Follow this expert‑backed checklist to prepare, present, and compete at any judged car show with confidence.
Based on: How to Make Your Car a Concours Winner: The Dos and Don'ts of Car Care by AutoGuide.com
▶ Watch the source video on YouTube
Have you ever watched a car roll away with first place and wondered what the judges actually saw that you missed? Most enthusiasts spend years preparing their cars without ever truly understanding what concours judges are looking for — and that gap costs them placements they absolutely deserved.
Here's what nobody tells you: the mistakes that knock cars out of contention aren't usually the big, obvious ones. They're the hose clamps sourced from Home Depot instead of OEM spec. The wrong battery type sitting under the hood. The Dawn dish soap that quietly stripped every layer of wax you spent weekends applying. The ammonia-based glass cleaner silently degrading your interior trim. Small things with big consequences — and without someone pointing them out, you'd never know.
Imagine showing up to your next event fully prepared. You know exactly how the judging format works — whether it's a people's choice, a traditional 100-point system, or the new M100 modernized format developed by Hagerty's own Nigel Matthews. You understand that over-restoration can actually cost you points. You know how to use your 15-minute judging window like a professional. You know which cleaning products to avoid and which ones top-level detailers swear by. You walk away not just with a plaque, but with the deep satisfaction of knowing you competed the right way.
Nigel Matthews isn't just a car enthusiast with opinions. He's a licensed automotive technician, a member of the Guild of Master Craftsmen in the UK, the chief judge at Amelia Island, Greenwich Concours, and several other top-tier events worldwide. He co-created the M100 judging format over three years specifically to modernize and balance the competitive field. When Nigel talks about what wins and what doesn't, he's drawing on decades of hands-on restoration experience and thousands of hours of judging at the highest levels of the hobby.
This checklist distills everything Nigel shared in his AutoGuide.com interview into a clear, step-by-step action plan you can follow right now. From choosing the right soap to understanding discretionary judging points, from PPF care to building the story that earns you those final five points — it's all here, organized and ready to use.
Pick up this checklist, work through it before your next show, and compete like someone who actually knows what the judges are looking for. Because now you will.
Every checklist item comes with actionable notes to guide you — things like "Don't forget to do this before you start," "Avoid this common mistake," or "Set a reminder for 30 days out." Nothing vague, just clear next steps.
+ 20 more action items inside...
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