History Timeline

1951 Jaguar Mark VII Saloon shown by Mrs. Charles H. Hornberg, Jr.

The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance was modeled on the early concours that began in Paris and spread throughout the European Continent in the 1920s and ’30s. Like those concours, Pebble Beach initially focused on celebrating new cars! Best of Show went to a new car in each of the first five years.

1952 Jaguar XK120 Fixed Head Coupé shown by Glen Sorey

1953 Austin Healey 100 shown by Peter Clowes

The 1953 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance witnessed a bit of bad behavior. When Best of Show was announced, the runner-up departed in fury, carving deep and long tire tracks into the Lodge lawn. British sports cars were then all the rage, and Alfred Ducato’s Ferrari 212 Inter Coupé, which had been created by Vignale for the Geneva Auto Show where it was widely hailed as “the most beautiful car in the world,” had lost out to an Austin Healey 100.

1952 Jaguar XK120 Fixed Head Coupé shown by Barclay Cotter

1931 Pierce-Arrow 41 LeBaron Convertible Town Cabriolet shown by Phil Hill

This 1931 Pierce-Arrow was the first classic car to win Best of Show at Pebble Beach. Phil Hill, who won three of the seven Pebble Beach Road Races and went on to become America’s first World Drivers Champion, learned to drive on this very car. Read more

1930 Bugatti Type 37 Grand Prix shown by Dr. Milton R. Roth

This victory by a Bugatti was just the first of many. Bugattis have gone on to take our top award a total of nine times, making Bugatti the winningest marque at Pebble Beach.

1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Mulliner Sedanca de Ville shown by Frank B. Cox

This win by Rolls-Royce was indicative of the era. In many ways, Rolls-Royce motor cars ruled the concours from the late 1950s well into the 1980s. In 1958, Rolls-Royce became the first marque to get its own dedicated ongoing class. In fact, it had two that year, and three the next. And in ensuing years it sometimes even had four full classes, long before other marques had even one.

1930 duPont Model G Merrimac Town Car shown by J. B. Nethercutt

J.B. Nethercutt’s meticulous restoration of this 1930 duPont led to the first of his record six Best of Show wins at Pebble Beach and helped to establish the standard of excellence for which Pebble Beach is now known. Read more.

1939 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante shown by J. B. Nethercutt