Hagerty Acquires Concours d’Elegance, July Event Set for Inn at St. John’s

Hagerty, a provider of specialty insurance for enthusiast vehicles in Traverse City, has announced its acquisition of, and partnership with, the Concours d’Elegance of America. The Concours, conducted annually in Plymouth Township, is one of the premier classic car shows in the world.
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Concours d'Elegance
Hagerty in Traverse City has acquired the Concours d’Elegance of America in Plymouth Township. // Photo courtesy of Concours d’Elegance of America

Hagerty, a provider of specialty insurance for enthusiast vehicles in Traverse City, has announced its acquisition of, and partnership with, the Concours d’Elegance of America. The Concours, conducted annually in Plymouth Township, is one of the premier classic car shows in the world.

The 42nd annual Concours d’Elegance of America takes place July 23-25, 2021. In 2011, the event moved to the Inn at St. John’s in Plymouth Township.

The event originated 41 years ago at Meadow Brook Hall in Rochester Hills, the historic manor of Matilda Dodge Wilson, widow of automotive pioneer John Dodge, and her second husband, Alfred Wilson. Today, Meadow Brook Hall is owned by Oakland University.

“The Concours d’Elegance of America is a premiere event in the home of American car culture, and we couldn’t be more honored to have the opportunity to help make it even better,” says McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty.

The move follows Hagerty’s recent acquisitions of other top automotive events — the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance and the California Mille.

“Sometimes change can be serendipitous,” says Larry Moss, board chairman of the Concours d’Elegance of America. “In this case, we have found the perfect caretaker for our cherished event, which will allow the Concours and its partners to focus on a common goal — producing the richest automotive experience while serving the needs of our community.”

Hagerty says it will work in tandem with the existing operational team to raise the profile of the Concours annual event. For continuity, Tara Noftz will continue as director, while Moss will remain as board chairman. The event’s philanthropic mission will remain focused on automotive education and supporting local charities.

On July 25, the field will offer more than 250 significant classic and historically relevant vehicles ranging from the Gas Light era and Modern Collectables to Super Cars. Other weekend events include a Motoring Tour, a seminar and luncheon on Women in the Auto Industry: From Influencer to Leader, an Invitational Art Exhibition, British Invasion II, the 2021 Chairman’s Dinner, and more.

The Concours d’Elegance has its roots in 17th century France, when people would parade their horse-drawn carriages through the parks of Paris. With the advent of the automobile, Concours d’Elegance events evolved into competitions between automobile manufacturers, custom coachbuilders, and owners, whose vehicles were judged on the beauty of their design.

For more information on the 2021 Concours, visit https://concoursusa.org/schedule-of-events/.

Hagerty hosts, partners with, or participates in more than 2,000 car events annually. The company has a major presence at the nation’s largest events in Pebble Beach, Calif., and Amelia Island, Fla., as well as the annual auction week in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The company also offers Hagerty Drivers Club, Hagerty DriveShare, Hagerty Valuation Tools, Hagerty Drivers Club magazine, Hagerty Media, MotorsportReg, Hagerty Garage + Social, the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance, the California Mille, and more.