Meet the weird machines of America's craziest car show: Concours d'Lemons

Step inside this celebration of the wacky and wonderful

When it comes to classic cars, concours events are usually glitzy affairs, complete with champagne, priceless vintage motors and very careful judging.

Generally, the winners are historic vehicles that have been painstakingly preserved, preened and polished – all with a view to claiming show prizes.

Not Concours d’Lemons, though. Like the wooden spoon of the classic car world, this irreverent and self-aware event champions the battered, bodged and downright bizarre.

For almost a decade, the annual Monterey event has been playing joker to the shiny Pebble Beach events nearby – and this year we stopped by to spot the craziest cars.

1977 AMC Gremlin

Somewhere beneath all of that pinstriping, chicken wire and cream-and-red paint is a 1977 AMC Gremlin – though the doors are probably the only things that resemble the original car.

There’s more than a hint of The Addams Family about the whole machine, from the lamps that serve as brake lights to the elliptical rear windows.

1977 AMC Gremlin (cont.)

Picked up in North Dakota and brought to the show by James Callahan, the bizarre compact-turned-speedster-thing proved its worth by claiming the coveted ‘Worst in Show’ award.

1951 Jaguar XK120

While British firm DM Historics showed a stunning, pristine XK120 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, this dilapidated example of the same model turned plenty of heads at Concours d’Lemons.

1951 Jaguar XK120 (cont.)

You’d have a hard time picking elements that aren't rusty on the mid-century machine, which currently resides in the Monterey area.

1951 Jaguar XK120 (cont.)

An XK120 in pristine condition could be worth as much as £115,000 ($148,000) – but suffice it to say John Cole’s crumbling number is probably valued at a little less than that.

1950 Studebaker

In better condition than much of the fare at the Concours d’Lemons, this 1950 Studebaker in ‘bullet-nose’ guise is both understated and arrestingly futuristic.

1950 Studebaker (cont.)

A black-on-black vision of the space age, the ‘bullet-nose’ variant was built for just a single year (1950-’51) but is easily the most recognisable machine produced by the Indiana marque.

Volkswagen Bus Crew Cab

This battered Volkswagen Bus Crew Cab pretty much sums up the Concours d’Lemons: faded and riddled with rust, a notice for potential buyers listed the year as ‘197?’ and emphasised in capital letters that it would be sold without a warranty. We can see why.

1949 Hudson Braun

Set your eyes on this 1949 Hudson and your first reaction might well be: “My, what a stunning coat of matte grey paint.”

1949 Hudson Braun (cont.)

Your second reaction, of course, would be: “Why on earth is the engine sticking right out of the bonnet?”

The answer? Because this is the Concours d'Lemons.

1919 Franklin 9b Touring

One of the oldest machines at this year’s event was this Franklin from 1919 – a well-known car on the circuit.

Winner of ‘Worst in Show’ at the Concours d’Lemons event in Georgia, it then toured the US, taking in the Lemons competition in Detroit, before making its way to Monterey as the first car ever to show at all three in one year.

1919 Franklin 9b Touring (cont.)

That effort was enough to see it claim ‘Dedication to the Cause’ honours in Monterey.

Bought new in Indiana by the current owner’s grandfather, the 99-year-old machine is good for 40mph and can cover roughly 250 miles per day, provided the driver stops every 100 miles to oil the engine.

1974 AMC Gremlin

This bright yellow Gremlin won the ‘Chronic Dick Teague’ award – so named in honour of AMC’s long-serving design chief, responsible for the likes of the Hornet, the Eagle and, of course, the Gremlin.

Siata Spring

Italian manufacturer Siata folded in 1970, but not before the marque released the Spring – an example of which rocked up at the Lemons event. 

Based on the Fiat 850, it wore a stately grille penned by Enrico Fumia in the mid ’60s.

1971 MGB GT

Next up is the winner of the ‘Royal Order of MoT Failure’ award: a 1971 MGB GT done up in rallying spec – by which we mean covered in sponsors’ stickers and equipped with fake gauges on the dash.

1971 MGB GT (cont.)

Still, the plucky British number very much looks the part, complete with dusty exterior and dilapidated cabin. 

1971 MGB GT (cont.)

Owner Drew Barker has reportedly covered some 14,000 miles in the machine since purchasing it a mere 18 months ago.

1968 MGB

Barker’s wasn’t the only rallying MGB at the Concours d’Lemons, mind: unlike the award-winner, this 1968 MGB was at least functionally prepared for off-roading, with raised suspension, roof rack and rally lights.

1962 Volvo PV544

Deserving winner of the ‘Swedish Meatball’ crown was this 1962 Volvo PV544.

1962 Volvo PV544 (cont.)

It took to the concours lawn adorned with Ikea stickers and complete with a vodka bottle attached to the fuel filler.

1996 Toyota RAV4

It’s no conventional classic, but Concours d’Lemons is no conventional competition: this ’96 Toyota RAV4 took the prize for ‘Best Back Seat’, as tested by the esteemed judges and Hagerty CEO McKeel Hagerty.

1990 Volvo 240 Wagon

Swedish car, Dutch inspiration: this 1990 Volvo estate presented by Jes Muse cut a dash with its Piet Mondrian-inspired paint job.

1978 Volvo 242

From dressed-up to dressed-down, another Volvo – this one a 242 from 1978 – was presented in the Swedish Meatballs category by Sean Rigmaiden, caked in rust. The car, that is.

1953 IFA F9

Keeping up appearances for the Soviets was this brown-on-beige IFA F9 from the ’50s – based on an Auto Union DKW and powered by a two-stroke motor.

1953 IFA F9 (cont.)

Much like the Iron Curtain which it was built behind, the F9’s condition was somewhere between failed and decrepit, having sat forgotten in a California barn for the best part of 30 years.

1953 IFA F9 (cont.)

The East German machine took home the Lemons prize for ‘Kommunist Kar’.

1977 Chevrolet Pickup

Rust is rarely a good thing – unless you’re entering the Concours d’Lemons, in which case the more the merrier.

1977 Chevrolet Pickup (cont.)

That definitely applies to this rustbucket Chevy Pickup from ’77, brought to the event by John Reynolds.

1977 Chevrolet Pickup (cont.)

So intense is the decay that the hood appears to have been peppered with artillery, leaving more empty space than there is metal – though the ‘Custom deluxe’ badge thankfully remains intact.

1967 Mercedes 230 Miesen Ambulance

Finally, in case all the hoopties and bangers got too much, this ’67 Mercedes ambulance wagon was on hand to help – and to illustrate that utility vehicles can also be stylish.

Stick it to the man

It wasn’t all about the cars, mind: Concours d’Lemons is well aware of its own purpose – namely thumbing its nose at the grown-up shows down the road.

Signs of the times

Every sign and sticker at the event illustrated the mockery that’s at its core.

Crooked competition

From the judging to the condition of the cars entered, nothing about the show was off-limits when it came to poking fun.

All part of the fun

And, while we love to see priceless classics in all their gleaming glory, Concours d’Lemons is arguably what owning a vintage motor should be all about: rocking up with your beloved car, whatever its condition – and however much it costs to maintain – for all to enjoy.