La Jolla Concours d'Elegance
Classic cars on display at the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance. Courtesy photo

The 18th Annual La Jolla Concours d’Elegance returns to San Diego Friday, kicking off with a VIP dinner party in La Jolla at Ellen Browning Scripps Park at 6 p.m.

The annual event “celebrates the glamour and luxury of the Roaring ’20s and Glamorous ’30s with a schedule of must-attend events for automobile aficionados and casual enthusiasts alike,” a statement from the event organizers reads.

For the VIP dinner, themed “Expedition d’Elegance: The Road to Opulent Adventure,” attendees can listen to classic jazz, enjoy period- appropriate cocktails and gourmet bites.

However, Saturday is where the event really revs its engines, displaying a diverse array of automobiles, from vintage classics to modern marvels on an Italian Mille-style rally out on the open road.

Beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, the public is invited to join the “Cars & Coffee” Parade in Rancho Santa Fe on Paseo Delicias and at the La Jolla Shores Parade along Avenida de la Playa and Calle de la Playa from 11:30 to 11:45 am to catch a glimpse of these 100+ modern and vintage cars.

In the evening, Porsches on Prospect will showcase German engineering from 5 to 9 p.m. in the heart of La Jolla Village. A total of 75 magnificent vintage and modern Porsches will line Prospect Street, as the businesses offer deals, music and giveaways around them.

Finally on Sunday, the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance will begin at Ellen Browning Scripps Park, 1100 Coast Blvd. More than 200 rare vehicles will displayed on the La Jolla Cove lawn — from “classic muscle cars to the sleek lines of vintage European roadsters,” a statement reads.

Accoridng to the organizers, this year, the Concours will feature a 1932 Chrysler CP8, one of 5 surviving cars out of the 251 ever built, Jack Douglas’ 1955 Jaguar D-Type, and the “Most Famous Car in the World,” the Aston Martin DB5, best-known for its role in the James Bond films driven by 007 in the film “Goldfinger.”

Attendees can participate in a Champagne and Honey Tasting, enjoy live music, visit exclusive luxury vendors and sip on refreshing beers and cocktails.

Additionally, the free La Jolla Motor Car Classic at the Concours is taking place on the street adjacent to the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance.

Purchase tickets and learn more at lajollaconcours.com.

— City News Service