neophytes) and visited other Concours' to woo owners of special cars to attend the inaugural ATSC Concours.
  
  The novice group of women that began with a passion continues to this day and has grown each year. In the beginning, they did it all, from laying out the field of automobiles to finding underwriters, designing trophies, throwing press parties, luring a famous automotive artist to paint the first poster car, convincing Michael Gertner to purchase the first canvas, selling program ads and convincing the late Dr. Aldrich, President of the University of California of Irvine to lend the bucolic greens of UCI to display these magnificent automobiles. Irvine, CA

• Palo Alto
  Since 1966, Palo Alto Concours. There's something for everyone at this show, from traditional classic and muscle cars, to exotic cars, to vintage tractors, choppers, and yes, even Alternative Energy Cars. Palo Alto, CA

• Palos Verdes
  Since the founding of the Palos Verdes Concours d'Elegance in 1992, the Concours' mission has been to create a world-class show of classic, vintage historical, and special-interest automobiles, to provide funds for charitable and community purposes and to promote the beauty and opportunities of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. 

• Pebble Beach
  November 5, 1950: The first Pebble Beach Road Race and Concours d’Elegance are held. Phil Hill wins the Road Race driving a Jaguar XK120. Best of Show at the Concours goes to Sterling Edwards’ 1950 Edwards R-26 Special Sport Roadster. Two to three dozen cars are exhibited in three classes at the Concours: prewar cars, postwar cars, and MGs. Local resident Alton Walker serves as Concours Chairman. Pebble Beach, CA