In trying to do some research on cars shown at the Pebble Be

May 10

In trying to do some research on cars shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, I stumbled on a list of Best of Show winners since the Inauguration of the show. Maybe I'm the last one to know, but It took me back to see the perspective of what might have been "highly esteemed" decades ago. For Example, in 1953 the best of show winner was a brand new Austin Healey 100-4. A $2,995 new car.

In the first five years of the event, new cars were taking home the trophy.

1950
1950 Edwards R-26 Special Sport Roadster
Sterling Edwards

1951
1951 Jaguar Mark VII Saloon
Mrs. Charles H. Hornberg Jr.

1952
1952 Jaguar XK120 Fixed Head Coupé
Glen Sorey

1953
1953 Austin Healey 100 Roadster
Peter Clowes

1954
1952 Jaguar XK120 Fixed Head Coupé
Barclay Cotter

The cars we might associate as having an opportunity to win today: Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster, Duesenberg, Alfa Romeo and Bugattis from the 1930's, Isotta Fraschini, Hispano-Suiza, Rolls Royce Silver Ghosts, Phantom l and ll, etc.....they were all out there, but apparently that wasn't where the focus of the Concours was at that time.

I try to remove my own bias in this, because I love the prewar American grand stuff and designs from Europe in those early years. Perhaps it was the Board that governed the event initially and the Board turned over to some strong personalities who took the event in a different direction. I had never looked before at the early years and what was winning Best of show.

I did find it interesting that the first winner to take things back to the classic era was in 1950 with Phil Hill bringing a 1931 Pierce-Arrow 41 LeBaron Town Cabriolet.

I can understand the politics of an event like this, the off the record conversations, pressure to allow or deny certain individuals and cars..........

I've had a few conversations with guys who regularly go to Pebble Beach and know the spoken ( and unspoken) rules, guidelines and expectations. They've told me they feel things changing again in subtle ways.

What car out there would some of you like to see be considered for Best of Show that maybe doesn't fit the formula or expectation of the last 30 years.......?

1 / 2

May 10, 2026

Post your reply…

Replies (48)

· May 10

Here are some former best of show winners when they had the BOS class back in 2021.

This is the Horch Special Roadster.

· May 10

@alsancle The trailing effect of those headlight bodies dramatic. I don't remember seeing anything like that before.

· May 10

@JohnBloom I have an unrestrored picture of it somewhere.

· May 11

@alsancle Spectacular!

· May 12

@alsancle Those Horch Special Roadsters have always been among my favorite cars. This one is extra special but the regular ones are awfully snazzy too.

· May 10

The JB Nethercutt Dupont that got in him to car collecting.

1 / 2

· May 11

@alsancle There was a whole story in the Classic Car Club magazine on this many years ago. I believe JB bought it off a used car lot in Pasedena.

· May 10

Cunningham Town Car. When it must have been easier.

· May 10

Mormon Meteor.

· May 10

Delage D8-100SS with a nice view of the class.

· May 10

Isotta

· May 10

MB 500K Special Roadster

(edited)

· May 10

@alsancle Looking at these cars you posted, its crazy that a new Austin Healey 100-4 won....

· May 10

@JohnBloom Like I said to Joel. Concours were originally designed for new cars.

· May 10

20 Grand.

· May 10

540K Special Cab A. Former Melton and Otis Chandler car.

· May 10

What, no Crosley Hotshots?

· May 10

It is a mystery to me how someone can go the the new car dealership, pick out a car that anyone with good credit could easily acquire, then achieve honors at ANY car show, let alone a high end concours. It seems to me that should be reserved for rare and exclusive vintage, or otherwise noteworthy automobiles.

· May 10

@HemiJoel I assume you are talking about the early 50s when the show first started? That only lasted until Phil Hill brought his Aunt's Model 41 Pierce Arrow. So it has been 70 years.

· May 10

@HemiJoel Joel, I should have also mentioned that pior to WWII the concours circuit in Europe was all new cars. So after WWII they emulated that and then it morphed into what we see today.

· May 10

@alsancle AJ, I'm talking about any time. I was at a concous about 8 years ago where there was a brand new car in the winners circle. Maybe I misunderstand the premise of these events. Apparently years ago it was to showcase new cars?

· May 10

@HemiJoel Prewar it was to showcase new cars but have never heard of new cars being featured present day. Wow.

· May 10

@HemiJoel
I was at a car show and found a PT-Cruiser sitting there.
I thought I was in a Wal-Mart parking lot for a second.

· May 10

Here is the Phil Hill Model 41 Pierce Arrow bought new by his Aunt and restored by him.

· May 10

Here is the Pierce with a dork ruining the picture.

· May 10

@alsancle We need laughing emoji......and a few others......

· May 10

@JohnBloom John, I've asked for the laugh emoji. What are the other ones?

· May 10

@alsancle 😂😂😂

· May 10

@alsancle The three that seem most basic, mimic the AACA:
Like
Laughing
Thanks/Gratitude

That encompasses my typical reaction to other people's posts while keeping in all under the "positive vibe" side of the responses.

· May 10

@alsancle
Can we get a tinfoil hat emoji for privacy related questions? 😛

· May 10

@JohnBloom I will run it up the flag pole.

· May 11

@ShawnG Hillarious! Google Spys everywhere on the site...

· May 12

@alsancle sure is handsome fellow. Smart too.

· May 10

For those interested, here is the 2026 Classification and selection information. Good overview of the different categories.

https://www.pebblebeachconcours.net/participants/entrants/

· May 10

@JohnBloom I might have touched on them in my Pebble Beach Topic for this year:

https://reoroyale.com/forums/5/topics/11506

· May 10

Mercedes SS

· May 10

Another view of the BOS class.

· May 10

Believe it or not Ed takes care of this one.

· May 10

540K Autobahnkurrier from Keller collection.

· May 10

Damilar Double Six. They made something like 24 total chassis. Two of these have one over the years.

· May 10

I think Arturo Keller broke JB's record.

· May 10

Alfa

· May 11

2024 Best of Show. I took 200 pictures that week and neve took a picture of it. Shows what I know. Of course, I believe the owner paid around 10,000,000 for it. So certainly expensive and important.

· May 11

@alsancle It was a lot of money when it sold. More like 11.2 US dollars. Great car, but not necessarily what you think of for a best of show at Pebble Beach.