The 2024 California Concours d’Lemons ruined Monterey Auto Week for the 15th year running on Aug. 17 as over 100 hoopties dripped oil on the Seaside City Hall Lawn to the delight of a record crowd of spectators. The highly coveted “Worst of Show” honor went to Chris Overzet and his 1975 Lincoln race car. The Lincoln features a roof mounted horse mannequin and body panels completely covered in brown fur. Named “Buttercup”, the Lincoln has true race provenance having competed in several 24Hours of Lemons races. Buttercup was a crowd favorite with many riding the rooftop mannequin. Oris, an independent luxury watch maker from Hölstein, Switzerland presented one of their affordable luxury watches to the winner that will, without a doubt, run better and longer than the car.
This year saw several new awards such as the “Combustion Crown” sponsored by Element Fire Extinguishers presented to Bill Hill and his VW Bus fitted with exhaust tip flame throwers. “This Car Should Have Been a Lawsuit” was sponsored by Conn Law PC., a California-Based Consumer Protection Law Firm that focuses on Lemon Law and Auto Fraud. The litigious trophy went to Jerold Helt and his evil handling, snap oversteer prone 1976 Porsche 912. Long a hallmark of Car Week events are the exclusive VIP areas and restricted guest lists. The Concours d’Lemons even managed to one up every other Car Week event by introducing a VIP area so exclusive no one was allowed in. Spectators were encouraged to try their luck with a bouncer stationed at the small area cordoned off with velvet ropes, while all were rejected they had fun trying to gain access.
“The Concours d’Lemons celebrates the ‘un-best’ of the automotive world, and this year may have been the ‘un-best’ of them all,” opined Alan Galbraith, the self-proclaimed ‘Head Gasket’ of the Concours d’Lemons, “Every year the cars entered get worse and the laughs get bigger, and that is really what it is all about, sharing your car and having some fun. Lemons is a relief valve for a sometimes stuffy and overly priced car week. The cars are terrible, the awards are funny, and the smiles are huge.”
The 2024 California Concours d’Lemons is sponsored by these otherwise respectable companies:
all photos by – Joshua Sweeney at Shoot for Details
Worst of Show – Chris Overzet 1976 Lincoln, Discovery Bay, CA
Rust Belt American Junk- Ford Scott Kennedy, 1960 Edsel Ranger – Simi Valley, CA
Rust Belt American Junk- GM John Ficarra 1971 GMC Ambulance – Nevada City, CA
Rust Belt American Junk- Mopar Jeff Niles 1990 Dodge Van – Palo Alto, CA
Rust Belt American Junk- Other John Woulton 1975 Bricklin SV – Corral Di Terra, CA
Soul Sucking Japanese Appliance Dan Wilson 1969 Subaru 360 – Carmel Valley, CA
Der Self-Satisfiedkrauttenwagen Eric Luan1986 Porsche 928 Safari – Pleasanton, CA
Rueful Britannia Logan Calkins 1973 Land Rover S3 – San Deigo, Ca
Unmitigated Gaul Steve Mandell 1955 New Map Solyto – Clairemont , CA
Needlessly Complex Italian Chris Obert 1974 Fiat 124 Sedan – Santa Cruz, Ca
Swedish Meatballs Wike Rhey 1967 Daf Wagon – Tahoe City, CA
Sickest Sickle Dean Meltz 1970 Mini Bike – San Leandro, CA
Slightly Better – Go Kart Fred Haves 1960 Vw Bus – Vallejo , CA
Best Back Seat Ted Downer 1958 Edsel Ranger – Salinas, CA
Driving On A Prayer Alan Daoud 1967 Bumper Car – Monterey, CA
Sight For Sour Eyes Robert Peterson 1988 Geo Metro – Salinas, CA
Pimpin Aint Easy Rebecca Wolanin 1970 Cadillac El Dorado – Chuluata,FL
Should Have Been A Lawsuit Jerod Helt 1976 Porsche 912 – Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Combustion Crown Bill Hill VW Short Bus – Roseville, CA