ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — The bluff overlooking Lake Michigan in scenic downtown St. Joseph will once again be the site of a spectacular collection of automotive history when the 11th annual Lake Bluff Concours d’Elegance of Southwest Michigan returns Saturday, Aug. 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Lake Bluff Concours d’Elegance of Southwest Michigan is a highly-regarded invitational show featuring automobiles from the brass, classic, vintage, and muscle car eras, as well as an array of special-interest vehicles. Net proceeds from the event benefit Hospice at Home, a Lakeland HealthCare Affiliate.

This year, more than 80 rarely seen vehicles from 11 decades, selected from a field of 145 applications, will be on display. According to Dar Davis, Entrant Liaison, Founder, and Chairman Emeritus of the Lake Bluff Concours d’Elegance of Southwest Michigan, the event is gaining recognition among car owners, not only throughout the Midwest, but from as far away as California and Florida.

“This year we received a record number of entries and the quality of the vehicles has never been higher,” said Davis. “The Concours selection panel struggled to narrow the field but succeeded in picking a line-up of brass era, classic, vintage, special-interest, and muscle cars that will be another outstanding celebration of art that moves us.”

The featured classes for 2015 are:

Showroom Showdown: Cadillac vs. Lincoln — a selection of Cadillac and Lincoln automobiles matched by year, comparing elegance, style, and design of the different eras.

50 and Going Strong: ­a selection of full-size 1965 automobiles celebrating the Golden Anniversary of that particularly significant year.

Groceries, Kids, and Vacations: Station Wagons: the ultimate family vehicles of their day before minivans, SUVs, crossovers, and hatchbacks

A three-part afternoon Pass in Review of all the vehicles in the show is narrated by auto authority F. Edward Lucas II, who has been with the Lake Bluff Concours d’Elegance of Southwestern Michigan since its inception in 2005. Lucas is also the voice of some of the most prestigious Concours events in the U.S. including the Amelia Island Concours. The Pass in Reviews will take place at noon, 1:30 p.m, and 3 p.m. on Lake Boulevard.

This year’s honored guest is Roy H. Sjoberg, P.E., known as the father of the Dodge Viper. He is a popular speaker on engineering and motivational subjects as well as an SCCA/IMSA racer. In honor of Mr. Sjoberg being on hand, a number of outstanding Vipers will be on display.

According to Anne Odden, Chair of the Lake Bluff Concours d’Elegance of Southwest Michigan, this is the third year the Lake Bluff Concours d’Elegance of Southwest Michigan has partnered with Hospice at Home in support of a room in the Butterfly Wing at the Merlin and Carolyn Hanson Hospice Center in St. Joseph.

“The quality of viewing this stunning collection of automobiles, all presented in the shade of a tree-lined park, is truly enhanced by knowing it benefits an amazingly thoughtful Hospice Care Center,” said Odden.

Admission is $10 per person or $20 per family (with school-aged children). Net proceeds benefit Hospice at Home, a Lakeland HealthCare Affiliate. More information about the event can be found at www.ConcoursSWMI.com and http://facebook.com/ConcoursSWMI.

 

Just a few of the vehicle to expect at this year’s Concours include:

1902 Oldsmobile R Curved Dash Runabout

1911 Buick Model 27 Touring

1911 Rambler Crossover Touring

1931 Cadillac 4702 Roadster

1936 Graham 110 Supercharger 4-door Sedan

1954 Buick Wildcat II Concept Car (in the Special-Interest Gallery)

1955 Jaguar XK140 Roadster

1955 Cadillac de Ville Convertible

1965 Chevrolet Impala SS Convertible

1966 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SS396 Hardtop

1971 Dodge Challenger Convertible

1977 AMC Pacer Wagon

1971 Morris Minor Traveler Estate

1990 Dodge Viper “White Mule” — the first Viper built for testing.