Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22446 Location: UK

Evening,

I doubt that I'll ever own anything good enough to ever worry a concours judge's pencil, but has anyone else here dabbled at concours levels of detailing, and entered into competition at an event?

RJ
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MikeEdwards · Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 2470 Location: South Cheshire

I'd love to have something that nice, but I have an excuse that so many parts aren't available for my car that it's pretty much impossible to get it spot on. On the other hand, the time and effort it takes to get a car to a proper concours level means it's very time-consuming before and after the event.

I knew a chap with a Vauxhall like mine, won a few prizes, but did tell me that it was such a lot of work to clean everything out after each trip that he couldn't enjoy just using it for the spectre of the cleaning session that would be required.

I do recall picking up some information about the Concours event that used to run at one of the Tatton Park shows, which might have been the Autoglym series. I recall it saying "in the event of a tie, the engine oil will be dipped and assessed for level and cleanliness.", which is perhaps taking things a bit far.

Right now I'd settle for being able to get my engine bay as clean as I'd like it.

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4104 Location: South Cheshire

My MGA is IMHO! ok, but its certainly not concours; The dashboard knobs are plastic repro's , the door gaps aint perfect, there are brackets that are BZP (again repro's) where original were mild steel, same with many nuts and bolts. Paint is 2 pack, original would have been celly, etc etc.

I dislike so called concours vehicles that have engine bays with chrome on brackets that were originally plain, and other bits polished that never were !

Dave

Ellis · Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2017 12:42 pm Post subject:

I was asked if I would consider entering my 1976 Triumph Stag into a local show concours competition in the late 1980s. I refused because even then standards expected were higher than I had the time to prepare for.

Sir William Lyons was invited to one of the Jaguar show events and on examining the concours entrants he was heard to mutter "They never left the factory looking like this."

One famous marque concours settled the winner one year by using a micrometer to measure the door gaps.
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Peter_L · Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2017 1:24 pm Post subject:

I knew a person, back in the UK, who had a concours car. I have to say he was one of the most boring and irritating people I have ever met. No matter what the conversation, he could turn it into something about his car within seconds.

However, each to their own and I am sure people enjoy taking part in all areas of the sport.

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7118 Location: Edinburgh

alastairq · Joined: 14 Oct 2016 Posts: 1952 Location: East Yorkshire

The 'classic' Ford Mustang has a parts supply second-to-none. [Thanks to USA enthusiasts]....a stroll through the various catalogues of bits will also include similar bits for concours....down to the correct design of wingnut for the air filter...ffs!!!!

Or, correct labels for the battery..or even, the regulator...should one's orginal label have disappeared! [deleted 'cos it might offend]

To encourage [discourage??] trailer queens, I do believe, the US concourse scene has a burgeoning class for those 'driven to & from the show'?

From what I have read, this gives extra points over a trailer queen.

I may be wrong there, however?

Peter_L · Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2017 2:05 pm Post subject:

Fascinating topic and using Alastair's reference to "Trailer Queen" I found the 'net full of information, comment and derision.

Having let the Genie out of the bottle and started down the road of concours then I can see that micro detail would be needed to find a winner, after all what is the point of any competition if everyone is a winner.

Any Dog or Cat show people here ? an as unnatural exhibition as any car concours.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22446 Location: UK

I remember being told of an MGB that was prep'd for concours, to the extent that none of the nuts and bolts were tightened up fully underneath in case it cracked the paint. I assume (hope) it was a trailer queen.

RJ
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lowdrag · Joined: 10 Apr 2009 Posts: 1585 Location: Le Mans

I have never entered my car but I judged concours, and as said some of these people can be the most boring ever. I was once pursued around the site by a disgruntled entrant who had come second, and two years back (I was not judging) I saw someone have his car criticised by the judges. One judge for the tool kit alone, two more for general condition and correctness, and another for other specialist parts. That is the world of club concours, but in most peoples' heads it is bright and shiny, and then they realize the world they have got themselves into. As a judge, you are never right of course, but according to many of the entrants the judges know nothing and have got it in for the entrants. Stay away!

Keith D · Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2017 3:28 pm Post subject:

I'm into cars, not oil paintings. Cars are things that drive along all sorts of bumpy, pot holey, muddy and dusty roads. They usually have dust, dirt and fequently oil on their engines. They also get stone chips, and all sorts of things dropped on them. The seats are actually sat on by humans. Often the family dog is aboard which means smeary licks all over the glass and hair on the seats! Their owners usually enjoy driving.

I've seen several car clubs disintegrate soley due to the arguments that arise from concours judging. Generally the person who has restored the car from the ground up is the real expert on that car, not some know-all who checks out different brands and models of cars that are competing against each other.

Keith
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Rootes75 · Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2017 4:02 pm Post subject:

My Cars and Lorries are there to be driven and used, its one thing I can't stand when we go to shows are these chaps who continuously polish and clean whilst the joe public are looking round.

Each to their own I suppose but its not for me.
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MikeEdwards · Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 2470 Location: South Cheshire

Paul fairall · Joined: 17 Nov 2016 Posts: 429 Location: North west Kent

BigJohn · Joined: 01 Jan 2011 Posts: 954 Location: Wem, Shropshire

Nearly 20yrs ago I was parked at a show next to a Volvo 122 which the owner had prepped for concours, I noticed all the bolt heads had their flats north/south. I asked how long this had taken and was told:

All winter, to surface grind washers to get them in line. !!!!!!!! Shocked

Life's too short.