The 2025 Arizona Concours d’Elegance is preparing for the annual fundraiser and concours taking place Jan. 19, 2025, at the Scottsdale Civic Center. The theme for the 2025 edition of the Concours is “The Art of Automotive Engineering.”
A 1929 Mercedes 680S Torpedo Roadster is expected to be one of the standout vehicles at the event. It was created by French designer and engineer Jacques Saoutchik, whose innovative and extravagant style had a powerful influence on the automotive landscape before and after World War II.
Presented in its original condition, the Mercedes Saoutchik roadster will be among more than 100 collector cars and classic motorcycles that will be on display during the Arizona Concours, which fills the lawns outside the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts with rare examples of automotive engineering, design and sheer beauty.
The 16 classes include automotive entries ranging from “horseless carriages” from the dawn of motoring, through the classic and Art Deco eras, post-war sports and competition cars, rare motorcycles, and modern exotics.
Another Concours class with a French accent is the Featured Marque, titled “The Iconic Engineering of Ettore and Jean Bugatti,” with a selection of cars from one of the world’s most acclaimed automakers.
As part of the Arizona Concours, a seminar series takes place on Jan. 18 at the Scottsdale Center and will feature Peter Larson and Ben Erickson, the authors of an extensive three-volume homage to the extraordinary life and art of Jacques Saoutchik, the Russian-born engineer who emigrated to Paris to create bespoke luxury vehicles for wealthy clientele.
Awards are presented in each class, along with special awards and the two coveted Best of Show trophies –one for pre-World War II and one for post-war. One of the special awards is presented for best period costume – entrants and spectators are encouraged to wear outfits that evoke historic eras.
Proceeds from the Arizona Concours benefit local artists and art programs, as well as the Concours’s longtime beneficiary, Make-A-Wish Arizona, the founding chapter of the national organization that grants wishes for children facing life-threatening medical conditions.
To submit an entry, visit the Concours website. Deadline for entries is Oct. 31. Tickets for the Arizona Concours are also available as well as the box office at the Scottsdale Center for the Arts.
