The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance was held last Sunday, with 209 of the most celebrated examples of automotive art displayed on the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Course, just outside Monterey in California. The competing cars had travelled from 17 countries and 31 states for the event, though the audience had come from much further afield for Monterey Car Week in general, and the most famous automotive concours event in the world.
The Concours was being held for the 68th time, and the growth in prestige of the event from its humble beginnings has spawned a number of ancillary events that have made it even more important to the luxury and collectible car industries.
The first auction held alongside the Concours was in 1986, with the first official Pebble Beach Concours auction held in 1990. With six auctions in three days, Pebble Beach is the now the single most important collectible car auction cluster on the planet, this year selling 1,341 collectible cars worth $368 million.
The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance has also grown to become one of the most important new car shows in the world from its original showing of 30 vintage cars in 1950. Between Friday's Quail and Sunday's Concept Lawn at the Pebble Beach concours, the showing of new uber-exclusive automobiles now rivals the major car shows in Paris/Frankfurt, Geneva and Tokyo for elite model releases and the first public showings of concept cars. There are even private showings of forthcoming models, as no single other event draws this many ultra high net worth automotive enthusiasts together in one place. This year Automobili Pininfarina had its new PF0 available for viewing by people with the right credentials, and there were certain to have been more such private viewings discretely hidden away within a few miles of Monterey.
Simultaneously, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion races held at the nearby WeatherTech (Laguna Seca) Raceway were once the main event. Look closely at the posters below and you'll see that the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance began in 1950 as a sideshow to the Sports Car Club of America's (SCCA) annual "Del Monte Trophy" road races, run over a 2.1-mile (3.4-km) course on the narrow tree-lined public roads of Pebble Beach. The concours is mentioned in much smaller print on the posters.
The races ran until 1956 when American motorsport pioneer Ernie McAfee hit a tree and died during the races, and everything changed. The Concours became a stand-alone event, and local government provided public land for a purpose-built racing circuit so that motorsport could continue as part of Monterey's automotive celebration.
The site for the new racetrack was a dry lake bed about five miles inland, and the far right poster above shows the continuity of the event in 1957 at Laguna Seca (the evaporated lakebed retained its long-standing Spanish name – Laguna Seca means "dry lagoon"). Laguna Seca is now on the calendar of many world championship racing series, and most American championship series.
As each successive year has played out, the Concours has grown in sophistication and incrementally staked a claim to its current significant role in celebrating automotive history.
The event raised $1.8 million this year, and those funds will go via the Pebble Beach Company Foundation, the primary charitable partner ofthe Concours, to local charities, impacting the lives of more than 10,000 children each year in Monterey County.
The 69th Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance returns to its usual third Sunday of August next year; it takes place on Sunday, August 18, 2019,and will celebrate the centennials of Bentley and Zagato.
Best of Show
When the panel of judges had meticulously examined the assembled 209 cars, the Best of Show ribbon was placed on the 1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta of longtime entrant David Sydorick of Beverly Hills, California.
In addition to the ultimate Pebble Beach award, David's Alfa Romeo won its class and took home two other awards: the Charles A. Chayne Trophy and the J. B. & Dorothy Nethercutt Most Elegant Closed Car. Demonstrating that it is possible to significantly improve an automotive classic, this car was awarded the "Most Elegant Closed Car" at the 2001 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, but since Sydorick's acquisition, it has undergone a full restoration.
Indeed, this car has quite a history as the star of the show, having been the show car at the 1937 Paris Auto Salon, then the 1937 Milan Auto Show and then the 1938 Berlin Motor Show. The restoration saw it returned to its 1938 Berlin Motor Show specification.
The Best of Show crown boiled down to three contenders, with those that narrowly missed out being a 1929 Duesenberg J Murphy Town Limousine from the Lehrman Collection of Palm Beach, Florida, and a 1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Figoni Fastback Coupé (above) owned by Robert Kudela of Chropyne, Czech Republic.
Elegance Awards
Gwenn Graham Most Elegant Convertible
1937 Cadillac Series 90 Hartmann Cabriolet
Jim Patterson/The Patterson Collection, Louisville, Kentucky
J. B. & Dorothy Nethercutt Most Elegant Closed Car
1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta
David & Ginny Sydorick, Beverly Hills, California
Jules Heumann Most Elegant Open Car
1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Brewster York Roadster
John & Heather Mozart, Palo Alto, California
Strother MacMinn Most Elegant Sports Car
1970 Ferrari 512 S Modulo Pininfarina Coupe
MJJV Cars, Rye, New York
Special Awards
Alec Ulmann Trophy
1926 Hispano-Suiza H6B Rollston Convertible Victoria
Jorge Fernandez, Marbella, Spain
Ansel Adams Award
1910 Pope-Hartford Model T 5 Passenger Touring
Gary & Sheryl Hunter, Arcadia, California
ArtCenter College of Design Award
1947 Cisitalia 202 SC Vignale Cabriolet
Janice Feldman, Singapore
Briggs Cunningham Trophy
1955 Maserati A6GCS Frua Spyder
Jonathan Feiber & Heather Buhr, Atherton, California
Center for Automotive Research at Stanford (CARS) Award
1959 Citroën DS 19 Berline d'Usine
Jeffrey & Frances Fisher, Palm Beach, Florida
Chairman's Trophy
1965 Hong Qi CA72
Zongmin Huang & Xiaoling Sun, Chengdu, China
Charles A. Chayne Trophy
1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta
David & Ginny Sydorick, Beverly Hills, California
Classic Car Club of America Trophy
1931 Minerva Type AL Rollston Convertible Sedan
The Stephens Family, San Francisco, California
Elegance in Motion Trophy
1939 Lagonda V12 Le Mans Rapide Drophead Coupé
The Hon. Sir Michael Kadoorie, Hong Kong
Enzo Ferrari Trophy
1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Scaglietti Spyder
Chris & Ann Cox, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
FIVA Postwar Trophy
1955 OSCA MT4 2AD Vignale Berlinetta
Roger Hoffmann, Point Reyes Station, California
FIVA Prewar Trophy
1921 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost James & Co. Open Tourer
Kesri Dev Singh, Wankaner, India
The French Cup
1935 Delage D8-85 Henri Chapron/Clabot Cabriolet
Linda & Paul Gould, Pawling, New York
Gran Turismo Trophy
1966 All American Racers Eagle Special
Bruce Canepa, Scotts Valley, California
Lincoln Trophy
1926 Lincoln Brunn Cabriolet
Dana & Paula Morgan, Scotts Valley, California
Lorin Tryon Trophy
His Highness Rana Manvendra Singh Barwani
Lucius Beebe Trophy
1935 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Gurney Nutting Streamline Coupé
Amir & Wendy Jetha, Mumbai, India
Mercedes-Benz Star of Excellence Award
1929 Mercedes-Benz 710 SS Barker Tourer Race Car
The Keller Collection at The Pyramids, Petaluma, California
Montagu of Beaulieu Trophy
1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Windovers Limousine
His Highness Maharaja Gaj Singhji of Marwar-Jodhpur, Jodhpur, India
The Phil Hill Cup
1954 OSCA 2000 S Frua Spider
Michael Trösser, Germany
Tony Hulman Trophy
1961 Bryant Heating & Cooling Epperly Special
Bill Akin, Hermitage, Tennesse
The Vitesse ~ Elegance Trophy
1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Figoni Fastback Coupé
Robert Kudela, Chropyne, Czech Republic
Class Winners
Class A: Antique
1st: 1910 Thomas Flyer M 6-40 5 Passenger Touring
Joe & Janice Conzonire, San Marino, California
2nd: 1910 Pope-Hartford Model T 5 Passenger Touring
Gary & Sheryl Hunter, Arcadia, California
3rd: 1911 Pierce-Arrow 48-SS 7 Passenger Touring
Sunlight Classics, Key Largo, Florida
Class B: Vintage Era Sporting
1st: 1921 Kissel 6-45 "Gold Bug" Speedster,
Andrew & Tanya Heller, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2nd: 1921 Paige Model 6-66 Daytona Speedster,
Tom & Joann Martindale, Santa Cruz, California
3rd: 1923 Steyr Type VI Targa Florio Rennwagen,
Jaap Braam Ruben, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Class C1: American Classic Open
1st: 1937 Cadillac Series 90 Hartmann Cabriolet,
Jim Patterson/The Patterson Collection, Louisville, Kentucky
2nd: 1935 Auburn 851 Supercharged Speedster,
Lou & Kathy Ficco, Wheat Ridge, Colorado
3rd: 1932 Auburn 12-160A Phaeton,
Davis & Lorraine McCann, Parker, Colorado
Class C2: American Classic Closed
1st: 1938 Packard 1604 Super Eight Mayfair Coupe,
Ralph & Adeline Marano, Westfield, New Jersey
2nd: 1930 Ruxton C Edward G. Budd Mfg. Co. Sedan,
Evelyn & Jim Fasnacht, Houston, Texas
3rd: 1931 Marmon Sixteen Sedan,
Gary Severns, Long Beach, California
Class D: Packard
1st: 1931 Packard 845 Deluxe Eight Derham Convertible Roadster,
Elizabeth Ghareeb and Michael Petty, Birmingham, Alabama
2nd: 1932 Packard 904 Deluxe Eight Dietrich Convertible Victoria,
John D. Groendyke, Enid, Oklahoma
3rd: 1937 Packard 1508 Twelve Convertible Sedan,
Larry & Carol Pumphrey, Greensburg, Indiana
Class E: Rollston Coachwork
1st: 1934 Duesenberg SJ Rollston Convertible Victoria,
Bob, Sandy & Gary Bahre, Paris, Maine
2nd: 1931 Minerva Type AL Rollston Convertible Sedan,
The Stephens Family, San Francisco, California
3rd: 1935 Duesenberg SJN Rollston Convertible Coupe,
Bill & Barbara Parfet, Hickory Corners, Michigan
Class F1: Motor Cars of the Raj - Rolls-Royce & Bentley
1st: 1935 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Gurney Nutting Streamline Coupé,
Amir & Wendy Jetha, Mumbai, India
2nd: 1937 Rolls-Royce 25/30 HP Gurney Nutting All Weather Tourer,
Roshini Jaiswal, New Delhi, India
3rd: 1935 Bentley 3½ Litre Antem Drophead Coupé,
Jagdish Thackersey, Mumbai, India
Class F2: Motor Cars of the Raj
1st: 1931 Cadillac 452A Pinin Farina Boattail Roadster,
Anne Brockinton Lee/Robert M. Lee Automobile Collection, Reno, Nevada
2nd: 1936 Alvis Speed 25 Vanden Plas Tourer,
Nishant Dossa, Mumbai, India
3rd: 1930 Stutz M LeBaron 4 Passenger Speedster,
Diljeet & Anurita Titus, New Delhi, India
Class G: Duesenberg
1st: 1929 Duesenberg J Murphy Town Limousine,
Lehrman Collection, Palm Beach, Florida
2nd: 1935 Duesenberg JN Bohman & Schwartz Convertible Coupe,
Sam & Emily Mann, Englewood, New Jersey
3rd: 1929 Duesenberg J Derham Sport Phaeton,
Roger P. Willbanks, Denver, Colorado
Class H: Rolls-Royce Prewar
1st: 1938 Rolls-Royce Phantom III James Young Drophead Coupé,
Zongmin Huang & Xiaoling Sun, Chengdu, China
2nd: 1928 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Barker Dual Cowl Phaeton,
Irving Jensen III, Dakota Dunes, South Dakota
3rd: 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Brewster York Roadster,
John & Heather Mozart, Palo Alto, California
Class J1: European Classic Early
1st: 1928 Minerva Type AF Hibbard & Darrin Transformable Town Car,
Jack Boyd Smith Jr., Elkhart, Indiana
2nd: 1932 Maybach DS 8 Zeppelin Spohn Cabriolet,
The Nethercutt Collection/Helen & Jack Nethercutt, Sylmar, California
3rd: 1933 Delage D8 S Freestone & Webb Coupé,
Blake & Lauren Atwell, Buda, Texas
Class J2: European Classic Mid
1st: 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet A,
Hans T. Hulsbergen, Freienbach, Switzerland
2nd: 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Vanden Plas Sports Tourer,
Robert Kauffman, Charlotte, North Carolina
3rd: 1935 Delage D8-85 Henri Chapron/Clabot Cabriolet,
Linda & Paul Gould, Pawling, New York
Class J3: European Classic Late
1st: 1939 Lagonda V12 Rapide James Young Drophead Coupé,
Alan Tribe, Mosman Park, Australia
2nd: 1939 Lagonda V12 Le Mans Rapide Drophead Coupé,
The Hon. Sir Michael Kadoorie, Hong Kong
3rd: 1938 Bugatti Type 57C LeTourneur et Marchand 3 Position Cabriolet,
Jim & Tonya Hull, Malibu, California
Class J4: Italian Classic
1st: 1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta,
David & Ginny Sydorick, Beverly Hills, California
2nd: 1928 Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 S WC & RC Atcherley Open Sports Car,
Dave & Lisa Atcherley, Throop, Pennsylvania
3rd: 1932 Lancia Dilambda Viotti Torpedo,
Albert Kalimian, New York
Class L1: Prewar Preservation
1st: 1929 Mercedes-Benz 710 SS Barker Tourer Race Car,
The Keller Collection at The Pyramids, Petaluma, California
2nd: 1910 Regal Model N Underslung Fisher Roadster,
Louwman Museum, The Hague, The Netherlands
3rd: 1913 Stevens-Duryea C-Six Five Passenger Touring,
Stephen & Susan Babinsky, Lebanon, New Jersey
Class L2: Postwar Preservation
1st: 1970 Ferrari 246 GT Dino Scaglietti 2 Door Coupe,
Brian & Randy Pollock, Mercer Island, Washington
2nd: 1954 Studebaker Commander Starliner Coupe,
Wayne & Laura Carini, Portland, Connecticut
3rd: 1955 OSCA MT4 2AD Vignale Berlinetta, Roger Hoffmann, Point Reyes Station, California
Class M1: Ferrari Grand Touring
1st: 1957 Ferrari 250 GT Pinin Farina Cabriolet Series I,
William H. & Cheryl K. Swanson, Boston, Massachusetts
2nd: 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Scaglietti Spyder California,
Oscar Davis, Elizabeth, New Jersey
3rd: 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Scaglietti Spyder California,
David MacNeil, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Class M2: Ferrari Competition
1st: 1955 Ferrari 500 Mondial Scaglietti Spyder,
Thomas R. Peck, Irvine, California
2nd: 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Scaglietti Spyder,
Chris & Ann Cox, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
3rd: 1953 Ferrari 250 MM Pinin Farina Coupe,
Brian Ross, Cortland, Ohio
Class N1: OSCA Pre1955
1st: 1949 OSCA MT4 Siluro,
Elad & Ronit Shraga, Savyon, Israel
2nd: 1954 OSCA 2000 S Frua Spider,
Michael Trösser, Germany
3rd: 1952 OSCA MT4 Prototype Frua Spider,
Dario Calandra, White Rock, Canada
Class N2: OSCA 1955–1960
1st: 1955 OSCA MT4 1500 Morelli Spider,
Jack & Kingsley Croul, Corona del Mar, California
2nd: 1960 OSCA 750 S Morelli Sports Racer,
Bill Pope, Scottsdale, Arizona
3rd: 1956 OSCA MT4 TN Morelli Spider,
Mitch Eitel, Kent, Connecticut
Class O1: Postwar Touring
1st: 1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Figoni Fastback Coupé,
Robert Kudela, Chropyne, Czech Republic
2nd: 1957 BMW 507 Series II Convertible,
Larry & Jane Solomon, California
3rd: 1950 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Pennock Coupé,
Steve & Marilee Hamilton, Washoe Valley, Nevada
Class O2: Postwar Grand Touring
1st: 1949 Delahaye 135 M Pourtout Malmaison Cabriolet,
Meg McCarthy, Chatham, Massachusetts
2nd: 1957 Bentley S1 Continental Park Ward Drophead Coupé,
Priscilla Brewster and Susan Brewster McCarthy, St. Paul, Minnesota
3rd: 1956 Cadillac Hess & Eisenhardt Presidential Parade Car,
Harry Yeaggy, Cincinnati, Ohio
Class O3: Postwar Sports
1st: 1966 Ford GT40 Mark IIB Coupe,
Robert Bishop, Palm Beach, Florida
2nd: 1955 Maserati A6GCS Frua Spyder,
Jonathan Feiber & Heather Buhr, Atherton, California
3rd: 1952 Porsche Type 540 Heuer Sport Roadster,
Robert Ingram/The Ingram Collection, Durham, North Carolina
Class P: Eisenhower Era Dream Convertibles
1st: 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible,
Lawrence M. Camuso, San Jose, California
2nd: 1953 Packard Caribbean Convertible,
Dr. Peter Heydon, Michigan
3rd: 1953 Oldsmobile Fiesta Convertible,
Roy Asbahr, Gresham, Oregon
Class Q: Postwar Custom Citroën
1st: 1966 Citroën DS 21 Chapron Le Léman Coupé,
Jeffrey & Frances Fisher, Palm Beach, Florida
2nd: 1965 Citroën DS 19 Chapron Majesty Chapron Saloon,
Merle & Peter Mullin/Mullin Automotive Museum, Oxnard, California
3rd: 1967 Citroën DS 21 Cabriolet d'Usine,
Jeffrey & Frances Fisher, Palm Beach, Florida
Class T: Tucker
1st: 1948 Tucker 48 Sedan,
George Lucas, Nicasio, California
2nd: 1948 Tucker 48 Sedan,
Howard & Rosalind Kroplick, East Hills, New York
3rd: 1948 Tucker 48 Sedan,
Mary & Ted Stahl, Chesterfield, Michigan
Class V: 1960s Indianapolis 500 Revolution
1st: 1965 Dean Van Lines Brawner Special Hawk 1,
Ray Evernham Enterprises, Mooresville, North Carolina
2nd: 1961 Bryant Heating & Cooling Epperly Special,
Bill Akin, Hermitage, Tennessee
3rd: 1966 All American Racers Eagle Special,
Bruce Canepa, Scotts Valley, California
The pictorial
The images above are just a small sampling of the photo gallery of the cars on display at the 68th Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.