Some belong in museums. Others were born for the racetrack. A few have spent decades hidden in barns. All have a story worth telling. From Ferrari's 80th anniversary and the eccentricities of automotive design to legendary Japanese race cars and forgotten treasures, the fifth annual Smith Hendrick Heritage Invitational is assembling an exclusive collection of automobiles for its April 15-17, 2027, celebration at Ten Tenths Motor Club.

Now, organizers are inviting discerning collectors to help shape the next chapter by submitting their prized automobiles for consideration in the carefully curated showfield.

“Great cars deserve more than a place on a lawn. They deserve to have their stories told,” said Ray Evernham, executive director of the Heritage Invitational. “We're building something special here — an event where racing history, extraordinary craftsmanship and the passion of collectors all come together. As we enter our fifth year, we're looking for automobiles that don't just turn heads, but start conversations.”

The Core Collection: Automotive Excellence Across Generations

Eleven core classes will celebrate the automobiles that shaped the industry, from pre-war craftsmanship to modern engineering marvels.

  • Early Racers and Rods: Pre-World War II competition machines and pioneering hot rods that helped establish America's performance culture
  • Racing Renaissance: Significant post-war race and rally cars that pushed the boundaries of speed, innovation and endurance
  • American Classics: Elegant, predominantly pre-war American luxury automobiles showcasing the craftsmanship and grandeur of an earlier era
  • European Classics: Distinguished pre-war European luxury automobiles, from stately touring cars to magnificent coach-built masterpieces
  • German Performance and Precision: Post-war German sports and performance cars celebrated for engineering excellence and driving dynamics
  • Supercars - 2000s and Beyond: Modern exotics and hypercars curated by automotive personality Ed Bolian, highlighting the cutting edge of speed, design and technology
  • RADwood Supercars: The outrageous, angular and unforgettable exotics of the 1980s and 1990s
  • American Muscle, Sport & Performance: Post-war American automobiles that defined generations of horsepower, style and automotive freedom
  • Post-war European Luxury: Refined continental automobiles that elevated comfort, craftsmanship and sophistication
  • Post-war European Sport & Performance: European sports cars and performance machines celebrated for their design, handling and driving pedigree
  • Japanese Sport & Luxury of the '60s and '70s: Groundbreaking Japanese automobiles that helped redefine performance, reliability and luxury.

Featured Classes: Rare Finds, Racing Royalty and Milestone Machines

The 2027 featured classes will offer collectors an opportunity to showcase vehicles with exceptional stories, distinctive pedigrees and historical significance.

  • 80 Years of Ferrari: A celebration of the Prancing Horse's eight decades of automotive excellence, emphasizing significant Ferrari models produced before 1979
  • Racing Icons of Japan: Competition-bred Japanese machines that earned their reputations on racetracks and rally stages around the world
  • Homologation Specials: Street-legal machines created to satisfy racing regulations, alongside their competition counterparts. A celebration of what happens when motorsports engineering meets the open road.
  • Weird and Wonderful: The delightfully unconventional side of automotive history, featuring rare, quirky and imaginative creations that defy expectations, curated in partnership with Nashville’s Lane Motor Museum.
  • Barn Finds: Assembled by renowned automotive storyteller and Barn Find Hunter Tom Cotter, this class celebrates remarkable discoveries, unrestored survivors and the stories hidden beneath decades of dust.

Additional featured classes are being developed around Volvo’s centennial and Porsche’s legendary performance heritage. Final themes and participation details will be announced as the showfield takes shape.

Three Days. One Extraordinary Automotive Experience.

The Smith Hendrick Heritage Invitational is more than a concours. It's a gathering place for collectors, enthusiasts and automotive tastemakers to celebrate the machines — and the people — that make car culture extraordinary.

Thursday, April 15: The Smith Hendrick Heritage welcome dinner provides an intimate evening bringing together collectors, industry luminaries and automotive enthusiasts for camaraderie, conversation and charitable fundraising.

Friday, April 16: Legendary IROC machines return to the circuit, while the charity Pro-Am pairs racing personalities and enthusiasts in an on-track experience to benefit Speedway Children's Charities.

Saturday, April 17: The fifth annual Smith Hendrick Heritage Invitational Concours offers an exclusive collection of automobiles displayed across the showfield, complemented by RADwood's nostalgic celebration of 1980s and 1990s automotive culture.

Have a Car Worth Celebrating? 

The Smith Hendrick Heritage Invitational welcomes submissions from collectors whose automobiles represent the best of automotive history, design and performance. Click here to submit your vehicle for consideration.

TICKETS & INFORMATION: For the latest news, tickets and sponsorship information, visit www.heritageinvitational.com.