Geneva Concours 2026

Premium parking for the GT-R at Geneva Concours this year.

2026 was our 5th year participating in the Geneva Concours. Earlier in January, I messaged the organizer, John Barrett, about the cars we could display at the show this year. John was interested in the 1951 Mercedes-Benz LA3500 4X4 Truck and the 1990 Nissan Skyline GT-R/B324R. I was planning on displaying the GT-R at the show a couple years ago, but the restoration took longer than we expected. Thankfully, it is ready to join the amazing collection of cars on display at Geneva Concours this year.

Mercedes LA3500 truck at Geneva Concours.

John has a class for Light Trucks (non-semi trucks) at Geneva Concours, so the LA3500 fits right into that class... barely! The gear-driven tipping bed and 4X4 drivetrain are unique features of this truck that make it conversation piece at shows. Jim Oles purchased this truck from a seller in Europe. The previous owner restored the truck, including new paint and new wood for the tip bed. Thankfully, the truck only needed a mild paint correction to be show ready this year.

Frank and Stanley Oles standing by the Mercedes LA3500 truck.

Jim stores the truck at his farm in Maple Park. Stanley was able to drive the truck from the farm to the show in Geneva. It was the longest trip we made with the truck since Jim purchased it. The diesel drivetrain starts easily and drives appropriately for a truck of this era. Stanley reported he was able to cruise at 55 MPH, which was fast enough to keep up with traffic on the country roads. The Mercedes was flanked by a pair of Studebaker pickup trucks on either side, in the center intersection of the main street, right across from the GT-R. With a couple of trees to provide shade and mild weather, we were primed for a beautiful day surrounded by some of the best classic vehicles in the Midwest.

Jim Oles checking out a 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado.

Jim is a fan of the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado, so he was surprised to see this pristine example of the car in an attractive turquoise color. Jim's own Bronze-colored example is nearly finished with its mechanical restoration.

Beautifully restored Packard Phaeton at Geneva Concours.

Every year, in addition to the standard classes for judging, John includes 3-4 special classes to be featured at the show. This year, pre-WWII Phaeton Convertibles were one of the featured classes, along with Audi/Auto Union and Whizzer motor bikes. Cars in the phaeton class are extremely expensive to restore, with limited parts availability, lots of chrome trim, and a large amount of body work to restore and paint. This Packard was a perfect example of the cars that draw big crowds in Geneva.

Whizzer motor bike display at Geneva Concours.

Another favorite display at the show was a selection of Whizzer motorbikes. After WWII, the Whizzer Motorbike Company created a 4-stroke gasoline engine that could be bolted to a standard 6-inch bicycle to provide affordable transportation. The kits were available until around 1955, and they could be installed by the bicycle owner or a local bicycle shop. Gradually, the kit selection expanded to include complete models like the 26" Pacemaker and the smaller 20" Sportsman. As the popularity of affordable motorcycles grew, the shortcomings of the Whizzers, including weak brakes and low horsepower, rendered the engine-powered bicycles obsolete. A good selection of each of the different model types was on display at Geneva. When I restored my 1950 Schwinn Black Phantom, I had hopes of owning a Whizzer one day, so it was exciting for me to see these motor bikes in person.

Delahaye bodywork sparkles at Geneva Concours.

French cars have always had exceptional styling, especially during the pre-WWII era when many of the cars had custom, coach-built bodies. The curves on this Delahaye represent a wind-swept elegance long before the days of wind tunnels turned styling into a science experiment.

The DeTomaso Vallelunga represents the early days of mid engine sports cars.

When car enthusiasts hear the name DeTomaso, they often think of the mid engine Pantera and Mangusta automobiles. This example, the Vallelunga, came before both of those models. It was known for having a 4-cylinder Ford engine and tricky handling. The simple yet elegant styling makes this auto a true classic.

Frank and Stan hold up the Benz Trophy presented to the GT-R at Geneva Concours.

Judges at this show have a checklist for the vehicles. Cleanliness is important, as well as the story behind the car. The Judges listened closely as I shared the details about how the car was originally tuned at the Bee Racing shop in Japan. I also shared a poster board filled with photos of our restoration of the car and Stanley's engine rebuild.

Carl Benz trophy in front of the Work brand wheel of the GT-R.

We were honored to receive a Carl Benz trophy in the Tuner Car Class at Geneva Concours for the GT-R. The quality of this restoration is a true reflection of the mechanical skills of Stanley and Jim, and also Dino's body and paint team at Custom Cars Unlimited. It is wonderful to receive recognition for all the hard work that went into this car over the last 4 years.

Stan behind the wheel of the Mercedes truck.

The day at Geneva Concours goes pretty fast, especially after chatting with the judges, visiting with family and friends, and checking out all the cars on display. Stanley was able to drive the Mercedes truck back to the farm without any issues. Even though getting the vehicles ready for the show can be quite stressful, the ability to display our cars at this prestigious show is an honor that makes the effort worth it. Many thanks to John and the team at Geneva Concours who volunteer their time to make this show a success. We still believe it is one of the best car shows in Chicagoland, both from organization and quality of cars on display. We look forward to next year!