The short answer
- Concours if the car is a provenance-grade flagship and you plan to show it (and rarely drive it). Rebuild to factory-spec, NOS parts only, 99+ judging points.
- Show Driver if you'll drive the car regularly but want to take it to rallies, concours d'elegance, and club events. Full disassembly, quality reproductions where authenticity matters, 90+ judging points.
- Daily Driver if you want a reliable classic you can take to a supermarket. Original appearance, modernised wear consumables, bulletproof running gear.
If you're not sure, you probably want Show Driver. It matches how 70% of our clients use their cars.
What's in each tier
| Aspect | Daily Driver | Show Driver | Concours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical judging score target | n/a | 90+ points | 99+ points |
| Disassembly depth | partial | full | bolt-level |
| Parts sourcing | serviceable used + modern replacements | quality reproductions where authenticity matters | NOS only |
| Paint process | combined paint + anti-corrosion | multi-layer oven cure | 5–7 layer specialised process |
| Electrical system | inspect + repair | full rewire, correct colours | full rewire with period loom material |
| Engine | functional check + clutch | complete inspection + refresh | full rebuild |
| Interior | clean + spot-repair | remake to period spec | remake to factory spec, NOS trim |
| Chrome | polish + light re-chrome | full re-chrome as needed | full re-chrome to factory finish |
| Typical timeline | 3–6 months | 10–16 months | 18–26 months |
| Indicative 2026 cost range | €15k–€55k | €45k–€130k | €95k–€220k |
How to choose
Three questions, in order:
1. Will the car be judged competitively?
If yes → Concours. If you're aiming at anything below FIVA Grade A or equivalent, you're wasting the extra 30–50% over Show Driver.
2. How many kilometres per year will you drive it?
- Under 500 km/year and only in favourable weather: Concours is fine; the car will hold up.
- 500–3,000 km/year, mostly rallies and events: Show Driver.
- Over 3,000 km/year or any winter use: Daily Driver. Choose reliability and maintainability over originality.
3. What's the car worth post-restoration at each tier?
A €120,000 Concours 190SL makes financial sense. A Concours W123 does not: it starts around €65,000 and can reach €200,000 depending on the car, and no market values a W123 that high. Pair the tier to the car's post-restoration ceiling.
Common mis-matches we see
- Owners over-specifying tier on a low-ceiling car. "Concours" a W123 and you'll spend €65,000 on a car the market prices at €40,000 post-restoration.
- Owners under-specifying tier on a provenance-grade car. A matching-numbers Carrera RS restored to Show Driver level can lose €60,000 of upside vs Concours. If the car warrants it, spend the extra time.
- Mixed tiers within one project. "Concours paint, Show Driver interior" never looks right next to itself.
What tier-picking looks like
At our intake we walk the car together and talk through the three tiers against the owner's intended use and budget ceiling. About 15% of the time the owner arrives thinking "Concours" and leaves with a Show Driver scope because the use case doesn't justify it. About 10% of the time they upgrade from Daily Driver to Show Driver once they see what that extra 15–20% spend buys them.
The other 75% know what they want when they walk in. If you're in that camp, start at the quote form. It's one page and takes five minutes.