The 7th Annual Concours d’Elegance at Copshaholm presents a program on par with the finest automotive events in the world
The Concours d’Elegance at Copshaholm, hosted by the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, Indiana, has emerged from its humble beginnings in 2018 to become one of the premier automotive events in the Midwest. Now the largest single-day attraction on the campus of the historic Copshaholm House Mansion—and the only event of its kind in the area—the 7th edition of the Concours d’Elegance at Copshaholm takes place Saturday, July 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Mirroring the approach of event sponsors The JBS Collection and LaVine Restorations, Inc., the Concours at Copshaholm has gained ground among the automotive event circuit through its unflinching commitment to quality. Jack Boyd Smith Jr. assembled the bulk of The JBS Collection from scratch—with no previous experience—in a little over 10 years, and the collection is currently ranked among the top 100 in the world (The Key). Smith Jr.’s good friends and restoration partners—co-sponsors Eric and Vivian LaVine—have relied upon more than 50 years of hands-on expertise to build their company’s reputation as an elite restoration outfit.
The 2025 edition of the Concours d’Elegance at Copshaholm showcases the important historic connection between the City of South Bend and the automotive industry while presenting a sophisticated, substantial, and ever-maturing schedule of world-class automotive presentations and ceremonial awards.
“There’s a correlation between our growth and the continued success of our sponsors—I don’t think that is a coincidence,” said Patrick Slebonick, Executive Director of the Studebaker National Museum. “LaVine Restorations is respected worldwide for their restoration work. The JBS Collection has become one of the most significant collections in the world through the careful selection of vehicles with stunning craftsmanship and remarkable histories. With the Copshaholm Concours, similarly, we’ve focused on quality by putting work and time into finding the best cars and providing the best experience for exhibitors and the attendees.”
According to Slebonick, the Copshaholm Concours has become a major force for good and an economic boom in the South Bend region. The Concours event provides world-class programming at an affordable price and now draws exhibitors and attendees from around the globe. In 2024, the Copshaholm Concours welcomed nearly 2,000 attendees to the single-day event from nearly 20 states and as far away as India. With each annual iteration of the Concours, the event seems closer and closer to outgrowing its original parameters.
“Since day one we’ve taken a methodical approach to expansion to ensure we offer the highest level experience possible,” said Slebonick. “As we look to grow, we rely on the guidance of leadership like Jack and the LaVine family to help us chart our direction. Jack’s participation has been vital from the start. His vision to lend his name and leadership to the inaugural event brought us to the attention of the automotive community. That allowed us to attract significant national collections as a first-year show. As the event has grown each year, Jack’s guidance, experience, and passion continue to help us make the right strategic decisions and make the Concours event one that everyone wants to be a part of. Over time, we do expect this will become a multi-day event through the addition of the right program components.”
Photos courtesy of the Studebaker National Museum
The 7th Concours d’Elegance at Copshaholm is July 12 at the historic Copshaholm House Mansion in downtown South Bend, Indiana. Sponsored by The JBS Collection and LaVine Restorations, Inc., and hosted by the Studebaker National Museum, the Concours has grown into the largest single-day attraction of the year held at the historic campus. The event features a wide range of car categories, attractions, and awards, and showcases the connection between the City of South Bend and the automotive industry—a connection that dates back to the early 1900s and the Studebaker Corporation.
Featured classes at the 2025 Copshaholm Concours include Inspired Greatness (Rolls-Royce automobiles of all years); Step Out With Mercury! (Mercury automobiles of all years); American Splendor (open-bodied full classics); European Luxury (full classic European automobiles); Studebaker Sedans (closed-bodied four-door Studebakers of all years); Kickin’ Brass (Brass-era automobiles); The Roaring ‘20s (an open class for popular-priced 1920-1929 automobiles); and The Silent Knights (Knight sleeve-valve engined automobiles).
Automotive scholar and historian Matt Short is Chief Judge for the event, and Best of Show—the top award at Copshaholm—is to be selected from among Best of Class and Premier Award winners. A wide range of additional honors and awards—including the J. M. Studebaker Award and the Vivian & Eric LaVine/LaVine Restorations Award (Spirit of the Hobby)—round out the daylong event and reflect a local, homegrown tint unique among concours functions.
“South Bend is an important part of American automotive history, dating back to 1852 when Clement and Henry Studebaker arrived here, and 1857 when the brothers built their first carriage here,” said Jack Boyd Smith Jr. “There’s no other event quite like this in the South Bend area, and people here have a deep appreciation for all things automotive. They feel it in their bones. To see attendance grow over the years, and to have the chance every year to meet and talk to folks whose fathers and grandfathers worked at Studebaker, is beyond fulfilling. Patrick and his staff do a remarkable job with this event, and it’s an honor to sponsor this once again with my good friends Eric and Vivian LaVine. I attend a lot of automotive events, and what makes Copshaholm truly unique—aside from the high-level programming and its undeniable, building energy—is the added homegrown feel. That is truly unique among Concours events.”
To learn more about the 7th Annual Concours d’Elegance at Copshaholm, please visit the event website, or call (574) 235-9714.