While there are thousands of classic car shows where you can casually enter your collector vehicle, there’s an elite group to which you and your vehicle must be invited. Numbering in the dozens and labeled or described as a “Concours d’Elegance,” these prestigious events showcase cars, motorcycles and other modes of transportation that are considered premier examples in terms of authenticity, condition and automotive significance. Unless you are associated with a prominent collection or maybe a selection committee member is familiar with your particular car (or cars), it’s unlikely you’ll receive an open invitation.
How to nominate a car
Getting your automotive pride and joy onto the show field at a top level concours is akin to acceptance into college. You submit an application for consideration. Several events term this process a nomination, as in the case of a US military service academy.
Continuing with the college analogy, if your car (or other type of vehicle) gets accepted, it usually earns a full scholarship — excluding room and board. There’s no entry fee. Since proceeds from events benefit charitable causes, organizers recognize that someone providing an exceptional vehicle for the enjoyment of attendees is itself a donation.
Submitting information
Methods for submitting a vehicle for consideration vary. Most concours offer the choice of an online fill-in-the-blank form or enable an option to print out a hard copy which can be sent by snail or e-mail. Links to websites of upcoming events can be found at concours.NEWS.
The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance is unique in that it does not provide a formal form. Instead, those wishing to have a vehicle considered are advised to submit a proposal by mail “postmarked no later than August 31, 2018”. . . just like the good ol’ days.
The Keels & Wheels Concours d’Elegance is anything but old school in its application process. Click on the image to see detailed step-by-step instructions for submitting vehicle information online. Although this form refers to “registration,” the website emphatically reminds, “The Keels Wheels Concours d’Elegance is by invitation only. The Selection Committees invites those entries that they feel best exemplify the annual theme and class structure.”
Here’s the form used by the Cincinnati Concours d’Elegance. Along with photos, owners are asked to provide five or six key facts on what makes their vehicle so extraordinary. If accepted, the submitted details are incorporated into the signage placed in front of the car during the show.
Watch those deadlines
Cut-off dates for application submission further differentiate a concours from a car show. The entire process takes months to complete – as many as seven months for large events like Pebble Beach. Smaller events might be in the two-month range. But as the Greenwich Concours boldly states on its website, “Early submission is strongly suggested.”
Selection committees, such as the one for the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance, need ample time to evaluate potential entries. Once their work is complete, programs, signage and promotional materials need to be created. Keep in mind that much of this work is coordinated by volunteer committee members.
Acceptance or rejection?
If all goes well, a month or so following the application deadline, car owners receive an invitation in the form of a letter of acceptance. That’s the go ahead signal to make travel arrangements and begin the tedious task of final detailing to what is already a concours worthy car! Here’s a shot of an acceptance letter from the Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance.
Submitting information
Methods for submitting a vehicle for consideration vary. Most concours offer the choice of an online fill-in-the-blank form or enable an option to print out a hard copy which can be sent by snail or e-mail. Links to websites of upcoming events can be found at concours.NEWS.
Amelia Island Concours
The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance is unique in that it does not provide a formal form. Instead, those wishing to have a vehicle considered are advised to submit a proposal by mail "postmarked no later than August 31, 2018". . . just like the good ol' days.
Keels & Wheels Concours
The Keels & Wheels Concours d'Elegance is anything but old school in its application process. Click on the image to see detailed step-by-step instructions for submitting vehicle information online. Although this form refers to "registration," the website emphatically reminds, "The Keels & Wheels Concours d'Elegance is by invitation only. The Selection Committees invites those entries that they feel best exemplify the annual theme and class structure."
Cincinnati Concours
Here's the form used by the Cincinnati Concours d'Elegance. Along with photos, owners are asked to provide five or six key facts on what makes their vehicle so extraordinary. If accepted, the submitted details are incorporated into the signage placed in front of the car during the show.
Watch those deadlines
Cut-off dates for application submission further differentiate a concours from a car show. The entire process takes months to complete – as many as seven months for large events like Pebble Beach. Smaller events might be in the two-month range. But as the Greenwich Concours boldly states on its website, “Early submission is strongly suggested.”
Selection committees, such as the one for the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance, need ample time to evaluate potential entries. Once their work is complete, programs, signage and promotional materials need to be created. Keep in mind that much of this work is coordinated by volunteer committee members.
Acceptance or rejection?
If all goes well, a month or so following the application deadline, car owners receive an invitation in the form of a letter of acceptance. That’s the go ahead signal to make travel arrangements and begin the tedious task of final detailing to what is already a concours worthy car! Calls for entry
Facebook is a great way for concours car shows to announce their 2019 selection process is underway. The best method is to make a post with link to the nomination page, then pin it to the top of the Facebook feed. Posts will be added below as we learn of them.
Events currently having 2019 entry information online include:
Greenwich Concours, Keeneland Concours, Cincinnati Concours, Concours of America, Gasparilla Concours, Keels & Wheels Concours, Concours at Copshaholm, Misselwood Concours,