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Streamlined Elegance Showcased on Concours Sunday

October 26, 2026

A class of Streamliners at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance along Stillwater Cove on Concours Sunday.
Photo Credit: Kimball Studios/Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

The science of aerodynamics was increasingly understood and revered in the 1920s and ’30s. The aero industry came of age in that time as the success of early flights led to the formation of formal airlines. And very soon the clean and striking lines of airplanes were reflected in the styling of everything from toasters to architecture.

Tracing the impact of streamlined design in the automotive world about a century after its emergence, a very full class of eleven early Streamliners rested at the edge of Stillwater Cove during the 2026 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The epitome of elegance, examples ranged from the 1925 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Jonckheere Aerodynamic Coupé known as the “Round Door Rolls” to a 1938 Tatra T77A Limousine.

The class was among the most competitive on the show field that August day, as indicated by the tally of awards garnered by class entries.

First in class went to the 1934 Hispano-Suiza J12 Fernandez et Darrin Coupé de Ville of Anne Brockinton Lee, which also took home the Ansel Adams Trophy; Second went to the 1932 Austro Daimler ADR8 Oeffag Alpine Sedan of The Nethercutt Collection; and Third went to the 1932 Duesenberg J Bohman & Schwartz Streamline Coupe of The Keller Collection.

Because it previously won Best of Show, the 1937 Talbot-Lago T150 C-SS Figoni et Falaschi Teardrop Coupe of William E. “Chip” Connor, did not participate in the class competition, but it was named the J.B. & Dorothy Nethercutt Most Elegant Closed Car.

The 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta of the Revs Institute earned the Elegance in Motion Trophy, the 1938 Tatra T77A Limousine of Bruce R. McCaw garnered the Charles A. Chayne Trophy, and the 1937 Dubonnet Xenia Saoutchik Aerodynamic Coupé of the Petersen Automotive Museum took home The French Cup.