It's become one the premier automotive events
of the year, the Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance attracts thousands of
enthusiasts to see the beautiful, unusual and rare in the automotive
world. It's also a great place to be seen arriving in a luxury sedan or
limo. Here's a little background on this event:
In the 1920’s, the first Concours d’Elegance was staged in France as an
elegant marketing effort. The custom automobile coachbuilders and
fashion couturiers of Paris were making luxury products of important
design and wanted a new and different way to reach their markets. In an
effort to create a unique way to reach the market, an idea was
developed of a grand exhibition combining both automobiles and fashion.
Fashion models dressed in the latest Paris creations would drive new
automobiles up to a reviewing stand. The automobiles tended to be
luxury cars decked-out with custom coachwork. In many cases they were
one-of-a-kind. The models would step out of the cars and fashion to the
crowd. The cars and fashions were judged and awards given. The awards
were based on beauty, design and style.
Before World War II, the Concours d’Elegance format was popular and
became a premiere social event. The underlying objective was for
manufacturers to reach the market for these beautiful high design
products. Concours d’Elegance was one of the most elegant methods of
selling products. The Concours d’Elegance was meant not only as a car
show, but also as a total extravaganza of style.
The Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance has a different objective then
historical Concours D’Elegance’s. The purpose of the event is to
celebrate automotive history and heritage. Fashion and unique cars are
still on display without the marketing purpose.
The Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance collector car show and its art
auction raise money to help with the preservation efforts at Meadow
Brook Hall. Over the years, the Concours d’Elegance has raised and
contributed more than $5,000,000 to the preservation of the mansion;
the former home of Matilda Dodge Wilson, the widow of John Dodge and
wife of lumber baron Alfred Wilson, which has been a trademark of
American automotive history.
The Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance is in its 29th year, and is the
single largest fundraising event supporting the preservation of Oakland
University’s Meadow Brook Hall. Concours d’Elegance, literally
translated, means “parade of elegance." Since its inception, the term
referred to a very special type of carriage or automobile show.
Meadow Brook Hall is the fourth largest historic house in the U.S. and
renowned for its craftsmanship, architectural detailing and grand
scale. The mansion was built in the1920s as the residence of Matilda
Dodge Wilson (widow of auto baron John Dodge) and her second husband,
lumber broker, Alfred G. Wilson. The 80,000 square-foot Tudor-revival
style mansion has 110 rooms and is complete with the vast collections
of original art and furnishings.
Meadow Brook Hall is listed on the national and state registers of
historic properties and strives to preserve and interpret its
architecture, landscape and fine and decorative art. Throughout the
year, Meadow Brook hall is open to the public and offers daily tours,
special exhibitions, programs and lectures, educational activities,
lunches, tea programs, dinners and much more.
Checker Sedan is a premier mode of transportation that Detroit visitors
can use to take them back and forth to Meadow Brook Hall. Checker,
www.checkersedan.com,
was established in March 2000 and has become the fastest growing
chauffeur-driven licensed luxury sedan company in Metropolitan Detroit.
Checker Sedan is an affiliate of Soave Enterprises, a privately held
management and investment company founded by Detroit businessman
Anthony L. Soave. Checker Sedan is the official curbside luxury sedan
provider for Detroit Metro Airport.
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