2009 marked the thirtieth edition of the Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance. Director Matthew de Larcinese had his work cut out for him to best last year’s lineup of cars and present a field that made the most of the significant anniversary. Attendees needn’t have worried.

In a nod to the show’s location and illustrating that Detroit may be down but it will never be out, special exhibition classes included “Fins and Chrome: The Convertibles of 1959.” 1959 was the high water mark for the fin fad of the 1950s. Never again would we see the likes of the enormous, swept-back delta wing jet fighter fins that adorned the top of the rear fenders of every 1959 Cadillac. The concours also featured 80 cars representing the best of Detroit design from the 1920s through the 1960s.

The Meadow Brook Concours is also known for getting its share of first-run, never before seen cars. This year, the most significant was the 1934 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 with a one-off alloy boat tail body. The Hupmobile driven 48,000 miles around the world in 1911 also garnered its share of interest.

Since its inception, the concours has been held on the grounds of Oakland University in the shadow of Meadow Brook Hall, an 80,000 square foot Tudor Revival Mansion built in the 1920s by Matilda Dodge Wilson of the Dodge Brothers automobile family. Over the past thirty years, the concours has contributed over $6 million to its preservation. It’s well worth the time to take a tour during the concours weekend.

This year, Best in show American was won by a 1934 Packard Dietrich Sport Sedan V-12 owned by Ray Scherr. The Best of Detroit Award went to a 1934 Cadillac V-16 Convertible Sedan owned by David and Linda Kane and The Designers Choice – The Dave Holls Memorial Award – was taken home by the 1938 Talbot Tago T-150C roadster with coachwork by Figoni and Falaschi owned by J.W. Marriott, Jr.