The Detroit Concours, a celebration of the city and the automotive culture that defines it, will host “Powered by Detroit,” a campaign that honors the people who put the world on wheels by highlighting their vehicles and stories.
This year’s event takes place on the grounds of the Detroit Institute of Arts on Friday, Sept. 22 and Saturday, Sept. 23. Ed Welburn, a 44-year veteran of the General Motors Co. design team, will serve as chief judge.
As part of the “Powered by Detroit” campaign, area enthusiasts are encouraged to submit applications for their collector cars to be featured in a special display at Cars & Community on Friday, Sept. 22.
A special class, “Powered by Detroit,” complemented by manufacturer-owned heritage vehicles, will be shown on Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Detroit Concours d’Elegance. Additionally, all Detroit Three employees and retirees will receive discounted event tickets.
Car lovers are invited to participate in “Powered by Detroit” by submitting photos of themselves with their collectible automobiles here. Running through Aug. 15, the photos will form custom artwork and be unveiled at the September event.
“From assembly lines to design studios, machine shops, and board rooms, America’s automotive industry was powered by the people of Detroit. Many are unsung heroes, creating the cars we see in museums, on Concours lawns and racing at tracks around the world and we thought it was time to highlight their collective contributions,” says Matt Orendac, vice chairman, Concours Group, with Hagerty, which owns and operates the event.
“That’s why this year we’ve taken a traditional honoree program and scaled it up with Powered by Detroit as our way of recognizing this collective passion and contribution.”
The Detroit Concours brings the community together around the love of cars. Brand partners include Alfa Romeo, Detroit Area BMW Centers, Bollinger Motors, Fiat, LaFontaine Classic Cars, McLaren, Mobil 1, Newsweek, and Reliable Carriers. The event’s non-profit partners include Midtown Detroit Inc. and Cass Technical High School.
Friday’s Cars & Community event will provide a festival of fun for the whole family. The day will feature 100 cars including Motor City car club displays, a collection of locally owned show vehicles curated from the Midwest, the Powered by Detroit class, a RADwood-era showcase, and more.
Saturday’s Concours d’Elegance will host 150 historically significant vehicles. Featured classes including ’57 Heaven, Mopar Magic, Ferraris from the ’60s, and Concours of America All Stars, which will include Best in Class vehicles from 1979-2021.
Some Concours entrants for 2023 include the 1948 Tasco Prototype, 1966 Nissan Silvia CSP311, 1928 Auburn 8-115 Speedster, 1929 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe, and 1963 Buick Riviera. Early Entry and Club Detroit ticketholders may enter at 9 a.m.
Activities encompassing both days include a Future Drivers Club, with automotive activities designed just for kids as well as complimentary Mobil 1 Hagerty Ride & Drives which are available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Manufacturer test drives are expected with Alfa Romeo being an initial highlight.
The Detroit Concours d’Elegance builds on more than four decades of world-class automobiles, fine dining, exceptional hospitality and impactful community giving. Its heritage can be traced back to its beginnings in 1979 at Meadow Brook and Concours of America.
The brand is owned by Hagerty in Traverse City, a leading provider of specialty vehicle insurance, expert car valuation data and insights, live and digital car auction services, immersive events, and automotive entertainment custom made for the 67 million Americans who self-describe as car enthusiasts.
For more information on this year’s event or to purchase tickets, visit detroitconcours.com.
