History

The inaugural edition in 1967 of the Concours d’Elegance was called the "El Palo Alto Concours" and was held in the parking lot at Town & Country Village. It attracted only a handful of cars --- and lost $1400. There was serious discussion of abandoning the event. Cooler heads advised patience,and with help from dedicated community leaders like veteran Lion, George Paddleford, future editions were launched. For the next six years, they were held at El Camino Park and enjoyed relatively better success.

In 1974, because of City park renovation  the Concours.moved to Palo Alto High School.   

After successful negotiations with the Stanford Buck Cardinal Club in 1981, the Concours moved to the fields next to Stanford Football Stadium. These intramural fields on El Camino Real became the home of the Concours the next 16 years.

In 1996 changes were made and the Concours was taken to the next level. A key goal was to boost attendance by establishing an annual "Featured Marque". These would be glamorous exotics, and the first one chosen was Lamborghini.

Then, registration chair, Gil Gilfix, and, a Lamborghini owner, who was a very active member  in the Lamborghini community was able to field 34 Lamborghinis – the largest grouping of Lamborghinis ever assembled. The following year the Featured Marque was Ferrari – an even bigger hit! And, in the third year it was Porsche. 

From there, the reputation of the Palo Alto Concours d’Elegance grew.  Each year, more special exhibits and events have been added. The "Gallery of the Greats" and pre-event tour called "The Drive”, Japanese "rice rockets" to retro-look cars, vintage travel trailers to collectable military vehicles – any genre that would appeal to the general car-enthusiast audience.