The Concours d’Elegance, the Detroit automotive community’s home-grown classic car show, is moving from its traditional summer date at the end of July to a date in September, which will overlap with the North American International Auto Show.
Hagerty, the collectible car insurer that acquired the rights to the show last year, is changing show dates to September 16-18 at the Detroit Institute of Arts in the center of Detroit.
The organizers of the North American International Auto Show have said the 2022 show will take place Sept. 14-25 in downtown Detroit. Media/tech days for the NAIAS will take place Sept. 14-15, the Charity Preview is scheduled for Sept. 16 and public days will run Sept. 17-25.
The show will take place in Detroit’s Huntington Place convention center, facing the Detroit River, and around downtown Detroit with indoor and outdoor interactive displays, said Rod Alberts, executive director of the Detroit Auto Dealers Association, which puts on the show. The city has been without one of its signature events since January 2019 when DADA staged the last show.
Concours being re-tooled
Before the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellations of shows around the world, the NAIAS, with its long-standing emphasis on design was considered one of the industry’s most influential auto shows.
Concours emphasize automotive history and classic vehicles rather than new cars and trucks. The debut of the inaugural Detroit Concours d’Elegance will build upon the Concours d’Elegance of America’s four decades of excellence, organizers said.
Held at venues throughout the city, complimentary and ticketed activities include new vehicle showcases, ride & drive opportunities, exclusive experiences, engaging seminars as well as Saturday’s Cars & Community and Sunday’s Concours d’Elegance.
“We’re incredibly excited about the event’s new home in downtown Detroit. Being there puts car lovers right in the middle of the thriving design, music and sporting culture of the Motor City,” said McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty.
“Concours weekends are about championing the fact that all cars are cool and some of them are just jewels that need to be celebrated. This event will honor the tradition of the concours, but also bring in new elements to provide on-ramps for future car lovers and families.”
Plenty of fun
The city’s first Cars & Community will debut Sept. 17. The family-friendly automotive festival features Cars & Caffeine, RADwood and Concours d’Lemons displays as well as a Kids Zone, with activities for enthusiasts of all ages. A portion of every ticket sold supports local charities.
On Sunday, Hagerty will transform the Detroit Institute of Arts grounds into an automotive wonderland. The architecture and location in the heart of the city’s cultural center make it the ideal setting for a competition of elegance, where the world’s finest automobiles can be observed and celebrated as rolling works of art.
“Detroit is the epicenter of car culture and the new event identity celebrates that,” said Tarra Warnes, Hagerty’s vice president of creative strategy. “The look and feel is industrial yet sophisticated to reflect the energy of automotive design. The new logo is a badge of honor, as proud as the city of Detroit.”
It will be interesting to see how the show promoters manage to layout 250 plus cars onto the grounds of the Art Institute. Here is a birds eye view of the property:
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