Car Culture: What is a Concours Car Show?

The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is held in August on the eighteenth fairway of the prestigious golf course. Pebble Beach is no mere car show, however: it's the automotive event of the year, a place where the well-heeled come to see and show off the most beautiful, interesting, and highly sought-after cars in the world. Read on to learn more from our team at Sheehy Nissan of Mechanicsville.

Car shows are as much a part of the American summer as ice cream and trips to the beach. The car show is where enthusiasts gather to display their newly restored classics, their hot rods, and anything that's unusual or, in some way, historic. Visit one of these shows and you'll see vehicles in all kinds of condition and worth anything from hundreds to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Most shows have some kind of judging, with awards being presented for category winners and of course, for "Best of Show", but a concours takes this competition to a higher, and far more rigorous, level. The cars have to be immaculate and authentic, are often very rare, and usually have some historical significance. They are scrutinized by judges intimately acquainted with every detail of the competing cars, with marks being deducted for the most minor imperfection.

At a typical concours event vehicles are entered into classes, sorted by characteristics like age, type of vehicle, country of origin, and manufacturer. This "leveling of the playing field" allows easier comparisons and lets more owners take home honors (which can significantly increase a car's value!) But at every concours one vehicle is awarded with the highest honor. At the 2013 Pebble Beach event, that honor went to a recently restored 1934 Packard Twelve. As Concours Chairman Sandra Button said, "This Packard is the epitome of American style and grace in the Classic Era…”

The Concours d'Elegance originated in France long before the advent of the motor car, and made it's way to North America in the 1950's. Today they have blossomed beyond just competition and often include an auction and even educational classes on topics such as car restoration and appraisal. They've also become social events for the affluent, where people go to see and been seen.

While California's Pebble Beach is perhaps the best known Concours d'Elegance in the US, events of similar stature are held at Amelia Island, Florida and the Inn at St. Johns, Plymouth, Michigan. Many other cities around the country also host concours events throughout the summer. These may not have the prestige of Pebble Beach but they are still a terrific opportunity to see beautiful cars that are both rare and significant.