57 years ago, when about 30 rare automobile fans and connoisseurs of car beauty assembled at the 18th hole of the Pebble Beach Golf Links for the first time, hardly anybody expected this informal event to grow into one of the biggest shows in the world, attracting thousands of spectators every year.
This year's Concours d'Elegance has brought over 175 participants from 12 countries, with the combined value of the presented cars in excess of $200 million. All participants were divided into 24 classes; each car competed for victory in its class and for the Best of Show title.
This season the headlines were made by such legendary brands as American Auburn Cord Duesenberg, British Aston Martin and the famous 1932 Ford “Deuce” - the etalon hot-rod model which this year celebrated its 75th anniversary. Another notable participant was a true veteran, the 1897 Henriod Duc Kellner Phaeton which came a long way from the British Sussex county; Lisa Baehni, great-granddaughter of the car's creator Charles-Edouard Henriod, was one of the Concours's honoured guests.
The actual competition was preceded by the by now traditional Tour d'Elegance race: 17 miles along the picturesque pacific coast of the Monterey peninsula, with over 100 cars which applied for the Concours d'Elegance taking part. The event chairman Sandra Kasky Button noted that "the Tour should once again confirm that these old-timers can still move on their own. More than 10,000 viewers gather along the route to see these revived sculptures in action. The ancient Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, Duesenberg and Aston Martin sedately driving along the First highway is a truly impressive sight."
The culmination of the Concours traditionally is the Best of Show award ceremony. This year the honourable title went to a truly unique car, a 1935 Duesenberg SJ Special also known as The Mormon Meteor. Once upon a time this super-fast 400 hp bolide used to be driven by Abe Jenkins, former mayor of the Mormon capital Salt Lake City. In 1935 he set a speed record during a 24-hour race - 135.58 mph (218.19 kmph). Three years ago at the 2004 Pebble Beach Auction arranged by Gooding & Company this car was bought for a record-setting price of $4.45 million by its current owner Harry Yeaggy from Cincinnati. "I always knew my car was excellent," said the happy winner. "It's elegant in every respect. I'd say it's the most important car ever made in America."
Examples of modern creative car industry products - Mercedes-Benz Concept Ocean Drive, Maserati Granturismo, Bentley Brooklands, Cadillac Cien, Lexus IS-F and LF-A, Lincoln MKR Concept, Italdesign Mustang by Giugiaro, Spyker C12 Zagato, Callaway C16 Speedster and other no less worthy concept cars which have already been presented at various shows, have been brought over to demonstrate their succession from the outstanding models created by the manufacturers of the past. It was the first time ever these cars had come together at one place so important to the world car industry and its history.
by Ilya Kalinov
Photoreport
USD:
EUR:
