Our Concours d'Elegance Experience
Written by Krystal Stone
June 4th 2023.
We had the privilege of showing off one of our customer's vehicles at the very prestigious Concours d'Elegance in Greenwich, CT.
If you've ever heard the word "Concours" thrown around at a shop or on your favorite auto restoration tv show, and didn't know what it meant, here, let me try to explain in simple terms. A Concours Car means that it's the best of the best. It's your 100%. There's "your car looks really good", "your car looks absolutely amazing", and "your car is Concours quality". Not very many cars get accepted to be a Concours d'Elegance car.
We had the privilege of showing off one of our customer's vehicles at the very prestigious Concours d'Elegance in Greenwich, CT.
If you've ever heard the word "Concours" thrown around at a shop or on your favorite auto restoration tv show, and didn't know what it meant, here, let me try to explain in simple terms. A Concours Car means that it's the best of the best. It's your 100%. There's "your car looks really good", "your car looks absolutely amazing", and "your car is Concours quality". Not very many cars get accepted to be a Concours d'Elegance car.
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The process to enter was a feat in itself. I had to wait for registration to open, some time around the end of March if I remember correctly. There were 18 different categories that I had to fill out about the automobile, including History of Car, Insurance information, photos, contact information, display information (what you want displayed on the plate in front of a shown vehicle), etc.
Then I had to wait another 4-5 weeks to see what they decided for our fate. I don't know how many times I would hit refresh on the page wondering if it would be red or green. As you can see, we eventually turned green. |
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Now the process of getting to the show.
Luckily, we have some amazing friends and have some great connections. A borrowed trailer, a rented truck, and 5 hours later, we arrived in Greenwich CT, ready for Sunday's show time. The itinerary that was emailed to me the week prior was: Load in 6-7:30am Early access ticket holders 8am Judging starts 9am General Admission 10am Award Ceremony 2pm Leave the field by 4pm So, coffee in hand, we lined ourselves up with the other Alfa's in the Post-War category. |
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Judging Time
One by one, the judges made their way down the line up. Asking you all sorts of questions. What's the history? What makes this car unique? Has it been restored at all? How many miles on it? How many owners has it had?
They make you get in the car, and start it up for them. They check all the lights to see if they work, all of the gauges on the dashboard, the horn. If you thought getting your state inspection for your daily driver was stressful, this was 100x more than that. They want to know everything. All while writing things down on their clipboards. Did I mention that they all were wearing very sharp dark blue blazers.
It was very intimidating.
Then they shook your hand, said nice to meet you, and moved on to the next car.
They make you get in the car, and start it up for them. They check all the lights to see if they work, all of the gauges on the dashboard, the horn. If you thought getting your state inspection for your daily driver was stressful, this was 100x more than that. They want to know everything. All while writing things down on their clipboards. Did I mention that they all were wearing very sharp dark blue blazers.
It was very intimidating.
Then they shook your hand, said nice to meet you, and moved on to the next car.
Concours judging/awards are as follows:
1. Blue Ribbon (Best in Class) Based on a point system. All cars start with 100 points. For every "flaw" you lose a point. The car with the most points wins.
2. Purple Ribbon (Judges Choice) This could be the Judges favorite, Best Example of a Restoration, Oldest Car, etc.
3. Red Ribbon (Class Award) This is essentially an Honorable Mention. It didn't have enough points to win a Blue Ribbon and didn't quite fit the category for a Purple Ribbon, but the judges still felt that it needed to be recognized.
1. Blue Ribbon (Best in Class) Based on a point system. All cars start with 100 points. For every "flaw" you lose a point. The car with the most points wins.
2. Purple Ribbon (Judges Choice) This could be the Judges favorite, Best Example of a Restoration, Oldest Car, etc.
3. Red Ribbon (Class Award) This is essentially an Honorable Mention. It didn't have enough points to win a Blue Ribbon and didn't quite fit the category for a Purple Ribbon, but the judges still felt that it needed to be recognized.
Well, if you follow us on social media, you know what's next:
A Red Ribbon. Class Award. Honorable Mention. The judges thought that our (customer's) car should still get recognition for being such an amazing car. And what an amazing car she is.
A 1967 Alfa Romeo GranSport Quattroroute Zagato.
One of 92 produced. Designed by Zagato, as an homage to the 1930's Alfa Romeo 6C 1750, but with the modern (of the times) engine and suspension of the Alfa Romeo Giulia.
This particular car is a single family owned vehicle. Purchased by a gentleman as a Christmas gift to his wife. The two of them put over 100,000 miles on the Alfa, traveling all up and down the east coast.
The daughter now owns the Zagato, and just like her father, also daily drives the car, putting another 14,000 miles on.
In the research I've done, I can only find 2 other GranSport 4R Zagato's in the United States, and those are both west coast. Meaning if you were at the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance in 2023 you got to see a very rare care indeed.
As far as how many are left in the world, that I'm still doing more research on.
One of 92 produced. Designed by Zagato, as an homage to the 1930's Alfa Romeo 6C 1750, but with the modern (of the times) engine and suspension of the Alfa Romeo Giulia.
This particular car is a single family owned vehicle. Purchased by a gentleman as a Christmas gift to his wife. The two of them put over 100,000 miles on the Alfa, traveling all up and down the east coast.
The daughter now owns the Zagato, and just like her father, also daily drives the car, putting another 14,000 miles on.
In the research I've done, I can only find 2 other GranSport 4R Zagato's in the United States, and those are both west coast. Meaning if you were at the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance in 2023 you got to see a very rare care indeed.
As far as how many are left in the world, that I'm still doing more research on.
Even though we didn't win "Best of" or get a purple ribbon, as a whole, my team and I felt like we had already won, well before they came over with that shiny red ribbon. We worked our butts off, our (as in us and the customer) car got the Accepted from the Concours judges. We got to park our car on the famous Greenwich field among vehicles that I've never seen before, vehicles that valued between $4-8 million. We got to rub elbows with people way out of our league. We got to learn a whole hell of a lot. We did it. And I'm still in complete shock.
I am proud of my team. I couldn't have done this without them.
I am proud of my team. I couldn't have done this without them.
