On Sunday, August 16, 2009, Canada’s first Concours d’Elegance was held on the bucolic site of the Mirage Golf Club in Terrebonne, on the outskirts of Montreal. Under the honorary presidency of René Angélil, who unfortunately could not make it to the event, some 2,000 lucky visitors got the chance to get up close and personal with some of the rarest and most beautiful cars in the world, presented under the theme La belle histoire.
For a good cause
The event also helped raise funds for the Fondation André-Delambre. The foundation supports people suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and their families and promotes research to find a cure for this terrible disease.
Exotic cars, but for the eyes and ears only
Although ninety-five cars were officially registered in the competition, 25 exotic cars were also showcased at the Concours. On display was one of the last Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR Roadsters ever produced. Visitors could also admire many a Lamborghini and Ferrari, including the new California.
Among the exotic models in attendance were a Rolls-Royce duo including the 1986 Silver Spur limousine, unique in Canada and used during the wedding of the Concours’s hosts. In addition, comedian Yvon Deschamps surprised the crowd with his 1964 Bentley S3 Saloon once belonging to Charlie Chaplin.
Quebec in the spotlight
Despite the fact that most of the cars were of European or American make, Quebec cut a fine figure with no less than three different brands on its roster. For those who wistfully remember the 1970s, there was a Manic GT built in Granby by Jacques About on a Renault platform. A modern classic, the Allard J2X MKII, was also on display, built in Quebec and officially homologated by the brand. Finally, fans of extreme customs got their fill with the Wingho W3 Triposto built on a Porsche 911 platform. Only the Manic took part in the competition.
The main categories
The 95 cars registered in the Concours had to stand out in one category or another to bring home the glory. The cars were basically divided into two main categories: European and American models. They then squared off by pre- and post-war period. However, all cars were eligible for the Find of the Year category, where the only criterion was that the model had to be recently acquired.
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| 2009 Grand-Prix Mirage winner: 1937 Hispano-Suiza K6 |
For a good cause
The event also helped raise funds for the Fondation André-Delambre. The foundation supports people suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and their families and promotes research to find a cure for this terrible disease.
Exotic cars, but for the eyes and ears only
Although ninety-five cars were officially registered in the competition, 25 exotic cars were also showcased at the Concours. On display was one of the last Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR Roadsters ever produced. Visitors could also admire many a Lamborghini and Ferrari, including the new California.
Among the exotic models in attendance were a Rolls-Royce duo including the 1986 Silver Spur limousine, unique in Canada and used during the wedding of the Concours’s hosts. In addition, comedian Yvon Deschamps surprised the crowd with his 1964 Bentley S3 Saloon once belonging to Charlie Chaplin.
Quebec in the spotlight
Despite the fact that most of the cars were of European or American make, Quebec cut a fine figure with no less than three different brands on its roster. For those who wistfully remember the 1970s, there was a Manic GT built in Granby by Jacques About on a Renault platform. A modern classic, the Allard J2X MKII, was also on display, built in Quebec and officially homologated by the brand. Finally, fans of extreme customs got their fill with the Wingho W3 Triposto built on a Porsche 911 platform. Only the Manic took part in the competition.
The main categories
The 95 cars registered in the Concours had to stand out in one category or another to bring home the glory. The cars were basically divided into two main categories: European and American models. They then squared off by pre- and post-war period. However, all cars were eligible for the Find of the Year category, where the only criterion was that the model had to be recently acquired.
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| 1949 Mercedes-Benz 170S Cabriolet A, 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190SL and 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster |