Lake Bluff Concours d'Elegance deadline approaching

JOSEPH, MI – The car owner application deadline for the 12th Annual Lake Bluff Concours d’Elegance of Southwest Michigan is approaching. The event committee will accept applications until March 31 for the event to be held Saturday, August 13, 2016, in St. Joseph, Michigan.

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. Vehicles eligible for inclusion must be at least 35 years old, and be restored to stock specifications, or be in very good original condition. All vehicle owners whose automobiles meet these criteria are encouraged to apply.

The committee is also seeking Nash vehicles produced from 1916 to 1957 for the show’s featured marque. Cars and trucks also are needed to complete the following 2016 featured classes:

Chrysler and De Soto Airflow models produced from 1934 to 1937
Squad cars, model years 1981 and older
Jeep vehicles in celebrations of Jeep’s 75th In addition to Jeeps that are 35 years or older, newer Jeep vehicles manufactured between 1982 and 2016 will be considered.

Applications may be submitted at www.ConcoursSWMI.com. Paper applications are available by contacting Dar Davis, entrant liaison, at drd43@sbcglobal.net or 269-983-0742 to receive a paper application or for more information.

The event, which attracted 3,000 spectators in 2015, includes a display of 75 vehicles along tree-lined Lake Bluff Park in downtown St. Joseph overlooking Lake Michigan. A three-part Pass in Review of all the vehicles 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 d’Elegance, Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and Hemmings Concours d’Elegance. This year’s featured designer is auto designer and award-winning auto artist Tom Hale.

Net proceeds from the Lake Bluff Concours benefit Hospice at Home, a Lakeland Health Affiliate. Businesses and individuals interested in sponsoring the 2016 Lake Bluff Concours d’Elegance of Southwest Michigan should contact event chairperson Anne Odden at oddena@mac.com.