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The Annual Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
November 01, 2011
The annual Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance sparkles atop the collector-car world like the Hope Diamond commands the Smithsonian. Each summer for the past 61 years, the Concours – and more recently the accompanying Tour d'Elegance scenic drive – have attracted and defined the most prestigious automobiles of all time. This is the haute couture fasion show for classic and historic cars that the Americans do in a style that you would normally expect in Paris or Milan.
The annual Concours d'Elegance at Pebble Beach in California started out in 1950 as a celebration of superbly maintained classic cars. In the recent years it has also evolved as an ostentatious showcase of concepts and soon-to-be production cars of the major car manufacturers. From classic Bugattis and Bentleys to Ferraris and Duesenbergs and prewar Mercedes-Benzes, Pebble Beach fairly drips wealth, with an estimated $1 billion worth of cars gracing the lawn like thoroughbred race horses. This year, cars came from 14 countries including of Monaco.
For my own part a visit to Pebble Beach has been on the cards for a long time but this was in fact the first trip the Monterey Peninsula. Driven by more of our clients taking a stake in the classic car market either as a place to invest money or to fuel the passion for cars from difference eras. There is no real equivalent in the UK other than the Goodwood events. Here the very smart Lord March has turned the Festival of Speed into the most important UK motor show event and the Revival event as the excuse to go back in automotive time. Just one ticket is needed with all the proceeds going to Goodwood. Pebble Beach is a complete contrast. A medley of various events, some complimentary, some competing for your time and money. Also there seemed to be social pressure to be at the right parties and gatherings which if you are a real owner/player is most important! I cant imagine there being a guest list or priority passes for car auctions in the UK.
A gathering of some of world's most important classic cars from all the eras start on the ‘Tour d'Elegance on the Thursday morning setting out from Collins Field on Stevenson Drive at Pebble Beach for a 69 mile drive around the whole peninsular starting down 17-mile drive down to Highway 1 and then to Big Sur, stopping off in places along for lunch in nearby Carmel before the cavalcade returns to Pebble Beach in the afternoon for a champagne reception.
A red Ferrari 250 GTO – street value topping $25 million – led the Tour's start. So did an elegant 1927 Stutz Bearcat, a 1948 Dodge, and a Jaguar E-type. There were various pre-war Alfa's Delahaye and Talbot –Lago together with some of the 39 remaining Ferrari 250 GTO's. Driving in the Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance is optional for concours entries. However, should two cars tie on the Sunday, it's the one that entered the Tour that will win.
At Pebble Beach there is a major tented Auction centre where for the past 9 years Gooding Auctions hold the sole auctions on site with viewing days , evening guestlisted cocktail parties and 2 Auctions over the weekend.There were 5 major auctions over the weekend in other locations. In downtown Monterey RM auctions took over the Portola hotel to provide a similar level of cars and motorcycles to Gooding. Although for my money the presentation and professionalisim of the Gooding auctions was the best with detailed descriptions and faultless presentation. Gooding's live auctions could even be viewed live online and very helpfully in a format specially for the ipad and phone> (when will adobe licence the flash player to apple. Its really not at all acceptable to invest in these mainstream products and be faced with this VHS/Betamax style bollox – but that's not for here)
Other auctions were the Russo' and Steele ‘ sale conducted parting in the street and partly in a public car park! They had most American cars of varying levels of preparations and detailing. The big sale for American Cars was the Mecum sale held at another Golf Course and resembling a livestock sale. With the cars being driving into a large tent and a continuous roll of Yanky gibberish coming from the loudspeakers as the auctioneer seemed to gargle at high speed thru the PA system whilst regularly banging down his gavel. No quite sure how that works as the frightfully British Auctioneers only do hammer down when the lot is actually sold. Mecum was a spectacle though. A great selection of well presented American cars, some restored, some ‘restomoded' with upgraded parts. Mustangs, Corvettes, Caddys, Chevy's Woodies, you name it , it was there. Bonhams was the other big name auction house which was located by the Quail golf course adjacent the uber exclusive Quail automotive garden party.. I have to say the Bonhams Auction inventory was disappointing when compared with Goodings or RM. Car ranging from a 1960's Presidential Cadillac Limo Landerlette to a custom Chevy Pickup . There was the most ghastly car of the weekend lurking inside the Bonhams sale,
An E Type Coupe in need of restoration but which previous had been customised with ‘square headlights' an abominating No less. Other auction items at Bonhams included such items as picnic sets !
This event is sold our within hours of tickets going on sale at $400 each. This really was my favourite event . People brought their cars from all other the world to ne neatly laid out by brand and era in fan shapped circles on the lawn. Ferrari had a circle of California s, and then a circle of Superamercas, then some of the hallowed GTO;s. With Jaguar celebrating 50 years of the E Type the model was well represented. Then the Astons and where in the world can you see 10 Bugatti Veyrons in one place. Only at the Quail. Various food tents provided n upmarket garden party feel
Laguna Seca Raceway
Saturday was racing day at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at nearby Laguna Seca. Guests were treated to the amazing spectacle of a multi-Ferrari 250 GTO race, together with hard-driving Shelby Cobras, pre-War Alfa 8Cs, ex-Le Mans cars and much more, all battling for honours on the rolling track, set in the sandy woods just a few miles away from Monterey. With pit-row suite hospitality and very eloquent knowlegdable hosts this was a gentleman( or woman's) day at classic motor racing
The Sunday Concours d'Elegance
Some 15,000 spectators arrive by at 10:30 a.m., and for the entire day, Pebble Beach was awash with gleaming paintwork, chrome, nickel and brass on the superb motor cars.The motorbikes sat near the southern end of the fairway, admittedly a bit out of the way but nonetheless on the show field, where three Pebble Beach specialists properly judged them. A high point was the awarding of trophies to the winning cars and bikes, including the much-anticipated Best of Show award, this year going to an intriguing French Voison.
Attending the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance (although tickets are not cheap at $175 to $200) should be a must for all car enthusiast.. That's because seeing the excellence in restoration and presentation provides some encouragment for making whatever we own just a little bit better.
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Winners 2011
The title of the Best in Show – the highest achievement on Pebble Beach – went to a shiny black 1925 Voisin C25. Created by the genius of car design Gabriel Voisin during the hey-day of Parisian high-society cult.
A magnificient yellow 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Murphy Convertible Coupe that won the title Best in Class H-2.
There were many surprises in the concept section of the Concours. Among the highlights of the showcase are:
Bentley Continental Supersports Convertile ISR
Similar to the model that broke the world record for the fastest car on ice earlier this year, there will be only 100 units produced. If you happen to get your hands on this unique car, you'll have 631BHP at your disposal.
Cadillac Ciel
The concept car created by mixing their roots of luxury and the modern romance of open-air motoring. It is an indulgence of technology and sumptuousness, although, if Cadillac ever want to produce this kind of a car, they'll have to come up with a safety system that is essen-tial for a fast open car. However for me this is a hugely impressive design and one Cadillac should be bold enough to put into production unlike Mercedes Benz who also showcased a concept 4 door convertible a few years at international motorshows but did not see through to production.
SSC Tuatara
This appearance at the Concours only confirms that the development of the production ver-sion of this car is on the right tracks. The main goal of the SSC Tuatara is to beat the Bugatti and emerge as the World's fastest production car.
SSC Tuatara: http://coolmotors.co.uk/pebble-beach-concours-delegance-winners-2011/
Top selling cars at RM auction:
At RM Auctions the 1937 Mercedes Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster by Sindelfingen made $9,680,000
The second highest price was 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizion made $5,280,000
1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione
$5,280,000
1939 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster
$4,620,000
1935 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Roadster
$3,767,500
1952 Ferrari 340 Mexico Berlinetta
$3,685,000
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Coupe
$3,080,000
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Sport Cabriolet A
$2,970,000
1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spyder
$2,530,000
1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Coupe
$2,090,000
1953 Ferrari 375 America Coupe
$1,980,000
The annual Concours d'Elegance at Pebble Beach in California started out in 1950 as a celebration of superbly maintained classic cars. In the recent years it has also evolved as an ostentatious showcase of concepts and soon-to-be production cars of the major car manufacturers. From classic Bugattis and Bentleys to Ferraris and Duesenbergs and prewar Mercedes-Benzes, Pebble Beach fairly drips wealth, with an estimated $1 billion worth of cars gracing the lawn like thoroughbred race horses. This year, cars came from 14 countries including of Monaco.
For my own part a visit to Pebble Beach has been on the cards for a long time but this was in fact the first trip the Monterey Peninsula. Driven by more of our clients taking a stake in the classic car market either as a place to invest money or to fuel the passion for cars from difference eras. There is no real equivalent in the UK other than the Goodwood events. Here the very smart Lord March has turned the Festival of Speed into the most important UK motor show event and the Revival event as the excuse to go back in automotive time. Just one ticket is needed with all the proceeds going to Goodwood. Pebble Beach is a complete contrast. A medley of various events, some complimentary, some competing for your time and money. Also there seemed to be social pressure to be at the right parties and gatherings which if you are a real owner/player is most important! I cant imagine there being a guest list or priority passes for car auctions in the UK.
A gathering of some of world's most important classic cars from all the eras start on the ‘Tour d'Elegance on the Thursday morning setting out from Collins Field on Stevenson Drive at Pebble Beach for a 69 mile drive around the whole peninsular starting down 17-mile drive down to Highway 1 and then to Big Sur, stopping off in places along for lunch in nearby Carmel before the cavalcade returns to Pebble Beach in the afternoon for a champagne reception.
A red Ferrari 250 GTO – street value topping $25 million – led the Tour's start. So did an elegant 1927 Stutz Bearcat, a 1948 Dodge, and a Jaguar E-type. There were various pre-war Alfa's Delahaye and Talbot –Lago together with some of the 39 remaining Ferrari 250 GTO's. Driving in the Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance is optional for concours entries. However, should two cars tie on the Sunday, it's the one that entered the Tour that will win.
At Pebble Beach there is a major tented Auction centre where for the past 9 years Gooding Auctions hold the sole auctions on site with viewing days , evening guestlisted cocktail parties and 2 Auctions over the weekend.There were 5 major auctions over the weekend in other locations. In downtown Monterey RM auctions took over the Portola hotel to provide a similar level of cars and motorcycles to Gooding. Although for my money the presentation and professionalisim of the Gooding auctions was the best with detailed descriptions and faultless presentation. Gooding's live auctions could even be viewed live online and very helpfully in a format specially for the ipad and phone> (when will adobe licence the flash player to apple. Its really not at all acceptable to invest in these mainstream products and be faced with this VHS/Betamax style bollox – but that's not for here)
Other auctions were the Russo' and Steele ‘ sale conducted parting in the street and partly in a public car park! They had most American cars of varying levels of preparations and detailing. The big sale for American Cars was the Mecum sale held at another Golf Course and resembling a livestock sale. With the cars being driving into a large tent and a continuous roll of Yanky gibberish coming from the loudspeakers as the auctioneer seemed to gargle at high speed thru the PA system whilst regularly banging down his gavel. No quite sure how that works as the frightfully British Auctioneers only do hammer down when the lot is actually sold. Mecum was a spectacle though. A great selection of well presented American cars, some restored, some ‘restomoded' with upgraded parts. Mustangs, Corvettes, Caddys, Chevy's Woodies, you name it , it was there. Bonhams was the other big name auction house which was located by the Quail golf course adjacent the uber exclusive Quail automotive garden party.. I have to say the Bonhams Auction inventory was disappointing when compared with Goodings or RM. Car ranging from a 1960's Presidential Cadillac Limo Landerlette to a custom Chevy Pickup . There was the most ghastly car of the weekend lurking inside the Bonhams sale,
An E Type Coupe in need of restoration but which previous had been customised with ‘square headlights' an abominating No less. Other auction items at Bonhams included such items as picnic sets !
This event is sold our within hours of tickets going on sale at $400 each. This really was my favourite event . People brought their cars from all other the world to ne neatly laid out by brand and era in fan shapped circles on the lawn. Ferrari had a circle of California s, and then a circle of Superamercas, then some of the hallowed GTO;s. With Jaguar celebrating 50 years of the E Type the model was well represented. Then the Astons and where in the world can you see 10 Bugatti Veyrons in one place. Only at the Quail. Various food tents provided n upmarket garden party feel
Laguna Seca Raceway
Saturday was racing day at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at nearby Laguna Seca. Guests were treated to the amazing spectacle of a multi-Ferrari 250 GTO race, together with hard-driving Shelby Cobras, pre-War Alfa 8Cs, ex-Le Mans cars and much more, all battling for honours on the rolling track, set in the sandy woods just a few miles away from Monterey. With pit-row suite hospitality and very eloquent knowlegdable hosts this was a gentleman( or woman's) day at classic motor racing
The Sunday Concours d'Elegance
Some 15,000 spectators arrive by at 10:30 a.m., and for the entire day, Pebble Beach was awash with gleaming paintwork, chrome, nickel and brass on the superb motor cars.The motorbikes sat near the southern end of the fairway, admittedly a bit out of the way but nonetheless on the show field, where three Pebble Beach specialists properly judged them. A high point was the awarding of trophies to the winning cars and bikes, including the much-anticipated Best of Show award, this year going to an intriguing French Voison.
Attending the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance (although tickets are not cheap at $175 to $200) should be a must for all car enthusiast.. That's because seeing the excellence in restoration and presentation provides some encouragment for making whatever we own just a little bit better.
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Winners 2011
The title of the Best in Show – the highest achievement on Pebble Beach – went to a shiny black 1925 Voisin C25. Created by the genius of car design Gabriel Voisin during the hey-day of Parisian high-society cult.
A magnificient yellow 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Murphy Convertible Coupe that won the title Best in Class H-2.
There were many surprises in the concept section of the Concours. Among the highlights of the showcase are:
Bentley Continental Supersports Convertile ISR
Similar to the model that broke the world record for the fastest car on ice earlier this year, there will be only 100 units produced. If you happen to get your hands on this unique car, you'll have 631BHP at your disposal.
Cadillac Ciel
The concept car created by mixing their roots of luxury and the modern romance of open-air motoring. It is an indulgence of technology and sumptuousness, although, if Cadillac ever want to produce this kind of a car, they'll have to come up with a safety system that is essen-tial for a fast open car. However for me this is a hugely impressive design and one Cadillac should be bold enough to put into production unlike Mercedes Benz who also showcased a concept 4 door convertible a few years at international motorshows but did not see through to production.
SSC Tuatara
This appearance at the Concours only confirms that the development of the production ver-sion of this car is on the right tracks. The main goal of the SSC Tuatara is to beat the Bugatti and emerge as the World's fastest production car.
SSC Tuatara: http://coolmotors.co.uk/pebble-beach-concours-delegance-winners-2011/
Top selling cars at RM auction:
At RM Auctions the 1937 Mercedes Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster by Sindelfingen made $9,680,000
The second highest price was 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizion made $5,280,000
1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione
$5,280,000
1939 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster
$4,620,000
1935 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Roadster
$3,767,500
1952 Ferrari 340 Mexico Berlinetta
$3,685,000
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Coupe
$3,080,000
1936 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Sport Cabriolet A
$2,970,000
1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Spyder
$2,530,000
1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Coupe
$2,090,000
1953 Ferrari 375 America Coupe
$1,980,000
