2023 Detroit Concours photos

[95Cardinal]

A broad sample from the event at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Weather was perfect!

This first set of images are from the "57 Heaven", "European Pre-War", "Post-War European" and "120 Years of Buick" classes.

[95Cardinal]

More from "120 Years of Buick", 

[95Cardinal]

American Pre-War

[95Cardinal]

RADWOOD and Mopar Magic classes.

Very rare 440 Dart GTS in this group, along with a LeMans winning Viper.

[keiser31]

Very nice assortment of cars! Thanks for sharing.

[95Cardinal]

Japanese Classics, 60th Anniversary of Lamborghini, 60th Anniversary of McLaren, Post-War European, Designs of Gordon Buehrig 

[95Cardinal]

Star Cars (vehicles owned or driven by celebrities), Concours of America Star Cars (previous class winners)

The 1964 Dodge 880 is being raffled (drawing on September 24). Originally owned by Horace Dodge, second owners Mary and Ralph C. Wilson

[keiser31]

My Dad had a 1964 Custom 880 convertible in those exact colors. He got it from the Chrysler executive lot. I think he said it was the director/manager of Dodge's wife's car. He had it painted olive green and boy, was I disappointed when he did that.

[95Cardinal]

Best of Show was the 1939 Delahaye 135 MS Figoni et Falaschi Cabriolet, owned by Ted and Mary Stahl.

More about that car here: https://www.hagerty.com/media/news/2023-detroit-concours-best-of-show-is-this-1939-delahaye-135-ms-figoni-et-falaschi-cabriolet/

 

 

 

[John_S_in_Penna]

1 hour ago, 95Cardinal said:

 

 

What is the building in the background of some

of the pictures?  Is it an old hotel?  It sort of looks

like the old General Motors building.

 

Is it in good condition?  What is its current use?

 

It's good to see excellent old architecture well

preserved, as much as old cars.

 

Edited September 24, 2023 by John_S_in_Penna (see edit history)

[95Cardinal]

41 minutes ago, John_S_in_Penna said:

 

What is the building in the background of some

of the pictures?  Is it an old hotel?  It sort of looks

like the old General Motors building.

 

Is it in good condition?  What is its current use?

 

It's good to see excellent old architecture well

preserved, as much as old cars.

 

Good eye!

It's the Park Shelton Hotel, built in 1926.

Currently luxury condominiums with a couple of great restaurants on the Woodward side of the building.

There might be some offices in there, also.

https://www.highrises.com/buildings/detroit_mi/the-park-shelton_15-e-kirby-st_2531

[edinmass]

Any car show/concours that has a category on the field for “Japanese Classics” is a show that I will not attend. Just who is picking the class categories for shows now? 

[95Cardinal]

15 minutes ago, edinmass said:

Any car show/concours that has a category on the field for “Japanese Classics” is a show that I will not attend. Just who is picking the class categories for shows now?

I thought that might generate some conversation here...

I assume the Hagerty folks are choosing classes to achieve the objectives for the events they operate.

Edited September 24, 2023 by 95Cardinal (see edit history)

[Milburn Drysdale]

What was once a great show originally at Meadowbrook and then moved to St. John’s has seriously deteriorated to a third class show. The lack of cars was evident. I can’t imagine this show continuing in its present form for very long. 

[MotiveLensPhoto]

1 hour ago, edinmass said:

Any car show/concours that has a category on the field for “Japanese Classics” is a show that I will not attend. Just who is picking the class categories for shows now? 

I'm new to the hobby and not well informed. Could you expand on that?

[alsancle]

1 hour ago, edinmass said:

Any car show/concours that has a category on the field for “Japanese Classics” is a show that I will not attend. Just who is picking the class categories for shows now? 

 

So I saw that and had a bit of a negative reaction also.   There are some interesting Japanese cars but they are all post 1970 for the most part so that would definitely limit your interest as well as  mine.   For the majority of people I'm sure it is a plus.

[alsancle]

17 minutes ago, MotiveLensPhoto said:

I'm new to the hobby and not well informed. Could you expand on that?

 

With a very few exceptions the Japanese car market has catered to the masses as opposed to the few.  The later being where most concours quality cars come from.

[38Buick 80C]

The blue on the '60 Buick!!! 😍🤩

[edinmass]

53 minutes ago, MotiveLensPhoto said:

I'm new to the hobby and not well informed. Could you expand on that?

To be fair…….”we” meaning my close friends and I are all pre WWII car guys. It’s certainly not a “main stream” context or opinion. Simply put they are all “common production xxxx” not wishing to offend. Think of it as an Archie Bunker mentality when talking about cars. 

Edited September 24, 2023 by edinmass (see edit history)

[alsancle]

1 hour ago, edinmass said:

To be fair…….”we” meaning my close friends and I are all pre WWII car guys. It’s certainly not a “main stream” context or opinion. Simply put they are all “common production xxxx” not wishing to offend. Think of it as an Archie Bunker mentality when talking about cars. 

Not mainstream but definitely elitist!

[95Cardinal]

2 hours ago, 38Buick 80C said:

The blue on the '60 Buick!!! 😍🤩

That one belongs to a friend of mine from Flint. It's a beautiful car!

[Thomas Wright]

7 hours ago, 95Cardinal said:

A broad sample from the event at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Weather was perfect!

This first set of images are from the "57 Heaven", "European Pre-War", "Post-War European" and "120 Years of Buick" classes.

What a beauty

[58L-Y8]

Thanks for sharing the photos, a few interesting cars in attendance.  I'll happily leave it to the future generations to accept the idea of "Japanese Classics" as anything but an oxymoron. 

[Dave Wells]

9 hours ago, edinmass said:

Any car show/concours that has a category on the field for “Japanese Classics” is a show that I will not attend. Just who is picking the class categories for shows now? 

 

7 hours ago, edinmass said:

To be fair…….”we” meaning my close friends and I are all pre WWII car guys. It’s certainly not a “main stream” context or opinion. Simply put they are all “common production xxxx” not wishing to offend. Think of it as an Archie Bunker mentality when talking about cars. 

 

6 hours ago, alsancle said:

Not mainstream but definitely elitist!

 

If not "borderline" racist...

[alsancle]

5 hours ago, Vinny... said:

 

 

 

If not "borderline" racist...

Should I assume you’re joking?

[TAKerry]

I dont get the whole JDM thing but I am not a 30 yo gamer either. There are a few Japanese cars I would not mind having in my garage, a Toyota 2000 comes to mind and any 40, 60 and a few 80 Z cars. But to me a right hand drive skyline means nothing, no offense meant. Then again growing up with an older brother that had a multitude of VW's of which none were anything more than a **^&^^* I dont get why people like those?

I would welcome any of these kind of cars to any show or concours. 

[8E45E]

3 minutes ago, TAKerry said:

I dont get the whole JDM thing but I am not a 30 yo gamer either. There are a few Japanese cars I would not mind having in my garage, a Toyota 2000 comes to mind and any 40, 60 and a few 80 Z cars. But to me a right hand drive skyline means nothing, no offense meant. Then again growing up with an older brother that had a multitude of VW's of which none were anything more than a **^&^^* I dont get why people like those?

Some have forgotten the mainstream car magazines of the time teased us with many JDM car pictures back in the early to mid-1970's.  Motor Trend, and Road & Track showed many photos of Skylines, later Crowns, Centurys, etc., that were not available here in North America; not to mention, some body styles of models that were less the ugly 5-mph bumpers they got from 1974-onwards.  

 

Its finally nice to see some of them in the flesh here.

 

Craig

[A Woolf]

On 9/24/2023 at 4:00 PM, edinmass said:

Any car show/concours that has a category on the field for “Japanese Classics” is a show that I will not attend. Just who is picking the class categories for shows now? 

Have we reached peak Concours?  I can see Pebble and a couple of other well curated Concours surviving in the future.  I am seeing a trend in several Concours toward more common production cars.  That is ok but I am less inclined to pay the high price for a ticket to such an event.  The AACA car show Hershey is a much better value.  Entry to the show is free and there are diverse cars of all types and many are restored as well as any car at a typical Concours.

Alan 

[TAKerry]

I think the term 'concours' for a car show has been overplayed. There are some prestige events but for every one there are probably 4 in name. To me it cheapens the brand if you can call it that.

[B Jake Moran]

On 9/24/2023 at 3:00 PM, edinmass said:

Any car show/concours that has a category on the field for “Japanese Classics” is a show that I will not attend. Just who is picking the class categories for shows now? 

While I would agree not to use the word Classics, I am OK with Japanese cars as a class.  They certainly had no impact prior to a certain time, but once they got rolling, they created more and more interesting cars and are among the best of styled and provocative cars of the last 30 years.  

[B Jake Moran]

On 9/24/2023 at 4:08 PM, Milburn Drysdale said:

What was once a great show originally at Meadowbrook and then moved to St. John’s has seriously deteriorated to a third class show. The lack of cars was evident. I can’t imagine this show continuing in its present form for very long. 

I did not know that this was the former Meadowbrooks.  I have not been to any of these shows but Meadowbrooks was touted as one of the 3 best true Concours events of the US along with Amelia Island and Pebblebeach.  I don't run in these crowds, so don't keep up.  

[Matt Harwood]

Remember when the guys with brass cars and early pre-war cars would scoff at the guys who liked 1959 Cadillacs, calling them "used cars" back in the '60s and '70s? Yeah, this is exactly like that.

Time has a way of changing perspectives. There's no denying the impact that Japanese cars have had on the industry and while a great many of their cars were just disposable transportation (like, say, a Model A Ford) there were also plenty of special cars that likewise deserve a place in the hobby.

 

Also remember the demographics in the hobby are changing. Many collectors gravitate towards the cars of their youth, or at least cars that influenced them when they were younger. If you're in your 40s or younger, that was frequently a Japanese car from the '80s or '90s. No surprise that younger collectors gravitate towards these Japanese cars--what possible connection would they have to a 1948 Desoto?

 

I don't love Japanese cars and frequently wring my hands over the proliferation of '80s and newer cars at shows--mostly because I, too, regard them as "used cars." I recon that's simply because they were regular cars within my lifetime. They, too, will eventually pass into history without anyone alive having a touchstone to them. Will they always be regarded as just used cars? I'm not so sure. I doubt they will ever be regarded as greatness like brass cars and cars of the 1930s, but that's for history to decide.

 

They have a seat at the table and given history's track record, it's not unprecedented nor unwarranted.

[kar3516]

14 hours ago, Matt Harwood said:

Remember when the guys with brass cars and early pre-war cars would scoff at the guys who liked 1959 Cadillacs, calling them "used cars" back in the '60s and '70s? Yeah, this is exactly like that.

Time has a way of changing perspectives. There's no denying the impact that Japanese cars have had on the industry and while a great many of their cars were just disposable transportation (like, say, a Model A Ford) there were also plenty of special cars that likewise deserve a place in the hobby.

 

Also remember the demographics in the hobby are changing. Many collectors gravitate towards the cars of their youth, or at least cars that influenced them when they were younger. If you're in your 40s or younger, that was frequently a Japanese car from the '80s or '90s. No surprise that younger collectors gravitate towards these Japanese cars--what possible connection would they have to a 1948 Desoto?

 

I don't love Japanese cars and frequently wring my hands over the proliferation of '80s and newer cars at shows--mostly because I, too, regard them as "used cars." I recon that's simply because they were regular cars within my lifetime. They, too, will eventually pass into history without anyone alive having a touchstone to them. Will they always be regarded as just used cars? I'm not so sure. I doubt they will ever be regarded as greatness like brass cars and cars of the 1930s, but that's for history to decide.

 

They have a seat at the table and given history's track record, it's not unprecedented nor unwarranted.

Just try to find an original unmodified MK IV (1993 to 1998) six speed Toyota Supra with low miles; prices are going through the roof with choicest examples in six figures.  Many 16 to 25 year old enthusiasts dreamed of owning one because the stock 320 hp 3.0 liter twin turbo six cylinder could be increased to 600 reliable horsepower for $7500.  There are cars running 1000 hp if you have the big bucks.  Because so many were wrecked or heavily modified the (now) 45 year old demographic will pay big bucks for an unmolested example.  Production numbers were not very high (3000+/-) each year and the survival rate was horrible.  I owned a total of five six speed cars over a number of years and two automatics.  Wrecked two unfortunately.  Both were completely and professionally repaired and driven for multiple years thereafter.  Very high quality cars for their time.  And tons of fun to drive.  The US spec cars in stock configuration had a fuel shutoff at 162 mph; I verified it…once.  The European spec cars also bone stock did not have the fuel shutoff and advertised top speed was 179 mph.  I still have an internal dealer brochure that says 179 mph.  Incredibly durable engines capable of much more hp than delivered stock.  

[TAKerry]

7 hours ago, kar3516 said:

Just try to find an original unmodified MK IV (1993 to 1998) six speed Toyota Supra with low miles; prices are going through the roof with choicest examples in six figures.  Many 16 to 25 year old enthusiasts dreamed of owning one because the stock 320 hp 3.0 liter twin turbo six cylinder could be increased to 600 reliable horsepower for $7500.  There are cars running 1000 hp if you have the big bucks.  Because so many were wrecked or heavily modified the (now) 45 year old demographic will pay big bucks for an unmolested example.  Production numbers were not very high (3000+/-) each year and the survival rate was horrible.  I owned a total of five six speed cars over a number of years and two automatics.  Wrecked two unfortunately.  Both were completely and professionally repaired and driven for multiple years thereafter.  Very high quality cars for their time.  And tons of fun to drive.  The US spec cars in stock configuration had a fuel shutoff at 162 mph; I verified it…once.  The European spec cars also bone stock did not have the fuel shutoff and advertised top speed was 179 mph.  I still have an internal dealer brochure that says 179 mph.  Incredibly durable engines capable of much more hp than delivered stock.  

Exactly my point. That sounds like an amazing car but IF I were in the market for a Supra it would be from the 80's. Something like this has zero appeal to me, but then again I am sure you would scoff at my 220 hp Trans Am. Personally I see no need for excess hp. I am probably in the minority but I could care less if my car can go over 70mph. That speed gets me down the highway safely and happy. I never was one for speed. I like the idea of a car being able to get up and go, pass a slower vehicle when the need is there but other than that I pretty much drive like the grandpa that I am. I will reiterate, if it meets the criteria I have zero problems seeing them on a show field, and I do enjoy looking at them just the same as I will look at a Baker Electric, Studebaker Dictator or whatever.

[kar3516]

6 hours ago, TAKerry said:

Exactly my point. That sounds like an amazing car but IF I were in the market for a Supra it would be from the 80's. Something like this has zero appeal to me, but then again I am sure you would scoff at my 220 hp Trans Am. Personally I see no need for excess hp. I am probably in the minority but I could care less if my car can go over 70mph. That speed gets me down the highway safely and happy. I never was one for speed. I like the idea of a car being able to get up and go, pass a slower vehicle when the need is there but other than that I pretty much drive like the grandpa that I am. I will reiterate, if it meets the criteria I have zero problems seeing them on a show field, and I do enjoy looking at them just the same as I will look at a Baker Electric, Studebaker Dictator or whatever.

Well said TAKerry!  That was then and this is now.  Age eliminated my need to go fast and I won’t ever buy another big horsepower sports car.  I’ve completely converted to pre-war.  Art on wheels as far as I’m concerned!