Judges/ Judging
Guaranteed to be unprofessional, inattentive, capricious, and subject to bribery. (Liquor and food seem to be favorites.) Satisfactory bribes will earn the “Ribbon of Dishonor,” to be placed on the car’s windshield. Don’t like their decisions? Check your ticket–you’re at the wrong car show.
This year the Concours d’Lemons has suckered several automotive world luminaries into being Guest Judges. They risk their reputation, you get to hob knob with big wigs, everyone has a good time.
Classes
By Region of Origin
RUST BELT AMERICAN JUNK, PRE ’64
RUST BELT AMERICAN JUNK, ’64-CURRENT
UNMITIGATED GAUL, PRE-’70
For: Citroen Ami, Renault Caravelle, etc.
AWARD: The French Legion of Horror
UNMITIGATED GAUL, 1970-CURRENT
For: LeCar, Citroen SM, Peugeot 604, etc.
AWARD: The French Legion of Horror
RUEFUL BRITANNIA, PRE ’66
AWARD: The Royal Order of MOT Failure
RUEFUL BRITANNIA, 1966-CURRENT
AWARD: The Royal Order of MOT Failure
NEEDLESSLY COMPLEX ITALIAN, PRE ’74
AWARD: Conoscete un Buon Meccanico? Plaque
NEEDLESSLY COMPLEX ITALIAN, 1974-CURRENT
AWARD: Conoscete un Buon Meccanico? Plaque
DER SELF-SATISFIEDKRAUTTENWAGEN, PRE ’70
DER SELF-SATISFIEDKRAUTTENWAGEN, 1970-CURRENT
SOUL-SUCKING JAPANESE APPLIANCE, PRE ’70
SOUL-SUCKING JAPANESE APPLIANCE, 1970-CURRENT
SWEDISH MEATBALLS, PRE ’74
SWEDISH MEATBALLS, 1974-CURRENT
WARSAW PACT, 1945-1990
For: Trabant, Wartburg, ZIL, Lada, etc.
AWARD: Vladimir Ilyich Lenin Medal for Most Glorious Achievement in Transportative Advancement for Use Upon Billiard-Smooth Highways as Are Uniformly to Be Found Inside Workers’ Paradise
Special Collections
VOLKSWAGEN BUG SPECIAL COACHWORK
For: Beetles with Rolls treatment, 40 Ford treatment, Manx Buggies
SHAG VAN
For: Carpeted, airbrushed makeout/molester vehicles
WRETCHED REJECTS
For: Any vehicle that has been refused admittance by a major concours (rejection letter must be displayed on the vehicle during the show)
MOST EFFLUENT
For: All vehicles, show the judges your smog test results. The car with the highest emissions wins!
TERRIBLE TWOS
For: Mustang II, Chevy II, Fury II
BATTLE OF THE NETWORK CARS
For: Knockoffs of KITT, Starsky’s Torino, Miami Vice, A-Team, etc.
CARROZZERIA IACOCCA
For: K-Cars and their zillion derivatives
ILL-ADVISED KIT CARS
For: Laser 917, MiGi TF, Manta Mirage, etc
AWARD: Steaming Pile of Kit Trophy
MALCOM’S MCLARENS
For: Bertone X1/9, Subaru 360, Yugo, Bricklin SV
CHRONIC DICK-TEAGUE SYNDROME
For: AMC, 1964-1983
MOST ELEGANTE
For: Vintage neoclassics, Shaft-worthy pimpmobiles, Excaliburs, Zimmers
BAD(GE) ENGINEERING
For: Mercury Bobcats, Maserati TC’s, El Dorado/Cutlass/Regals
OIL BURNERS
2-strokes and Diesels
AWARD: The Exxon Valdez Memorial Oil Slick
AWFUL EDITIONS
For: Levi’s Gremlins, Shelby Omnis, Cosworth Vegas, Boss Pinto, etc.s
ART CARS
SICKEST SICKLE
For: Oddball motorcycles, Norton Rotaries, CBXs, Ariel Square Fours, Zuki RE5s, monkey bikes, mini bikes, etc.
Triumphs of Engineering
OPEC I, 1970-77
For: Pinto, Pacer, Gremlin, Vega, etc.
OPEC II, 1978-88
For: Citation, Fairmont, Cadillac V8-6-4, etc.
VACUUM-CARB ERA, 1973-1983
For: Cordoba, Mirada, Monza, etc.
ASS-ENGINE SLED, HESSIAN
For: Beetle, Karmann-Ghia, VW Bus, Squareback, etc.
ASS-ENGINE SLED, NON-HESSIAN
For: Fiat 600, Hillman Imp, Corvair, Dauphine, etc.
Special Awards
WORST IN SHOW
BIGGEST LOSER
For: Car with largest percentage of value drop (MB S600, etc.)
MOST DANGEROUS
WTF??? AWARD
Blog
What makes a lemons car? These makes a lemons car…

Alan Galbraith, Head Gasket at the Concours d’Lemons, teams up with the California Automobile Museum to put cars from their collection back on the road. This 1977 Pacer has been sitting for 20 years and needs a little bit of work to get On the Road Again. After the Museum’s Pit Crew got the car running in Episode 1 it was time for Alan to get certified to take the car to events by the Road Crew. Running for the first time – Episode 1 – https://youtu.be/rOyBe2EhedU Big Problems – Episode 3 – https://youtu.be/zO5P7lqPqY8 owed Home – Episode 4 –…
