2010 Concours d'Elegance of America

Classic vehicles in a classic setting. On Sunday, July 25th, Meadowbrook Hall will become the frame for some great automotive art, displaying more than 200 classic vehicles as part of the "2010 Concours d'Elegance of America."

For years, this event has attracted classic car collectors and lovers. This year, they are trying to get the word out that the event is about more than just stately vehicles of the 30's and 40's.

"The perception was we were the old Concours, the old Meadowbrook Concours d' Elegance," says Larry Moss who chairs the selection committee "We weren't and we aren't."

This year's Concours will also feature legendary drag racing "funny cars" of the sixties, as well as classic motorcycles, and will be one of the rare appearances of some of the classic "Motorama" concept cars that GM used to show.

But they will remain faithful to their original mission.

"We still have a great collection of brass and classic cars," says Moss. "But, young people today want to see the supercars. They want to see the Ferrari's, the Bugatti's and Mazerati's."

Businessman and car collector Ken Lingenfelter of Brighton will be bringing several of his classics, including a Ferrari Enzo and a Bugatti Veyron, which is the fastest and at 1.7 million dollars, the most expensive production car on the planet.

"It's really exhilarating," says Lingenfelter, who's put about 900 miles on the vehicle "The acceleration is incredible, 0-60 in two and a half seconds."

Lingenfelter says he's never been pulled over in the vehicle, despite the temptation. He says, if you want to go over 130 miles per hour, you need to throw a special switch that changes the aerodynamics, to keep the Bugatti glued to the road.

Biggest issue, people who try to get a cell phone photo of the vehicle, while they are driving.

"I had a Hummer almost take me out this morning he was trying so hard to take a picture," Lingenfelter says, "In some cases you feel like a fish in a fishbowl."

While other vehicles are more modest, every one has a story. Jim Hartman of Metamora is displaying his 1961 Pontiac, along with the copy of Life Magazine, which featured an ad for the vehicle, that caught his eye as a high school sophomore.

"I opened it to this page when I was in study hall. It kind of imprinted on my mind like a newborn duckling I guess," says Hartman. "I decided then and there that someday I was going to have one of these."

The Concours will include vehicles from most automotive era's. It's all about balance says the selection chair Larry Moss.

"It's like making a stew. You start putting the pieces together and you hope it tastes good at the end."

Listen to Jeff Gilbert's Car Chronicles Report on the Concours