The Des Moines Concours d’Elegance™ is a car classic show that takes place on September 10th at the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park in downtown Des Moines. The main event features a judged Concours car show and a celebration of fine art and car design history, evolution, and innovation.

The three-day event starts with an Inaugural Des Moines Concours Charity Gala on Friday, Sept. 8th, then a four-hour 16th Annual Heartlands Driving Tour through the back roads of Iowa on Saturday, and ends with a 150-classic car Concours judging and award ceremony on Sunday. (See Full Schedule Below)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Date: September 10, 2023
• Type of Event: Concours Car Show
• Location: Pappajohn Sculpture Park 1330 Grand Ave. Des Moines, IA 50309
• Admission: Free for all ages
• Official Website: Des Moines Concours
• Stay Connected: Follow us on Facebook & Twitter
• Charity Partner: Children’s Cancer Connection
• Proudly Sponsored By: Iowa Automobile Heritage Foundation

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Downtown Des Moines Concours d’Elegance Kicks Off With Over 150 Classic Award Winning Collectible Cars and 31 works of art by 25 of the world’s most celebrated sculptors. The Concours d’Elegance Car Show features over 150 of the highest-quality vintage cars of all eras. The cars are supplied by car collectors from across the country. The cars are divided into classes, judged, and then presented with awards for the finale. This year, the Concours will include an eclectic class category including early 20’s convertible cars, atomic age collectibles, space age collectibles, and Austin and Austin 7 Centenary Dates 1922–1938.

In addition to the cars, the event will feature nationally recognized car art and sculptures that will be on display throughout Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park. The car art exhibit will feature over 31 original works of art designed by 25 of the world’s most celebrated sculptors.

The Des Moines Concours three-day event takes place on Sunday, September 8–11, from 10:00–4:00 in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. The event is free for everyone, and kids, pictures, dogs, and cats are all allowed.

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2023 Des Moines Concours d’Elegance Car Show Schedule

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2023 EVENTS

Inaugural Des Moines Concours Charity Gala
(Friday, September 8 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm)
Location: Stine Barn, located at 4000 Turnberry Drive, West Des Moines AI 50265

Join the opening event Charity Gala at the fabulous Stine Barn for food and drinks on September 8th from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm.

Come enjoy the Extraordinary Food and Unforgettable Experiences catered by Cyd’s Catering. Cyd’s will be serving a full dinner as well as beer, wine, and drinks.

You will also enjoy the experiences of national author and speaker Tom Cotter from the TV show Barn Find Hunter. The event costs $275 that is donated to the Children’s Cancer Connection, which is 501(c)3 tax deductible.

You will also be able to enjoy feature car Myron Stine’s rare 2023 Lamborghini Countach (only 1 of 112 built ) officially a 1985 “Downdraft” Lamborghini Countach. Also, see Curt Leaverton’s Porsche Carrara GT and 1937 Alfa 6C.

The event is hosted by the Iowa Automotive Heritage Foundation with proceeds from the event benefiting the Children’s Cancer Connection.

🎫 TICKETS: Per Person: $275
• Couples: $500
• Table of Eight: $1,800 (or $225 each for 8 or more) (BUY TICKETS HERE)

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2023 EVENTS

17th Annual Heartlands Driving Tour
(Saturday, September 10 – Registration is 7:30 am – 8:00 am )
Location: Triumph Park located at 700 Douglas Parkway in Waukee, West Des Moines AI 50265

Come enjoy a four-hour driving tour through the historic backroads, towns, and countryside of old Iowa with other car enthusiasts. You will experience a military tribute and guest visits to private car collections along the way.

The Tour drive through the towns of Stuart, Dexter, and Greenfield. Attractions in Greenfield include a bank robbed by Bonnie and Clyde, the original Freedom Rock®, and the Foster collection.

The tour starts at 8:00 at Triumph Park at 700 Douglas Parkway in Waukeee and ends at Raccoon River Park with a BBQ lunch.

he Heartlands Driving Tour costs $40 per person and all proceeds go donated to the charity Children’s Cancer Connection. (Register Here)
🎫 TICKETS: $40 for each car (driver and passengers) and Includes lunch.

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH, 2023 EVENTS

Des Moines Concours d’Elegance & Car Show
(Sunday, September 10 – From 10:00 am – 4:00 pm )
Location: Pappjohn Sculpture Garden in Des Moines (Grand and Locust between 12th and 16th Streets). Moines AI 50265

Started only seven years ago, the Des Moines Concours has become a significant staple in the Exclusive Car Concours Circuit. This year,

The Des Moines Concours will host only the highest-quality original antique, vintage, classic, exotic, and special-interest collectible cars and motorcycles. Over 150 collector cars will be on display at the park, and awards will be presented at 2:30 directly after the judges tally the votes.

This year, the cars will be judged on authenticity, condition, rarity, design, engineering, innovative features, and historical merit.  These cars are all 100% original, highly valued cars from personal car collections. There will be no replicas, reproductions, or modified vehicles on display.

Beyond the cars, the Concours will showcase exhibits of fine car art, vehicle design evolution, and the evolution and significance of innovations over the past century.  The innovations include significant contributions from talented car designers and mechanical engineers that helped build car history.

The Concours and exhibits are free and open to the public at the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There will be over 150 classic collector cars on display at the park. The Concours cars will be judged on vehicle authenticity, condition, rarity, design, engineering, innovative features, and historical merit. Awards will be presented at 2:30 directly after the judges tally the votes.

Food, drinks, and memorabilia will be available at the show from private vendors. There is plenty of parking on the streets surrounding the park.

Time Schedule for the “Concours d’Elegance & Car Show “
• 10:00 a.m. Car Show Opens
• 2:45 p.m. Star Car Presentations
• 3;00 p.m. Grand Awards Presentation: Join us at 13th and Grand for the presentation of Class Winners and Best of Show.
• 4;00 p.m. Roar at 4: Listen as cars fire up their engines to leave the snowfield. Have your camera ready!

Car Classes for the 2023 Des Moines Concours are:

• Antiques – Vehicles produced from the beginning of motor vehicles through 1927
• Early Collectibles – A broad range of cars and trucks produced between 1928 and 1942
• Atomic Age Collectibles – Vehicles with post-war styling built between 1946 and 1957
• Space Age Collectibles – Tailfins, chrome, and sleek body lines, produced from 1958 to 1969
• Preservation – Unaltered survivors produced before 1973 with only minor updates like batteries, tires, and belts
• Classics – High-priced, low-production, finely-designed automobiles produced from 1915 to 1948
• Exotics – Speed, power, and sleek, provocative designs make these cars an attraction to everyone
• American Muscle Cars – High-performance, rear-wheel drive, mid and full-size models up to 1973
• Motorcycles – Mechanical icons that influenced cultures with their design and engineering
• Kaiser-Frazer 75th Anniversary – Kaiser, Frazer, Henry J, and Allstate cars produced by Kaiser-Frazer Corporation from 1947 to 1955
• Austin 7 Centenary – Showcasing 1922-1938 Austin Sevens and licensed derivatives: 1930-1940 American Austin and Bantam; 1927-1931 Dixi & BMW; and 1928-1930 Rosengart
• Austin-Healey & Austin Mini 1952-1968 – A decade and a half of classic sports cars and practical family saloons
• Camaro 55th Anniversary – Chevrolet Camaros built from 1967 to 1974, including COPO dealer cars and well-known period performance groups
• (Source: https://desmoinesconcours.com/exhibiting/)

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VIDEO: Des Moines Concours d’Elegance – A Premier Exhibition