Last month, I was invited to the 2nd edition of the Oberoi Concours d’Elegance at the Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur, Rajasthan and the experience blew my mind. I had never been to a Concours d’Elegance, and now I want to go to ALL of them.
The History of Concours d’Elegance
Concours d’Elegance, which is French for “competition of elegance,” originated in 17th-century France as a parade of aristocratic horse-drawn carriages through the parks of Paris. The concept evolved over centuries, but it really took off when the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance launched in 1950 in Pebble Beach, California with only 30 cars. Today, it’s widely considered the most prestigious car show in the world, held every August on the 18th fairway of the Pebble Beach Golf Links overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
So what exactly gets judged at a Concours d’Elegance? Cars that have been restored to “mint” factory condition are evaluated on three key factors:
- Authenticity & Originality: Vehicles are assessed on mechanical originality, coachwork accuracy, documented provenance, and overall presentation.
- Significance & Rarity: The history of the vehicle matters as much as the restoration. Who owned it? Is it one of five ever made?
- Impact on Value: Winning a top prize at a major Concours can significantly raise a vehicle’s profile and market value among collectors. It’s like getting a Michelin star for your car.
The 2024 Oberoi Concours d’Elegance
The Oberoi Concours d’Elegance — which I’m going to shorten to OCD – is actually a fitting acronym since every vehicle owner at this show definitely had Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder about their vehicle…and it showed!
The OCD held its first event in February 2024 to celebrate the Oberoi Group’s 90th anniversary. The event was curated by Manvendra Singh Barwani, one of India’s most respected automotive historians. Manvendra founded India’s first vintage and classic car restoration workshop back in 1978, co-authored the book The Automobiles of the Maharajas, and has been a judge at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance since 2012. So yeah, the man knows his cars.
The Oberoi Group pulled out all the stops for that inaugural event and invited Sandra Button to be the Chief Judge. Sandra has been the Chairman of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance – the gold standard of Concours events globally. Having her involved immediately gave the OCD serious international street cred.
The 2026 Oberoi Concours d’Elegance
The 2nd edition of the OCD was held from February 20–22, 2026, and had round 120 vintage and classic cars and motorcycles were on display.
The 2026 edition also included a new category called the Youngtimer Classics (covering cars from 1975–1990), which is a smart move to be more inclusive for the younger generation of car enthusiasts. This is actually a trend across Concours events worldwide, and I think it’s a great one. You need to get the next generation hooked early.
FUN FACT – Between 1908 and 1947, some 900 Rolls-Royces were shipped to India from the factories in Derby and Crewe. With around 230 maharajas during that period, that averages out to roughly four Rolls-Royces per prince. India’s automotive heritage runs deep.
Siddhraj Singh, who is the son of Manvendra Singh Barwani and the Event Director of the OCD, was brilliant on the ground. I got to meet him during a curated walk along the lawns of the Udaivilas, where he walked us through some of the vehicles and their backstories. And that’s really what makes an event like this so special – it’s not just about seeing beautiful cars, it’s about hearing the provenance and the stories behind them.
When the judging was taking place, I would follow the judges so I could eavesdrop on the owners sharing their stories. That is what the Concours d’Elegance is all about. It’s not a car show, it’s a history lesson on wheels.
SFOs and SFOs
Here’s something that connects my two worlds. In my domain of finance when people talk about SFOs, they usually mean single-family offices. But in the rarified world of vintage cars, SFO means single-family owned – a vehicle that has been handed down from one generation to another within the same family. That kind of unbroken ownership is a massive deal in the collector car world. It’s like a blue-chip stock that’s been held for 80 years – the story only gets better with time.
Wrapping It Up
If I have to summarize the 2nd OCD, it comes down to four things:
- If this is what car heaven looks like, sign me up. The lawns of the Udaivilas with Lake Pichola shimmering in the background, lined with the most beautiful machines ever built – it was surreal.
- I was jealous of the people around me – not because of their vehicles, but because of their automotive knowledge. The depth of expertise at this event was humbling and enlightening. I learned more about cars in two days than I have in years.
- It was great to meet many people who know me as “mrjain” from Instagram. LOL.
- I feel like EVERY other automotive event I attend will never be able to hold a candle to this one. The bar has been set impossibly high.
Lastly, I have to thank Arjun Oberoi for envisioning and hosting such an incredible event at what is one of my favorite hotels in India – the Oberoi Udaivilas. The Oberoi hospitality was everywhere, and everyone from the staff to the fellow attendees were gracious and helpful. The fact that this event has only had two editions and is already being talked about in the same breath as established global Concours events says everything about the vision behind it. Can’t wait to attend the 3rd edition in 2028!
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