There is a current movement among the car collector crowd to celebrate the unrestored and original. It is doubtful that this "new" segment will ever replaced the over-restored and pampered which are the main event at most concours. However, it is certain that these cars will occupy their place in the sun and on the greens and will add a needed perspective to most concours.

The recently completed Bloomington Gold Corvette show had a well attended Survivor car concours which interestingly had more than just Corvettes. In fact, Bloomington has copyrighted the name "Survivor" when it comes to collector cars and now has a concours to celebrate all these previously overlooked gems. 

(A barn find, currently non-operational 1969 Corvette, owner and Keith Martin of SCM on the left)

(1962 Studerbaker Lark, a winner of the 2009 Zenith award and owner)

(Survivor 1963 Corvette split window and future owner)

(One owner and daily driver 1983 American Eagle, SX/4 in true survivior condition)

(Third gen Pontaic Firebird; Although never out of style these cars have slowly come back in vogue)

  (Slightly tarnished badge of a 1970's Camaro Z28)

(True land yachts, Lincoln Continental Mk 4s in black and blue) 

All this effort is an attempt to encourage collectors with nice well kept original cars to keep them that way rather than destroying the cars' history and personality in a bid to achieve concour perfection. The event was well attended and supported by the likes of Hagerty Insurance and Sports Car Market magazine, (SCM) the bible of the car collecting world.

(Engine of a Jaguar XK120)

( Mercedes 230SL and a one owner W126 S class)

(Two aircooled Survivors, Porsche 356 and Volkswagen Karmann Ghia)

We hope that this Survivor or preservation movement prospers since it accurately represents the bedrock of car collecting-ordinary folks with extraordinary vehicles- and should  give the average guy or gal a chance to share the spotlight with the open checkbook restorations and garage queens.