A thorough exploration of the history of concours d’élégance, covering its origins and significance.

Beginning in France in the 1920s, elegant exhibitions of the latest designs from carmakers, chassis builders, and coachbuilders evolved over more than a century into a celebration of historic vehicles. Today, these events reflect global admiration for classic cars, viewed as treasured artifacts worthy of preservation, conservation, or restoration, and showcased as part of humanity's industrial heritage. 

This book celebrates this evolution, exploring the origins of the earliest concours d'élégance and how the tradition expanded to feature women, fashion, and lifestyle. It also examines how the concept was reimagined in the New World, transforming into a festival that honors both the exceptional and the unconventional, creating a fresh style and new purpose.
 

Daniel Cabart is a renowned specialist in the Delage brand and has a history of deep passion for the French marque for over four decades. He has amassed an extensive archive, sourcing invaluable materials from early historians and pioneers of Delage's legacy, making his collection a crucial reference point even today. Cabart has authored or coauthored several acclaimed books about Delage, including Delage, la belle voiture française; Delage: France's Finest Car; Delage Champion du Monde; and Delage, Records et Grand Prix. He also coauthored a key reference book on the Ballot brand and has contributed to the research, documentation, and iconography of numerous publications focused on automotive history and coachbuilding. Denis Cohignac began his career in sales management within the Renault Group, eventually leading the Boulogne-Billancourt subsidiary. His doctoral thesis delves into the corporate values of the automotive industry, reflecting his ability to merge deep analysis with his passion for cars. As the founder of Formatis International, he has spent over two decades providing training and strategic consulting to major manufacturers like Audi, Porsche, Renault, and Harley Davidson, aiding in their transformation initiatives. As president of Dinard Élégance, he collaborated with the city of Dinard and a team of fellow enthusiasts to revive the distinguished Dinard Élégance Concours, a tradition that dates back to 1921, celebrating the timeless beauty and sophistication of the automobile. Patrick Rollet has been involved with historic vehicles for over thirty years and is a founder of the international Fougeres Rally. He was the director and vice president of the French Federation of Time Automobiles (FFVE) and vice president and then president of Fédération International des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA). He is a committee member of several concours d'élégance in France (Dinard, Gambais and La Baule) and has served as a judge in various concours in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. He is the author of Automobiles & Patrimoine and articles in several historic car magazines. Rollet is Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Mérite, Chevalier des Arts & des Lettres, honorary president of Fédération International des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA), and honorary president of Club de l'Auto. Gautam Sen is a frequent concours judge, author, and design consultant, as well as a co-conspirator with prominent designers such as Marcello Gandini, Tom Tjaarda, and Gérard Godfroy on several vehicle projects. Sen is also the founder or editor of several Indian automotive magazines, establishing the country’s first car magazine in 1986. Vice president of Fédération International des Véhicules Anciens (FIVA) since 2015, Sen is the author of coauthor of Marcello Gandini: Maestro of Design, Ballot, The Bertone Collection, Tom Tjaarda: Master of Proportions, Lamborghini: At the Cutting Edge of Design, Bugatti: The Italian Decade, Alfa Romeo SZ Coda Tronca: The Art of Conservation, and When Wedge Had the Edge, all published by Dalton Watson.