Where the Cars Are the Stars – Firsts – Cobble Beach Concours d'Elegance

August 21, 2019 by Cobble Beach Concours

Kemble, Canada, August 21, 2019 -- The Cars are the Stars at 7th Annual Cobble Beach Concours d'Elegance, as they take to the stage and to the green, at Cobble Beach Golf Resort Community. Every year for the past 6 years, over 100 classic and vintage automobiles have made their way to the beautiful shores of Georgian Bay to participate in the annual Concours d'Elegance at Cobble Beach. A long-held tradition stemming from the 17th century when cars would parade through the parks of Paris, France, evolving into what we now know as a competition of elegance (Concours d'Elegance) displaying not only antiques but classic automobiles as well, for both competition and celebration.

With 16 classes in total for judging purposes, each class will consist of either 4 or 8 vehicles, hand selected by a committee of automotive experts who study each vehicle closely, paying attention to the finer details, right down to the correct bolts used for that car's time period. On Sunday, September 15, 2019, a panel of 48 judges take to the 18th fairway at Cobble Beach Golf Resort Community and begin scoring each of these vehicles against others in their class, in order to choose the best in that class. First, second and third place is awarded within each class, and each class winner is eligible for one of either the Best of Show, the Most Outstanding Pre or Post War awards.

With many vehicles vying for the limited class spots, a recurring theme has arisen during the company's research: that of 'firsts.' In the Horseless Carriage class, they have secured a 1903 Cadillac Model A Runabout with Tonneau, Right Hand Drive, representing Cadillac's first full year of production. Following three prototypes built and tested in October of 1902, then displayed at the New York Auto Show in January of 1903, it was declared a sell-out with 2,286 orders placed in its first three days of showing. With an early proclaimed reputation for reliability and for the interchangeability of its parts and components, Cadillac won hill climb and reliability awards in its first year of production.

Featured in the Corvette class is one of the first 1953 Chevrolet Corvettes, rolling off a pilot production line in late June of 1953. This first-year Corvette was available only in Polo White with red bucket seat trim in the interior and was an original General Motors Motorama show car. Today, all Corvettes are considered as American as 'hot dogs, baseball, and apple pie' and draw the attention of car enthusiasts today, just as they did back in 1953.

Another first to be featured in this year's Concours is a 1965 Shelby GT350, taking its place in the American Muscle Car class for this year. Only 562 were produced in 1965 of which 516 were street cars. All were Wimbledon white with blue rocker panel stripes, and this particular vehicle is one of a desirable early 'double digit' serial number, meaning it was one of the first 100 cars produced for homologation purposes to qualify for SCAA racing. Make sure you look for the trunk-mounted battery that was discontinued part way through production.