PEBBLE BEACH — For many years, a small group of car enthusiasts would come together to decide which classic cars would be showcased at the Concours d’Elegance. However, in 2005, Chairman Sandra Button created an official selection committee to share their expertise, insights, research, and love for vintage automobiles, expanding the range of perspectives and knowledge used to choose the brands—car manufacturers or labels—that will be featured at future Concours d’Elegance events. Much of the process relies on enthusiasm and available opportunities.
That panel is now responsible for contributing their own knowledge and remaining attentive to discover what hobbyists globally are passionate about.
Occasionally, the brand selects us in a certain manner,” said Button. “Many years ago, probably around 20 years back, each year seemed to mark a centennial for some brand. Therefore, when significant dates occur, it becomes an easy choice. We are currently celebrating the 100th anniversary of Chrysler, for instance. And because the less well-known designer Virgil Exner utilized many Chrysler chassis, we will highlight him.
As part of the Chrysler Centennial Celebration, the Concours will include a category showcasing the Chrysler Town and Country models from 1941 to 1950.
Being the most impractical vehicles on the planet makes them fascinating,” stated Chief Judge Chris Bock, a long-serving member of the Selection Committee. “If you were to combine all the worst aspects of a wooden boat and apply them to a car, you’d end up with something like this. However, they were actually quite elegant, what I refer to as ‘smile cars’ because when people look at them, they can’t help but smile.
Alongside Chrysler, this year celebrates the 100th anniversary of Invicta, Moretti, and the Rolls-Royce Phantom. It also marks the 60th anniversary of the Shelby Cobra 427. Furthermore, it is the 75th anniversary of Formula 1 racing, which aligns with the release of “F1,” the latest Formula 1 film featuring Brad Pitt. Is this a coincidence? Unlikely.
At times, a marque holds broad significance, while at other times, it highlights a single model that carried special importance. Take Virgil Exner, whose influence went beyond the Chrysler framework. By the age of 26, Exner was already the chief stylist at Pontiac. Three years later, he took on the role of chief styling engineer at Studebaker, and by just before his 40th birthday, he became head of advanced styling, during which he is thought to have transformed the design of American automobiles.
Picture a young man, full of courage and innovation, operating in a field where just a few years prior, car purchasers were limited by a certain idea. “Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black,” Henry Ford stated in 1909.
No one, according to Concours staff, had a deeper grasp of the magic of automotive imagination than Exner. However, beauty, grace, subtle glamour, and the seamless combination of colors and shades were also defining characteristics of his creations. Exner is quoted as saying in 1947, “A design is meaningless if it cannot be turned into a real automobile that is structurally solid, economically practical, and functionally attractive.”
In some cases, the basis for creating an automotive feature is the initial or final year of a specific road race that later became an important part of automotive history. In two years, the Mille Miglia, an open-road motorsport endurance race that first took place in 1927, will celebrate its 100th anniversary. Formula 1 racing is another instance of an event, rather than a specific vehicle, that is deserving of recognition.
Part of the process of determining what we will highlight involves lively discussions among the 15 members of the Concours Selection Committee,” said Chris Bock. “Someone might suggest, ‘What if we put together a group or two of cars that showcase a specific custom body designer?’ For instance, during the peak years and the Depression, many cars had uniquely crafted custom bodies from well-known companies, and we plan to honor them.
Automotive innovation
The combination of automotive expertise and historical understanding among the committee members, along with an openness to break traditional norms, results in some remarkable features. Technology and aesthetics frequently define a category, like vehicles that feature a particular curve or those with fins. Take the Wedge class, which showcases cars typically known for a low, streamlined shape, sharp or angular design, and a shortened rear end, often looking like a wedge-shaped tool or a sharp slice of cheese.
This class was established following the remarkable 1979 Aston Martin Bulldog, a British, unique concept car designed by William Towns, which was suggested in 2024 but didn’t match any existing classes. This prompted the idea of a 2025 class, based on the entries that might be submitted. It turned out that the interest was so high that the single proposed Wedge class expanded into two fully populated classes of vehicles.
Moreover, certain classes are proposed by car enthusiasts who are not part of the Concours Selection Committee. Bruce Meyer was instrumental in advocating for a Hot Rod category during the 1990s, and since then, the Concours has included this class approximately every two to three years. A passionate collector, Jim Fasnacht, inspired by the elegant, front-wheel-drive Ruxtons featuring Art Deco design and a range of colors, suggested the 2018 Ruxton class. For this year, it was automotive enthusiasts who initially proposed the Moretti and Shelby Cobra categories.
Honoring American marques
A perception exists within the classic car community, according to Chris Bock, that after World War II, American cars turned out to be dull and unexciting, with the real creativity and design advancements happening in Europe.
That’s somewhat accurate,” he remarked, “but I believe we shouldn’t ignore what happened in this nation during that period. When automobiles became genuinely mass-produced, it was indeed challenging to match the offerings of Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Ferrari, and Aston Martin, which kept producing distinctive vehicles. Therefore, it’s correct that there was a greater range emerging from Europe. However, there were also remarkable American cars.
A few years ago, Bock campaigned for and organized a “Dream Car” class from the 1950s to 1960s, inspired by what a wealthy American would purchase to make an impression on friends at the country club—something distinctive and limited in production, maybe a convertible.
This was an enjoyable class, offering a great overview of postwar vehicles,” he said, “which featured models like Cadillac, Packard, Chrysler, and the Lincoln Continental. Each year, our selection of brands is inspired by different sources. It will be interesting to showcase what we’ve created this year.
