You are far away from the world, tucked away in a small beach in California. There’s the love of your
life besides and a bevy of post-war and pre-war vintage cars in front of you. If you are a true blue
automobile lover, would you want anything else from life? This is exactly how Pebbles Beach
Concours D’Elegance treats you. It is the most prestigious motor event of its kind and also the grand
finale of the Monterey Car Week, held in August every year.
Much beyond any ordinary beach
A small beach lies in the Monterey Peninsula of Monterey Country in California, which is
home to some most prestigious events in the world. Pebble Beach that lie at sea level is not
governed by local authorities but ruled as part of larger administrative division. It is a
community of around 4600 very affluent residents that mostly include retirees and well-
educated workers in social services, management and the financial sectors. The name Pebble
Beach was originally given to a rocky cove and beach strand, a prominent coastal segment of
the Rancho Pescadero Mexican land grant that had been awarded to Fabián Barreto in 1836.
Barreto died and the land was passed down to different owners from time to time.
In 1908, architect Lewis P. Hobart was hired by AD Shepard to design the very famous
Pebble Beach Lodge. The idyllic lodge that featured private patio nooks and a wide pergola
made of local logs was positioned halfway along 17-Mile Drive (a picturesque road along the
Pacific coastline that runs through Pebbles Beach and Pacific Grove in Monterey Peninsula
of California), overlooking the Pebble Beach. Although the original rustic log-cabin-style
one-story inn that was completed by 1909 was burnt in 1917, the lodge still remains a
favourite across the globe and gathers visitors in large number every year.
A favourite spot for world’s most prestigious golf tournaments
Pebbles Beach is out and out a holiday destination with its resplendent coastline, exotic
resorts and world famous golf courses that include Cypress Point Club, Monterey Peninsula
Country Club and Pebble Beach Golf Link. The golf course that was designed by Jack Neville runs
along the rugged Pacific coastline, providing wide open vistas and verdant green. It stands as an
embodiment of heritage with its awe-inspiring beauty and once-in-a-lifetime round of golf.
Revelry of automobile in style
To put it as simply as words can get, the Pebbles Beach Concours D’Elegance (Concours D’Elegance
literally means competition of elegance) is the finest exhibition of showcars of different variety and
class from around the world. It is an annual assemblage of vintage and antique automobiles,
international automotive luminaries and motor enthusiasts from all around the globe in the month of
August. Held in the Pebbles Beach Resort, which is noted both for its beauty and refinement, the
motor gala has always been a haven for some of the very ‘firsts’ from the automotive world.
While the Wall Street Journal has described the dazzling automotive gala as, “The Pebble Beach
Concours d’Elegance is the world’s best annual display of historic and beautiful cars,”, according to
The New York Times, “The Pebble Beach event strives to honor the artistry and craftsmanship of
bygone eras.”
Participation, quite a Herculean task
The enthusiastic entrants submit an application for each car, and participants are selected from a sea
of applications each year. Once a participating vehicle is selected, it cannot enter the competition for
the consecutive ten years. Similar to other automobile events, re-entry is permissible only under three
circumstances:
The ownership of the car has changed
The car has been restored or
The featured marquee is obscure
The participating vehicles are divided into class based on different criterion like type, marquee,
country of origin, the time period of origin etc. As part of the event, the first, second and third to
finish are conferred titles by the judges in each class. An award titled ‘Best of Show’ is also conferred
to one car from the group of first-place winners. An array of subjective awards also stand reserved for
eye-catching vehicles regardless of class. The awards are decided by a panel of judges that include
individuals who have made significant and outstanding contribution to the world of automobile and
that of motorsports. The motor carnival also has a memorial award to honour specific luminaries from
the automotive industry and recognize their contribution.
A classic show, but certainly not for all
It is a known fact that anything rare and most exquisite are reserved for only a few. Pebbles Beach
Concours D’Elegance is nowhere different. Although a celebration of classy pre and post war
automobile, only the most beautiful and rare cars get an invite to appear on the very famous 18th
fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links, and connoisseurs of art and style gather to admire these
masterpieces.
When the competition started, the participating vehicles were valued in thousands of dollars. Today
the amount has increased to millions of dollars. Owing to the exorbitant cost of purchasing, restoring,
and maintaining fine classic cars, the Pebble Beach Concours is often considered to be the realm of
the very wealthy or dedicated enthusiasts and those individuals and businesses who have a sharp
predilection for vintage automobile. Because of high-end participation and its remarkable venue and
the amenities offered, Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance is regarded as the premium concours in the
world. It is also known as the pièce de résistance of around fifty similar events spanning over a week
that include Vintage Racing Car Running and Classic Car Auctions.
Savouring a slice of its illustrious history
The first Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance was held in 1950, in conjunction with the Pebbles
Beach Road Race, a race conducted on a circuit of closed public road. Two to three dozen of cars
were exhibited under three category; prewar, postwar and MGs. The ‘Best of the Show’ was awarded
to Sterling Edward’s vehicle. Following its overnight success the event was held in the next spring on
a practice tee and driving range adjacent to the Beach Club, private club called the Del Monte Lodge
(known as The Lodge at Pebble Beach now). Considering the increase in the number of participating
vehicles and onlookers, in 1952 the event was moved to the 18th green of the Pebble Beach Golf
Links, between the Lodge at Pebble Beach and the Pacific Ocean, overlooking Carmel Bay.
In 1953 the number of participating vehicles exceeded 100 and the first special exhibition of the event
was conducted. In 1955 the show began to focus more on antique, vintage and classic cars. This was
also the year when the Concour’s first two marquees- Cord and Packard were introduced. 1958
remains an important landmark as the first-ever poster of the Concours was unveiled. For the first
time in a span of 10 years, the event could not be conducted throughout 1960 owing to inclement and
was scheduled in the following spring of 1961.This was also the first time that Concours requested for
a one-dollar donation from the attendees that went into the benefit of Monterey Peninsula Hospital
Auxiliary.
In 1966 the Concours saw the coming up of two posters by ace cartoonist Eldon Dedini. In 1986 the
first AFAS exhibition was conducted by the Concours. In 1989 American Dream Cars were put on
display that opened up new vistas for concept cars. Thereafter, since 1993, concept cars have become
an essential feature of the show. In 2001, the event saw an introduction of a new category for
preservation cars. This category was designed to & 'bear witness to the passage of time', including the barn find car. In 2007 a post-war preservation class was added to underscore the importance of preserving cars. Classic motorcycles under the theme of pre-1959 British Motorcycles were also included for the first time in 2009.
An elegant auto show with a mission
Along with celebration of classic automobile and excellence in the automotive world, The Pebble
Beach Concours d’Elegance also gives the participants as well as the attendees an opportunity to
support people in need. With the help of the entrants, judges, spectators and sponsors, this Concours
has raised over $21 million for different charitable organizations. Nearly 100 local charities reap the
benefit of the event through Pebble Beach Company Foundation, the primary charity partner. Around
sixty-five percent of third-grade children in the community cannot read at their grade level, while
twenty-six percent of children under the age of 17 live below the poverty line. More than 50,000
residents require monthly food assistance despite its popularity as a major tourist spot. The Pebbles
Beach Company Foundation has been constantly making an effort to improve this statistics.
To encourage preservation and restoration of historic automobiles by supporting students in
automotive arts and technical programs, the Phil Hill scholarships, in memory of Phil Hill, America's
first Formula One driving champion and a longtime participant and friend of the Pebble Beach
Concours d'Elegance was introduced.
A social gathering to cherish
In an attempt to repeat participants and the large number of attendees, the Pebble Beach Concours
over the years has become akin to a social gathering as a special interest event. The gala presents a
stylish mix of historic automobiles alongside new vehicle presentations from car manufacturers, art
exhibitions as well as auctions.
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