Concours derives from then French term Concours d'Elegance, which translates from French as "a competition of elegance". Concours supposedly date back to the 17th century French aristocracy who showcased their fanciful carriages in full-blown parades; but over time, as transportation evolved, so did concours. The simple gathering of carriages would change into a competition between automobile owners judged on appearance of their cars. To sum up things simply, the tradition of concours is still carried out today as a staple at automobile shows and after racing competitions as a competition of the quality and appearance of a car based on restoration to a state exceeding when the car just came out of the factory and maintenance.

The New England Auto Museum will be an exciting new attraction, long overdue for Connecticut and New England. This non-profit 501(c)(3) organization was created to build a first-class facility that will preserve, interpret and exhibit automobiles and automotive artifacts. We intend to bring students and auto enthusiasts together to celebrate the automobile and educate visitors about its significant role in New England and the world. You can help bring this vision to reality by making a tax-exempt donation today and sign up for our newsletter to learn about automotive-related events you will want to attend throughout the year.