SHELBY AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE CLUB
CONCOURS CAR SHOW GUIDELINES

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The Shelby American Automobile Club is dedicated to the preservation, care, history and enjoyment of the cars from Shelby American. The publication of these Guidelines is intended to enhance the attainment of these goals. It is not intended that the cars bred for competition on the track and performance on the street be relegated to the showcase. The purpose is:

- To provide guidance for accurate restorations of the Shelby American marque.
- To provide a common standard for concours judging at National and Regional SAAC events.
- To provide compatibility of standards for the Shelby cars in multi-marque,  classic  concours (non-SAAC) events.  

CONCOURS DIRECTOR
It is the responsibility of the organizing Director(s) to:

- Publish in advance the entry forms with requirements for concours entrants.
- Review and maintain a record of the entry forms and establish classes based on pre-registrations.
- Provide an appropriate number of head judges, team judges, judging sheets, talliers, windshield cards and a display area.
- Resolve disputes (should any arise) as amicably as possible, bearing in mind that the event is for everyone's enjoyment.
- Publicly announce (and/or publish) the winners of each class and provide for awards or some other means of recognition.
- Mail a copy of the entrant's judging sheet within 30 days to each entrant whose car is judged.  

ENTRANT REQUIREMENTS
It is the responsibility of the concours entrant to insure compliance with event requirements and entry qualifications.

- SAAC National requires concours entrants to be registered participants at National Conventions, to be pre-registered in a Concours division, and to be a current national member. 
- Regional SAAC organizations may require registered participants to be regional and/or national SAAC members,
- A separate concours entry fee may be required to help offset the expenses incurred.
- Entry forms must be submitted by the published deadline, complete with all necessary information, fees, etc. Classes will be finalized by the Director(s) based on pre-registrations. Late entries may be accepted at the option of the Director(s).
-  Participants are expected to maintain propriety in their behavior, especially with the judges and their fellow competitors. It should be remembered that judges are volunteers, contributing their time and effort for the enjoyment of all. Thank the judges - don't harass them, without judges there could not be a concours.
- Participants are required to remain one car-length away from the judges during evaluation of their cars, except for the necessary functional/operational checks and when opening and closing doors, trunks, etc. Participants should refrain from discussions with the judges  unless asked questions. An obtrusive participant runs the risk of penalty points and disqualification. The basic guideline is to be polite and helpful, but avoid infringing on the judges' consultation among themselves.

QUALIFICATION
The performance cars from Shelby American (and Ford), namely the Cobras, GT40s and Shelby GT350/GT500 Mustangs form the nucleus of the Shelby American Automobile Club. It is the history of these cars which is traced, recorded and published in the Shelby American World Registry. Ownership of a Shelby American car is not essential for membership in the club... enthusiasm is! 

Many members own various other types of Ford performance/classic cars. Those other performance/classic cars which are recognized and accepted into the concours are the Sunbeam Tigers (originally engineered by Shelby American to accommodate the Ford V8 engine) and the Boss Mustangs (the Ford street derivative of the Trans-Am Mustang race cars developed by Shelby American in the late 1960s).

SAAC National does not include the wide variety of non-Shelby Mustangs or other Ford powered cars in its concours event. This is due to the concours' primary orientation to the Shelby American performance cars, and to the uncertainty of assuring a sufficient quantity of qualified judges to fairly and accurately evaluate the various non-Shelby Fords. These cars are encouraged to participate in the Popular Vote car show and all of the other club activities. Regional organizations, which have a greater level of participation and involvement of knowledgeable members who own Mustangs and other Ford-powered cars are encouraged to include them in their regional concours events. The primary consideration for the regional meet Director(s) is the capability of assuring qualified judging. 
- Modified and customized cars are appropriate in the popular vote car show, not the concours.
- Minor modifications are acceptable in the concours, but any modification will affect the  points awarded.
- Major modifications (identified under "Disqualifications") will exclude a car from concours evaluation.
- Cars must be complete and authentic, and driven onto the concours show area.  - A reproduction data plate will be assessed a three (3) penalty point deduction; a non-documented or mismatched reproduction data plate is subject to a fifteen (15) penalty point deduction.  

DISQUALIFICATION
Replicas, or any cars which are intentionally or unintentionally misrepresented (e.g., a replica Cobra, Shelbyized Mustang, etc.) will be disqualified from concours evaluation. Significantly modified cars should enter the popular vote car show. Any one of the following major modifications would be acceptable but two or more exclude the car from concours consideration. Any modification will affect the points awarded.

Operational
- non-stock drive train, steering, brakes
- non-stock performance parts (electronic ignition, Weber carburetors, etc.)
- non-stock wheels
- major instrument or accessory change
- major suspension or exhaust modifications  

Non-Operational
- non-stock finish; chromed components
- customized paint, carpet or upholstery, non-stock color
- major sheet metal modifications (flares, scoops, spoilers, rebodied, etc)
- customized upholstery & carpeting

General Disqualification
- excessive minor modifications
- unduly obtrusive or disruptive entrant behavior.

DIVISIONS & CLASSES

DIVISIONS: There are three Concours Divisions to be judged against a factory/stock qualifying standard of 2/3 Authenticity and 1/3 Workmanship.

Division 1: Stock/Original cars. This class is provided for the stock/original car, equipped as it came from the factory, with original or NOS parts and only factory- available options. Division II: Non-NOS cars. This class is provided for restored or original cars, allowing a wider latitude of acceptable parts.

Division III: Unrestored Original cars. A Survivors Division is provided to save the remaining original/unrestored cars. Survivors will be reviewed only on Authenticity, and judged differently from the other classes in order to preserve the remaining "originality" of each car.

CLASSES: Class entries will be limited to eight (8) cars, on a first-come, first-served basis, in order to avoid an excessive load on the volunteer Judges' time and efforts.
 

* Only authentic competition cars are included in the Competition Class, as raced in the era and recognized by period documentation. The Competition Class judged against "factory delivered" or "as raced in the first year" standards (R-Models through 1967 SCCA ARRC) due to the many unknown and undocumented changes made to race cars for ongoing race competition. Entrants may be required to document a car's history.

** All GT40 cars will be included in the GT40 Class. The production/race changes documented in Ronnie Spain's "GT40 - An Individual History & Race Record" will be the basis for GT40 authenticity.                        

SCORING STANDARDS
Judging is based on 2/3 Authenticity (300 points), 1/3 Workmanship (150 points) for 450 Total points. Cars are to be measured against a common standard of excellence, not against each other. The establishment of minimum scoring standards provides a base of perfection that must be attained for each award level.

DIVISION 1. Stock/Original cars. Minimums required for award levels are:
 

Premiere Level is awarded only in Division 1. National SAAC Division I entries achieving a minimum of 285 Authenticity points (85%) and 441 Total points (98%) are retired into this Honored Display category for four (4) years. These cars will receive a prominent display location, and raised/show displays are encouraged. No concours entry fee is charged, and display of the car at three of the subsequent four national conventions will qualify it to receive a special honorary award.

Re-qualifications: A Premiere Level car is re-qualified into the regular Concours competition after four years.

DIVISION 11. Non-NOS cars. Minimum required for award levels are
 

DIVISION Ill. Unrestored Original cars. A single class designated the Survivor Class is available for all Shelby American vehicles which are original and unrestored. They will be reviewed by a team of judges only on authenticity. No points are assigned. Outstanding examples are recognized at National SAAC events.

AWARDS
The minimum stated score is required for the award level indicated. There may be multiple winners at each Level of award in any class. For example, if three cars in the same class score within the 427 to 440 point range, each of those entries would receive a Gold Level award. If no car scored at least 427 points, there would not be a Gold Level award. The award level depends solely on the total score.

JUDGING
The old question will always be with us: which should win - the near perfect restoration or the unbelievably maintained original, both with correct era parts? The restorer has spent hundreds of hours and invested thousands of dollars in a given car; the owner of the "original" car has spent as many or more hours of tender loving care cleaning and polishing as well as searching for original parts. Both are winners, for both have achieved the goal of the Shelby American Automobile Club and of the car hobby: the preservation of the marque.
The quality of the "original" car will have been subject to the vagaries of the manufacturing mass production line and all of the variables inherent therein affecting it's assembly quality. Its owner(s) will have expended some time and effort to correct some of the flaws in fit, finish and/or operation. Thus it is improved from it's "as-delivered" originality.

The quality of the restored car is a result of maximum individual (or multiple) effort to achieve authenticity with an emphasis on absolute perfection in workmanship. The restorer is not shackled by a production line or schedule which forces the use of ill-fitting or poorly-finished components. Thus its quality is significantly above the mass-produced "original."

In the final analysis, the objective evaluation of the judge becomes the ultimate measure of a car's perfection. Objectivity is the effort to eliminate any personal bias toward one approach or the other. Entries should be judged against an objective standard of excellence and authenticity, not against each other. Toward that end, the following guidelines are presented.

JUDGES
Judges are volunteers who offer their expertise on cars in the classes they are to judge. A judge may enter a car into the concours competition only in a class other than the one he/she is judging. Professional restorers cannot judge classes into which are entered cars they have had a hand in restoring. Judges at National SAAC events should have gained experience at previous National and/or regional events. Individuals interested in judging, but without regional experience, are encouraged to step forward to be assigned with a judging team as observers in order to gain experience.

- Judges are to work in teams, awarding points by consensus. This method helps to share knowledge among the judges, improving their overall evaluation and future capabilities, as well as limiting the possibility of bias.
- Each class Head Judge should assign a recording/tallying scorer.
- Judging teams should make an initial review of the entries in order to be aware of the quantity and range of competition.
- Judges should set an average time per car, and be consistent to insure fairness and completeness in their evaluation.
- Points awarded should be based on an evaluation of each category as a whole; details should be viewed in context.
- Judges are encouraged to consult with each other on questions of authenticity or workmanship.
- Judges may question the entrant, at their option, but time should not be spent "visiting."
- Judges should not pull plug wires, remove fluid caps, slam doors, hoods, trunks, etc.  Judges may ask entrants to remove air cleaner covers.
- Judges are encouraged to note their reasons for deductions on the judging form as an aid to the owner.
- "Rare" models should not be rewarded, nor should rare options; judges should take care to have good visible reasons for point deductions.
- Judges should objectively evaluate the authenticity and workmanship of the car, not the  personality or reputation of the owner.
- The completed score sheets are to be turned over to the Director(s) for coordination and evaluation of the results.
- Judges decisions are final; protests may be lodged with the Concours Director(s).
- Judges should not discuss points awarded on any car nor reveal results to any of the participants prior to award presentations.
- An obtrusive or disruptive participant should be politely advised by the head judge of his/her objectionable behavior.  The need for a second warning will result ten (10) point penalty. Continued objectionable behavior will result in disqualification. No refund will be granted to a disqualified entrant.

PROCEDURES

- Dealer invoices, window stickers, warranties, manuals, brochures, etc. are encouraged.  Signs and literature are allowed with the entry, but stanchions or barriers and raised entries are not. Any display with the entry should be in good taste but may risk point deductions if it restricts judges evaluations.
- A functional/operational check will be performed on the field by the judges to insure completeness and accuracy.
- Convertibles may be shown with tops down, but the tops must then be evaluated by the judges during the operational check.
- A check of hydraulically-operated convertible tops may be required. Cobra roadster tops and side curtains are not required to be installed but should be in their normal storage  areas. Judges may require their removal to evaluate authenticity and quality but they must be consistent with all class entrants.
- Entrants are responsible for insuring that the car is ready for judging and preparation  should stop once class judging commences - subject to three (3) penalty points. The  entrant is responsible for demonstrating the functional check of operational items and  should then leave the entry ready for full evaluation (doors, hood & trunk open; top up).

AUTHENTICITY
Concours entries are expected to be authentic, representative examples of the marque; the factory original/stock car is the foundation used to establish concours judging.

GENERAL - DIVISION I and DIVISION 11
- Acceptable non-stock safety items include a Cobra scattershield, or a fire extinguisher on any entry, and a roll bar on Cobras or Tigers (Shelby convertible roll bars were stock). These items will be included in workmanship evaluations.
- The SAAC list of Production Parts Specifications, an evolving summary of stock and  optional equipment items, is the basis for standard authenticity. It notes generally known  variations.
- Judged authenticity is an objective evaluation of the correct parts, location and size  with the correct part numbers, date codes, colors and finish for the particular make and year of car.

DIVISION 1. Stock/Original cars.

- The standard for authenticity is based on the equipment and options that were available as original equipment from the factory (though perhaps dealer-installed) for each year and  model of car. Available performance and accessory items which were not factory optional  equipment would be considered modifications rather than stock/original items. An exception is made for the Tigers, in that the LAT options are acceptable.
- Due to the nature of the beast that Carroll Shelby was building, there were undocumented variations on some (especially the early) cars. The Shelby American World Registry (1997 Edition) serves as a guide for variations on specific cars. Evidence of authentic variations are documented through the SAAC Registrars in the Registry and in the Shelby  American Guide, 2nd Edition. Such evidence as original window stickers, historical literature, factory records, etc. are acceptable documentation. Entrants wishing to insure that judges are aware of such variations should note them on their windshield card.

DIVISION 11. Non-NOS cars
Full points are awarded for correct parts, whether NOS, replacements or reproductions.
1) Replacements for maintenance parts that routinely wear are acceptable. They should be  Ford where available, or indistinguishable from them.
2) Replacement sheet metal and suspension parts necessary for restoration are acceptable.  
3) Parts made available by Shelby American to upgrade the cars, as available in the time period, are acceptable.
4) Reproduction and replacement parts are acceptable but should be direct replacements that match as closely as possible the fit, finish, and appearance of originals.
5) Exterior paint color must be a color available from Shelby American, although not necessarily that car's original color. There will be a 15-point penalty for a non-Shelby  color.
6) Options available on a particular model are acceptable, whether on the car as it left the factory or not.

WORKMANSHIP
Concours workmanship takes into account the condition of the car- i.e., the quality of craftsmanship in maintaining and/or restoring the car.

GENERAL - DIVISION I and DIVISION II                                                        
- It is expected that concours entries would have a superior quality of workmanship over a  "factory-fresh" original. Points may be lost, however, for over-workmanship. Parts which should be "natural finish" may be lightly clear-coated to prevent rust.
- Defects in cleanliness and quality of fit and finish, e.g. gaps in panel joints, cracked, chipped or scratched paint or glass, etc., are to be considered in perspective to the  whole area under evaluation. Partial points may be assigned by the judges.
- Judged workmanship is an objective evaluation of the quality of fit, finish, maintenance and cleanliness of a car.

DIVISION 1. Stock/Original cars.
- The original/restored car is expected to be a higher quality of workmanship than the original/unrestored car. It may, however, have paint runs or orange peel or may show "original-type" overspray on the under-carriage, etc. "Natural-finish" parts should not be   painted the natural color.
- An original/unrestored car should rate higher on authenticity but lower on workmanship. Paint runs on engine compartment walls, undercarriage overspray, and exterior orange peel are expected.

DIVISION II. Non-NOS cars.
- Workmanship should be of the highest quality, but to be correct it should reflect imperfections found in factory-fresh originals, e.g. drip marks in engine compartment  sheet metal.

SERIAL NUMBER PLATE / DATA PLATE CHECK
Reproduction data plates are subject to a three (3) point penalty. Reproduction data plate codes must be substantiated by showing the original data plate or build sheet as verifying documentation. Entries not documented, or those with documents mis-matched to reproduction data plate, are subject to a fifteen (15) point penalty.
- The serial/data plate check is to verify the correct engine size/type and transmission type. This will be included in the authenticity section of the evaluation. Additionally, on Division I cars, the serial/data plate check is used to verify paint color and  interior. Division II cars may have any paint color or interior available interior     available for the particular year/model of the car.
- Those vehicles which did not originally have a data plate will be checked for appropriate items relevant to the serial number plate. For example, Cobra CSX2096 should be a stock color for a red 1963 Cobra, have a 289 CID engine, the appropriate color and type  interior, etc. The 1965 Shelby GT350 SFM5SO45 should have a 289 CID Hi-Po engine with Borg Warner aluminum T-10 4-speed transmission, paint should be Wimbledon White with Guardsman Blue stripes, 1965 style black interior with package tray, etc.

OPERATIONAL CHECK
All preparation must stop once class judging starts and cars should remain in place until class judging is over, subject to a 3-point penalty.
- The operational check, to cover safety-drivability items, will include all exterior lights and dash gauges, and a check for fluid leaks. Windshield wipers/wash excluded to  avoid wetting or scratching of windshields. More detailed checks (i.e., side window movement, convertible top operation, air conditioning/heater function, seat adjustment, etc.) may be required of all entries in a class at the judges' discretion. The operational check will be included in the Workmanship section of the judging evaluation.
- It is not expected that engines should be run to bring temperature gauges up, etc., but gauges should be evaluated to determine if they are functional or faulty. For example, a  speedometer should not have an indicated speed on a stationary vehicle. Fuel level and oil pressure gauges, etc., should give a reading. The gauges should indicate functionality  when the ignition switch is turned on or the engine is running.
- The operational check will include the demonstration of an entry's drivability by an on-the-field engine start and transmission engagement.


                         SAAC Concours Car Show Guidelines
  
1999 Edition.
Issued 1980; Revised 1981, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1999                  
Concours questions should be addressed to SAACs Concours Chairman:

Paul Zimmons
9801 Sorrel Ave
Potomac MD 20854
Phone 301-983-5128        Fax 301 -983-5129
email:  pzimmons@saac.com