For an automotive industry focused daily on affordability, monthly payments, inventory and transactions, events such as the Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance offer a very different view of the automobile.
They are a reminder that vehicles can also inspire passion, nostalgia, design appreciation and lifelong enthusiasm — qualities that continue to draw people together well beyond the traditional auto-show season.
That was on full display at the 12th annual Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance, held Sept. 20 at Cobble Beach Golf Resort near Owen Sound, Ont., where approximately 120 significant and rare automobiles filled the 18th fairway overlooking Georgian Bay.
Selected from more than 500 applicants, the vehicles competed across 22 classes. Entrants came from nine Canadian provinces and 12 U.S. states, including the largest contingent of American vehicles in the event’s history.
But founder and chair Rob McLeese has deliberately developed Cobble Beach into more than a Sunday judged-car competition.
“The Concours has been a fantastic event on its own, but over the years we have worked to create an accessible and multi-faceted automotive experience over the weekend,” said McLeese.
The weekend began Friday with the Tour d’Elegance, which took participating vehicles onto roads throughout the surrounding communities.
Saturday’s activities expanded into downtown Owen Sound, where Cars & Coffee, presented by Brackett Auto Group, put collectible vehicles on display and attracted visitors to local businesses.
Nearby, Oblivion Avenue showcased vehicles and music from the 1980s and 1990s — an era now increasingly attracting collectors who grew up with those vehicles.
The event also included an educational component focused on automotive history and design.
Legendary designer Peter Brock discussed the origins and history of the Daytona Cobra Coupe in a session moderated by Multimatic’s Larry Holt, while Armin Gröger, Chief Corporate Archivist at Mercedes-Benz Heritage in Germany, examined 140 years of innovation at Mercedes-Benz.
Mercedes-Benz Canada also connected that history with the current market, using the weekend for the Canadian debut of the 2027 S-Class alongside vehicles representing nearly nine decades of the brand’s history.
On Sunday, more than 40 judges evaluated the vehicles before selecting the major award winners.
Best of Show and the People’s Choice award went to Mary and Ted Stahl of Chesterfield, Mich., for their rare 1932 Rohr 8 Type F Streamliner, a one-of-one automobile featuring an aluminum body and several advanced design features for its era.
A 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Sport Cabriolet owned by Lee Anderson was named Outstanding Pre-war, while Frederick Fischer’s 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Superleggera earned Outstanding Post-war honours.
There was also a direct dealership connection among the winners. Polito Ford Lincoln received the Chief Judge’s Choice award for its 1966 Shelby GT350.
Other vehicles ranged from the GM Heritage Collection’s 1961 Chevrolet Corvette Mako Shark I to a 1997 Acura Integra Type R and a 2018 Ford GT — illustrating how the definition of a collectible automobile continues to expand.
That evolution is also reflected in the event’s 30 Under 30 category, designed to encourage participation from a younger generation of enthusiasts. Spencer Chow won the category with a 1966 Ford Mustang hardtop coupe.
While the vehicles provide the spectacle, McLeese said the event was also created to generate tourism and support the surrounding community. Over the past 11 years, Cobble Beach has raised more than $1.4 million for Sunnybrook and the Brightshores Health System.
For dealers and others working in automotive retail, events such as Cobble Beach provide an opportunity to see the industry through another lens. Between auto shows, dealership launches and the day-to-day business of selling and servicing vehicles, enthusiast events continue to connect people with automobiles on a more emotional level.
