This past Father’s Day, 47,000 attendees celebrated classic cars at the 31st Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance. The event also marked the 50th anniversary of Rodeo Drive and the 250th anniversary of the United States.
This crowd surpassed last year’s numbers by 7,000, and the energy was palpable. Rodeo Drive was filled with families and proud vehicle owners enjoying the extensive display. From the 1913 Mercedes 37/95 Double Phaeton Torpedo winning “Best of Show,” to the 1965 Lincoln that appears in the show “Entourage,” the collection appealed to every taste and age group.
At noon, Beverly Hills Mayor Craig Corman, Concours d’Elegance Chairman Bruce Meyer, Rodeo Drive Committee President Kathy Gohari and Jay Leno presented awards from the main event stage. Scott Temper’s 1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Playboy Deluxe Convertible received the Mayor’s Award for Most Elegant. Bruce Canepa’s 1977 Porsche 934½ won the Chairman’s Award.
During his remarks, Corman noted that this year also marks another important anniversary.
“This is the centennial of Route 66, the iconic transcontinental highway that connected Chicago to Santa Monica and ran through Beverly Hills along Santa Monica Boulevard, just steps from where we are now,” he said on stage. “Some of the cars you’re going to see today traveled down Route 66.”
Leno described for the crowd what sets Beverly Hills’ Concours d’Elegance apart from other car shows.
“This is the most expensive street in the world, and [the Concours d’Elegance] is free,” he said. “I see little kids, all kinds of folks and all walks of life. That’s what makes it really fun; everyone gets a chance to look at the cars and sit in the cars.”
Spanning from the 200 to 400 blocks of Rodeo Drive, owners stood beside their cars, answering questions from passersby throughout the event. Gary Wales explained how he came into his red 1917 REO Speed Wagon with “Lucky Buck” written on the front in gold letters.
“It had been buried in the Mojave Desert for well over half a century, and a friend of mine decided to clean up his ranch and bring over the remains to me,” he said. “He gave me four brand-new tires. Anyhow, this is what I built out of it, and as you can see, it’s a popular car because it makes you smile.”
Wales assembled the car himself and modified certain features, like the custom wood siding made from a repurposed cocktail table he bought online.
“I like to repurpose things,” Wales said. “They live longer, and the cars look good.”
Bruce Goldsmith, sitting beside his blue 1965 Superperformance Shelby Daytona Coupe, remarked on the size of the crowd.
“I’ve been coming here for years, and this year, the number of people is staggering,” he said. “On the one hand, it’s really exciting that there’s this many people that want to enjoy this. On the other hand, you have to get here early if you want to see the cars.”
Proceeds from the Concours d’Elegance will be donated to the Beverly Hills Police Foundation and the Beverly Hills Fire Chiefs Fund.
Next year’s Concours d’Elegance will take place on June 20, 2027.
