Car enthusiasts and fans enjoyed Monterey Car Week, the annual celebration of automotive excellence, which included several events dedicated to classic and luxury models as well as speed on the track.
Galas included the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, exclusive gatherings such as The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, classic car racing at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, and high-profile automobile auctions such as RM Sotheby's Auction and Gooding & Company.
The crowning event was undoubtedly the 73rd Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, held on the famous 18th hole of the Pebble Beach Golf Links, home of the PGA Tour's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, where 214 vehicles from 17 nations competed in various categories. The 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports, presented by Swiss Fritz Burkard of The Pearl Collection, was named Best of Show, a surprise because it is a model preserved in its original, unrestored form as it has remained throughout its 90-year run.
Created as a production car, the Bugatti Type 59 Sports became a racing car, winning several Grand Prix, as well as having connections with royalty, which is reflected in its current state, as it retains the decoration given to it when it was renovated before being given to King Leopold of Belgium. Ettore Bugatti had it painted black - the monarch's favorite color - and decorated with a yellow stripe to commemorate the colors of the Belgian competitions.
At the same time, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance raised more than $3 million for charity, bringing the cumulative total to date to $41 million.
Signs of the time
The two-seater convertible still has the original seats - leather seats visibly worn by use - and the wooden steering wheel with the "battle scars" from the efforts of drivers who took advantage of the 3.3-liter inline eight-cylinder engine combined with a sporty chassis. To reduce weight, it was fitted with piano wire spoke wheels, motorcycle-style front and rear fascias, a small windshield, tiny headlights and side doors.
The award for the Bugatti Type 59 Sports marked three milestones in the Concours d'Elegance: it was the first time a preserved car had won the award, it was a European entry, and it had Swiss nationality. For Fritz Burkard, the most important thing is "that preservation is also recognized, because a car can only be original once. And it drives beautifully. It should be noted that original Bugatti models have been participating in the competition for decades, and since 2001 there has been a special category for them.
With this victory, Bugatti and Mercedes-Benz are tied for the most Best of Show awards at Pebble Beach, with ten wins each.
The competitors
The Best of Show competition featured some great contenders, including the 1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Saoutchik Fastback Coupé Saoutchik entered by Robert Kudela of the Czech Republic; the 1934 Packard 1108 Twelve LeBaron Sport Phaeton entered by American Harry Yeaggy; and, perhaps most surprisingly, the 1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero Bertone Coupé from the Wedge Concepts and Prototypes category entered by fellow American Phillip Sarofim,
The challenge for the Best of Show title began days earlier, when most of the Concours d'Elegance entries participated in the 26th Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance, which covers some 70 miles along California's coastal roads. (Entrants who complete the Tour gain an advantage in the event of a tie in the Concours category finals.)
List of Winners
Best of Show
1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports
Best of Show Nominees
1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Saoutchik Fastback Coupé
1934 Packard 1108 Twelve LeBaron Sport Phaeton
1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero Bertone Coupe
Elegance Awards
Most Elegant Convertible 1934 Packard 1108 Twelve Dietrich Convertible Sedan
Most elegant closed car 1934 Packard 1108 Twelve Dietrich Sport Sedan
Most elegant open car. 1955 Maserati A6G/54 2000 Zagato Spyder
Most elegant sports car. 1955 Maserati A6GCS Frua Spyder
As for auctions, Gooding & Company raised more than $105 million. Topping the list was the 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider, which sold for $14 million.
Text: Amura ± Photo: Bugatti, Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance