Concours d’Elegance: The Met Gala of Motor Vehicles

Every August, the grounds of Pebble Beach transform into something between a garden party and an automotive Versailles. Concours d’Elegance, the most prestigious car show in the world, is where the rarest and most valuable vehicles are not just displayed—they are judged, fawned over, and in some cases, worshipped. It is a parade of pedigree, an event that elevates machinery into museum-worthy masterpieces.

Unlike conventional car shows where new models are unveiled to press and public, the Concours is about preservation and provenance. Here, you’ll find Duesenbergs with their original luggage still tucked in the trunk, Bugattis polished to within an inch of their coachbuilt lives, and Ferraris that haven’t seen a drop of rain in 40 years. The judging is as intense as it is inscrutable. Points are deducted for inauthenticity. Perfection is expected.

But make no mistake, it’s as much about fashion as function. Attendees come dressed in linen suits, wide-brimmed hats, and vintage Rolexes. Champagne flows. Caviar is spooned delicately onto crackers atop convertible bonnets. If the Met Gala celebrates celebrity, Concours celebrates craftsmanship.

There is also serious money at play. Winning Best of Show can double a car’s value overnight, turning what was already a $20 million possession into a $40 million piece of history. Collectors fly in from across the globe, vying not just for ribbons, but for legacy.

In a world obsessed with the new, Concours reminds us of the magic in the enduring—a reverence for the art of the automobile.