In the coastal town of Seaside, California, junk car enthusiasts from all around the country gathered to celebrate the peculiar: the 2023 Concours d’Lemons. While most automotive shows showcase pristine, polished vehicles that gleam under the sun, the Concours d’Lemons was an entirely different spectacle. Here, the rusted, the odd, the forgotten, and the delightfully quirky took center stage.
Last years winner in the ‘DerSelfSatisfiedKrautenWagen’ category, a 2000 VW Beetle owned by Battlebots HiJinx builder Jennifer Herchensoder, sits next to a 1960 VW Shorty Bus, Fred ‘Lucky’ Hayes who won First Place in the same category this year
The morning sun eventually broke through the marine layer, casting a warm glow over the Seaside City Hall lawn that had been transformed into a makeshift showground. Clunkers, beaters, and automotive misfits of all shapes and sizes were arranged around the City Hall’s green. Among them a rusty VW Ghia, a shabby Saab, and a micro fire truck that looked like it belonged more in a cartoon than on the road.
Celebration of the absurd
Spectators strolled through the aisles, chuckling and snapping photos of the creatively absurd vehicles. Some entrants tried to bribe judges with drinks, while others served complimentary snacks to attendees. All participants and sightseers shared in the amusement of the event. This was a carnival of automotive eccentricity, and everyone was in on the joke.
This 1940 Mercedes W142 320 Sport Cabriolet by Rometsch is a one off Coachbuilt vehicle discovered parked in a Michigan barn after 50 years
In a corner, an enthusiastic group had gathered around an ancient convertible sedan that appeared to be held together by rust and dust. Its red paint was faded and flaking, and the interior was all but wire seat frames with a hay bale thrown in the back seat. This once beautiful hand-built coach came out of the Mercedes factory in 1940 but was left parked for over 50 years in a Michigan barn.
The “Worst in Show” went to Stephen McCarthy for his 1969 Citroën DS21 Safari Wagon dubbed the ‘Yellow Submarine’. Complete with Beatles figurines adorning the rooftop and a homemade periscope, Stephen and his wife wore Sgt. Pepper’s costumes while Beatles tunes played in the car.
‘Worst in Show’ went to Stephen McCarthy for his 1969 Citroën DS21 Safari Wagon dubbed the ‘Yellow Submarine’
Age, car model, and social status dissolved in the shared joy of the event’s moment. The Concours d’Lemons of 2023 had been a celebration of the unorthodox, the imperfect, and the extraordinary stories that often go unnoticed. In a world often fixated on perfection and conformity, events like the Concours d’Lemons served as a reminder that beauty and automotive passion could be found in the most unexpected places.
Gallery
1971 Brubaker Box
Plenty of automotive lemons nostalgia to be seen at the Concours d’Lemons in Seaside
A Hippie dog cruising around in a VW lemon at Concours d’Lemons
A very beautiful 1975 Corvtte Stingray Sportwagen but nonetheless an automotive lemon
Rust Belt American Junk – GM
Bribing a Concours d’Lemons judge with some complimentary lint removal
Rust Belt American Junk – Ford
This 1958 Lancia Appia Berlina only recieves authentic Italian ingredients to keep it running!
Shady, but friendly, Concours d’Lemons judges
Land Rover – Birmingham, England’s finest
The history of a 1968 Citroen explained with real lemons
The Bakelite steering wheel on this 1955 Nash Metro is so hardened and brittle it resembles dinosaur bones
In the ‘Land of Misfit Cars’ category Monterey Touring vehicles exhibited this strange convertible stretch limosine (which you can rent and tour Hwy 1!).
Trashy in a good way
80’s fashion never seems to go away and neither did this 1985 Cadillac
Jeff Niles, owner of the ‘Barbie Mustang’ poses with his friend Eric aka ‘Barbie’
This 1971 Saab 96 was restored and daily driven by high school student Logan Chapparelli
1958 VW Ghia brought by Dodi Auto Sales
The Seaside City Hall hosts Concours d’Lemons during MOnterey Car Week to a packed crowd
This 1968 Saab 96 was originally purchased new by Joan (yellow sweater), 84, and driven regularly. Last year, she sold it to her friend Monica (blue jumpsuit) who brought Joan and the car to Concours d’Lemons and won the ‘Swedish Meatballs’ category.
This 1993 Geo Metro Convertible won the ‘Rust Belt American Junk – GM’ category. Owner, WJ Wetle, serves up some goodies to Concours d’Lemons attendees.
A teeny tiny firetruck? Yes, a 1990 Daihatsu Hijet from Japan
Unmitigated Gaul
1969 Citroën DS21 Safari Wagon dubbed the ‘Yellow Submarine’ complete with a light up custom Vincent Van Gogh headliner. Owner Stephen McCarthy won top honors with ‘Worst in Show’
The bad & the ugly indeed at Hagerty’s Concours d’Lemons
You never know what you are going to see at Concours d’Lemons
Barbie was a popular theme at Concours d’Lemons 2023 as seen here on this 1966 Plymouth Barracuda
Mario Donofrio won the ‘Rust Belt American Junk – Ford’ category with his 1982 Mercury LN7
1955 Nash Metro
Lemon shots with the Lemons Judge is surely a bribe
Meyers Manx
Lemons, lemons ad more lemons!
A roadtrip to Concours d’Lemons in a 1992 Chevy Lumina APV!
