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Celebrating the Life & Legacy of the Automobile | Fall 2021
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INSIDER Celebrating the Life & Legacy of the Automobile | Fall 2021
Porsche 917s line up at the edge of Carmel Bay.
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50 CELEBRATING THE JAGUAR E-TYPE
CHAIRMAN'S LETTER We Gathered and We Celebrated
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RELIVE OUR 70TH CELEBRATION
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OUR 2021 BEST OF SHOW WINNER
The Sole Mercedes-Benz Autobahn Kurier Makes History at Pebble Beach
12 A LENS ON PORSCHE 917s
Speed Embodied in Style
52 EXPLORING THE PAST, ENVISIONING THE FUTURE The Forum Finds a New Home 54 CONCOURS CHARITY DRAWING
“COUNTACH!” BY NATURE An Interview with Valentino Balboni By Kate Constantin
Four Winners Announced
PUBLISHER Pebble Beach Company
58 70TH CONCOURS MEMENTOS
Our Latest Books and Posters are Now in Our Online Store
EDITOR IN CHIEF Sandra Button EDITORS Quinn Button & Kandace Hawkinson DESIGN Nicole Doré at Madden Media
28 CONCOURS CARS TAKE TO THE ROAD
Watch the Start of the Tour d’Elegance
PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS d’ELEGANCE®
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30 NEW CARS & CONCEPTS RETURN
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GIVES BACK TO COMMUNITY
20 “COUNTACH!” BY NAME,
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Celebrating the Life & Legacy of the Automobile | Fall 2021
Learn about the Cars that Appeared on our Concept Lawn
Pebble Beach®, Pebble Beach Resorts®, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance®, Pebble Beach Classic Car Forum™, Pebble Beach RetroAuto™, Pebble Beach® Automotive Week, Pebble Beach Golf Links®, The Lodge at Pebble Beach™, The Inn at Spanish Bay™, Spanish Bay®, 17-Mile Drive®, The Lone Cypress™, Stillwater Cove™, and their respective underlying logo designs and distinct images, are trademarks, service marks and trade dress of Pebble Beach Company.
On the Cover Our 70th Best of Show winner, the 1938 MercedesBenz 540K Autobahn Kurier from The Keller Collection at The Pyramids, rests at the edge of Carmel Bay.
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS, VIDEOGRAPHERS & PHOTO ARCHIVES Pebble Beach Company Lagorio Archives with particular thanks for the work of photographer Julian P. Graham and William C. Brooks; Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Archives; AutoNXT; Sherman Chu; and Kimball Studios.
C E L E B R AT I N G 7 0 Y E A R S
Copyright © 2021 Pebble Beach Company. All rights reserved.
LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN Time and again during the months leading up to and through the 70th Pebble Beach Concours, I found myself saying, “Yes, we’re happening. Yes, we’re once again gathering to celebrate cars.”
Sandra Button greets entrants arriving for our 70th celebration.
Many times I said it aloud in response to queries or comments from others. Sometimes I whispered it with wonderment to friends. Most often, I mouthed it silently to myself, like a mantra of sorts or a magical incantation. Even now, two months after the event, I find myself affirming the obvious: “Yes, we were together. And we brought together a great group of cars—one of the best in years.” The truth is, a small part of me still can’t quite believe it. A much bigger part of me feels immensely fortunate and extremely grateful to know that it’s true. And I want to thank everyone who stood by us and supported us as one year of planning turned to two, even the best of plans were often upended, and everything required both extra effort and immeasurable patience. Working together, we made it happen. I can still see the images in my mind’s eye: 38 elegant Best of Show cars and all 5 overall Road Race winners lined up along the water, myriad Ferraris (well over 100!) covering both the eighteenth and first fairways, 13 storied Porsche 917s and 9 Lamborghini Countach Berlinettas wrapping around the seventeenth green, the magnificent Millers making their own mighty statement, the Early Electrics posed near to the cart path—and proving that old technology can sometimes be the coolest current thing (pun intended). And, oh, so much more. Many people have said to me, and I tend to agree, that this field of cars ranked among our best ever. Of course, I also know what we were missing: about six additional Best of Show cars, two more 917s, two very special E-types to pair with the one that made it as part of an intended trio paying tribute to that model, a whole class of Talbot-Lago Grand Sports (next year!). . . . And so much more. We missed those cars, but even more so we missed many of our friends from overseas.
The reduced but ongoing threat of the pandemic and a host of related logistical problems in terms of supplies and shipping upended many careful preparations. Strangely, several cars made it here without their owners—and the reverse was also true. Entrants (and judges and other enthusiasts too) were prohibited from travelling—and cars shipped from abroad were unable to make it to port, even weeks and months past their date dues. I am grateful for the car experts who stepped forward to show cars on behalf of others when asked, or who stepped into suddenly vacant judging positions. I am grateful to the new entrant who did not give up but went in search of a car to suit our show field when his did not arrive. I am grateful to the sponsors who stood firmly by us, and to those who joined us for the first time. And I am grateful to everyone who did their utmost to make it here—even if they didn’t succeed. I am thankful for all of you. Next year, when they and their owners can get here, we will showcase those Talbot Lago Grand Sports, I promise! We will also feature some of Lincoln’s most stylish creations, a host of Le Mans winners are headed our way, and we will soon be announcing additional special classes. We can’t wait to celebrate great cars with you all. Each and every one of you.
Sandra Button Chairman #DriveOn2021
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RELIVE OUR 70TH CELEBRATION — or Enjoy It for the First Time
This short video showcases all the sights and sounds of our 70th celebration in brief—from the start of the scenic Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance, to the reunion of Best of Show winners and overall Road Race winners on Concours Sunday, capped by the announcement of the latest car to capture the collector world’s top trophy. Special features range from early electric cars to a gathering of 13 Porsche 917s, and the full range of Lamborghini Countach supercars. The Ferrari parade, the latest concept debuts, and sights from Pebble Beach RetroAuto and the Pebble Beach Auctions presented by Gooding & Company are all included.
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If you want to enjoy the full livestream of our awards ceremony, whether for your first time or a repeat viewing, you can catch it here. Via our website and social channels, we will be sharing more retrospectives of specific concours week events, special competition classes and very special people throughout the coming months.
THE PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS d’ELEGANCE ® and our Entrants, Judges, Sponsors, and Volunteers Congratulate our 2021 Best of Show Winner!
MERCEDES-BENZ K AUTOBAHN KURIER Shown by The Keller Collection at The Pyramids Future Dates AUGUST | AUGUST | AUGUST | AUGUST ©2021 Pebble Beach Company. Pebble Beach®, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, and their underlying images are trademarks, trade dress and service marks of Pebble Beach Company.
Discover more at pebblebeachconcours.net | Explore Pebble Beach Resorts at pebblebeach.com
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SOLE MERCEDES-BEN
M A K E S H I STO RY A
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NZ AUTOBAHN KURIER
AT P E B B L E B E AC H
The 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Autobahn Kurier shown by The Keller Collection at The Pyramids poses at the edge of Carmel Bay after taking the top prize in the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Insider
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hen the final announcement was made at the 2021 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, a 1938 MercedesBenz 540K Autobahn Kurier was called forward as the 70th Best of Show winner, making history in several ways.
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“The choice makes the point that we are a concours of elegance, not a concours of restoration,” said Sandra Button a short while later. “It is the car itself that matters most.”
The win was the third such win for Arturo & Deborah Keller of Petaluma, California. It was also the ninth for MercedesBenz, bringing it into a tie with Bugatti for the most wins by a marque.
This is the second of just two Mercedes-Benz Autobahn Kuriers built on a 540K chassis. Moreover, it is the only Autobahn Kurier still in existence and still retaining all of its original equipment. And the Kellers are the second owners from new.
Because the car dates to the coachbuilt era, some commentators have too readily pegged it as a somewhat traditional choice for concours judges. But the selection was unusual in one very important respect: the car was the first Best of Show winner in decades that was not freshly restored for the event.
The Autobahn Kurier was designed by Hermann Ahrens to handle the high speeds that could be attained on the then newly built superhighways of Germany, and its low aerodynamic form delighted attendees at the 1938 Berlin Motor Show where the model was first introduced. Positioned at the very top of Mercedes-Benz offerings, it is thought that
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“THE CHOICE MAKES THE POINT THAT WE ARE A CONCOURS OF ELEGANCE, NOT A CONCOURS OF RESTORATION. IT IS THE CAR ITSELF THAT MATTERS MOST.” — C H AIR M AN SAN D RA BU T TO N
Top: A three-quarter view of the 540K showcases its sweeping curves. Above and opposite: Confetti flies as the Autobahn Kurier pulls onto the Concours awards ramp. Left: Pebble Beach Company CEO David Stivers and Pebble Beach Concours Chairman Sandra Button present Arturo and Deborah Keller with the Best of Show trophy, ribbon and flowers.
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2 021 B E ST OF SHOW WIN N ER
The Keller clan celebrates their third Best of Show win at Pebble Beach.
just four Autobahn Kuriers were built on the 500K chassis and it is known that just two were built on the 540K chassis.
The car was carefully prepared but was not re-restored for the 2021 Pebble Beach Concours.
This 540K Autobahn Kurier was first purchased by Professor Ignacio Barraquer, a Spanish opthalmologist and one of the foremost cataract surgeons of his day, who soon took it on a lengthy driving tour from Spain to North Africa, passing through Egypt and Libya, then shipping the car home. In the early 1950s, he also used the car to tour Austria and Switzerland. The car remained with the Barraquer family until 2003, when they sold it to the Kellers.
While never a candidate for preservation, particularly since it was repainted and reupholstered by the Barraquers early in its life after extensive use, the car’s simple freshened presentation on this occasion, fully 15 years after its restoration and after much use, spoke volumes. And the judges awarded it with top honors, underscoring the importance of both the car and thoughtful conservation efforts.
After a careful restoration by Paul Russell, the car debuted at the Pebble Beach Concours in 2006, where it won its class, was awarded the Mercedes-Benz Trophy, was named Most Elegant Closed Car, and was a nominee for Best of Show. In the ensuing 15 years, the Kellers have used the car extensively on tours and rallies, including another trip through the Alps, and have shared it with enthusiasts at several other events, often winning notable awards.
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Additional nominees for Best of Show in 2021 included a 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Corsica Drophead Coupé shown by Joanie and Scott Kriens, and two postwar cars—a 1956 Maserati A6G Zagato Coupé shown by Jonathan and Wendy Segal, and a 1966 Ferrari 365 P Pininfarina Berlinetta Speciale shown by RQ Collections. To see the full list of all 2021 winners, complete with photographs, click here.
NEW YORK | DALLAS | MEMPHIS | MILAN | PARIS | LONDON | HARRODS B E R E T TA G A L L E RY. C O M
In 1970, with the 917, Porsche clinched its first victory at Le Mans. That feat was recognized with a special class for 917s at the 2021 Pebble Beach Concours.
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A LENS ON PORSCHE 917s 917s
Sometimes called the “hippie” car, Martini Racing’s longtail 917 (chassis 917-021), painted in purple and blue with green swirls, was driven to a second place finish at Le Mans in 1970. Below: This 917/10 Can-Am Spyder, built by Porsche for Penske, was very successful in the 1972 and 1973 Can-Am Series.
plans to host a porsche 917 class at the pebble beach concours first began to take shape in late 2018—and those plans finally came to fruition this summer. a total of 13 of these storied racing greats took to our show field despite difficulties presented by the pandemic and current shipping constraints.
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Below: Enthusiasts look inside Bruce McCaw’s 917K, which placed second at Monza in 1971. Bottom: A total of 13 historic Porsche 917s gathered at the 2021 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance to commemorate Porsche’s first win at Le Mans and the many victories of the 917, and the gathering was captured in photos and videos—and by this aerial drone. (Video by Sherman Chu)
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The 917K in the foreground was driven to victory in the 1971 24 Hours of Le Mans by Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep.
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William Connor’s 917/10 Can-Am Spyder, which raced successfully in the 1973 and 1974 Interserie, winning at Nürburgring, Imola and Silverstone, is rolled into position.
The 917K that achieved Porsche’s second win at Le Mans, in 1971, made the trip over from Stuttgart, Germany, thanks to the Porsche Museum. (Regrettably, two other 917s were not able to make the trip over from Europe.) This was just the third such trip it has made to the United States in the past 50 years. All told, this special class included five Gulf, five Can-Am and three Martini racers. Such a historic gathering called for a photo moment. So, on the day just prior to the Concours, each of these cars pulled onto our show field and was carefully positioned for the primary camera, which was located up in a lift to provide both an overview as well as the definition and separation needed to give each car its proper due. Well over two hundred media members and spectators were also on hand to record the moment. After the cameras clicked away, the cars were repositioned at the end of the show field and wrapped to protect them from the night’s dew. Concours morning witnessed their unveiling and their ongoing admiration.
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Chief Class Judge Paul Hageman introduces the Porsche 917 and provides an overview of the models on our show field.
Five Porsche 917s in Gulf livery make a bold statement.
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Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance 70 Years of Automotive Excellence
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“COUNTACH!” BY NAME, “COUNTACH!” BY NATURE To celebrate the model’s 50th anniversary, Valentino Balboni, who served as Lamborghini’s test driver for 40 years, talks with Kate Constantin about what it was like to drive each iteration of the Countach. In 1970, in the wake of the much loved and super sexy Lamborghini Miura, founder Ferruccio Lamborghini decided it was time for an infusion of fresh blood into the Lamborghini supercar pedigree. The resulting concept, introduced in 1971, was christened the LP500 for the Longitudinale Posteriore (rear) placement of the 5.0-liter engine, but when one mechanic kept exclaiming “Countach!” (Stunning! Outstanding!) in his native Piedmontese dialect, the name stuck. Meanwhile, Valentino Balboni, who had joined Lamborghini in 1968 as an apprentice mechanic at age 19, was being trained by legendary test driver Bob Wallace, to evaluate Lamborghini’s new sports cars. Wallace did the early research and development test-drives for the Countach, but Balboni was in the heat of the action and remembers the early days of the supercar’s inception.
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“Marcello Gandini was the designer, and he didn’t want the sweet and sexy lines of the Miura. That was passé,” recalls Balboni. “Gandini wanted aggressive, provocative, offensive. The first time I saw the Countach I thought, ‘We can’t take this out on the road—people will run away, thinking we’ve arrived from outer space!’” The Countach was breathtaking—the first Italian wedge with its sharp quadrilateral panel design, razor edge creases, vertically mounted rear air-intakes, aeronautically inspired instrument panel, and the scissor doors (soon to be known as “Lambo doors”) that would be a first on a production car. The rear mid-engine configuration, with the cab wedged into the nose, gave the driver the impression of being catapulted into the future by the V12 5.0-liter powerhouse.
Countach cars appear ready to take flight with their scissor doors ajar.
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Below: The Countach class featured cars ranging from the oldest existing prototype to the 25th Anniversario.
The early concept took the world by storm. But the Countach took three years to come to production, evolving from a 5.0-liter prototype to a 4.0-liter (3,929-cc) supercar, denoted as the LP400. Balboni was involved in assembling the first real prototype for what would be the Countach LP400 production car in 1973, and he remembers it well. “It was painted red for Geneva and then green for a second auto show in Paris, because Ferruccio Lamborghini couldn’t afford to have a second prototype prepared for the next car show and didn’t want the world to know it was the same car!” chuckles Balboni. When Lamborghini hit bankruptcy in 1973 that Countach prototype (chassis #112.0001) was spirited away and hidden. “Then one day in the early ’90s I got a call,” Balboni recounts. “A friend had discovered the car in Switzerland!” Balboni and his friend drove there and found the car in the corner of a farmer’s barn. “It was covered with all kinds of stuff, so we cleared it off and lifted the bonnet. I immediately
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recognized the holes I made on the frame when we assembled it. I said ‘Jeez, this is our car for sure!’” In order to seal the deal, Balboni had to purchase two cars from the farmer. The prototype was taken back to Sant’Agata, preserved and made to run. It now stands in the Lamborghini museum where it belongs. The first production Countach rolled out of the factory in 1974. “It was superb. A beautiful, historic car,” says Balboni. “It had the best features of its day—best tires, best brakes, etc., but it was really difficult to drive. No power steering, inadequate brakes for the power, tough clutch—it was exhausting!” Additionally, rear visibility was severely limited, so Lamborghini had designed a rear-facing “periscope” set into the roof. Despite its flaws, the automotive community loved the car. “It was a unique symbol of affluence and machismo,” says Balboni. “The ‘young and restless’ didn’t care if it was difficult to drive; they begged our salesmen to add them to their client lists.” In all, between 1974 and 1977 Lamborghini
“GANDINI WANTED AGGRESSIVE, PROVOCATIVE, OFFENSIVE. THE FIRST TIME I SAW THE COUNTACH I THOUGHT ‘WE CAN’T TAKE THIS OUT ON THE ROAD— PEOPLE WILL RUN AWAY, THINKING WE’VE ARRIVED FROM OUTER SPACE!’” — VA LENT I NO BAL BON I
This 1976 LP400, shown by Mouse Motors, placed Second in Class.
produced 150 of the LP400 and clearly staked its claim as a contender in the supercar market. In 1978 the LP400S (Sport) was released with the same characteristics, profile, and engine of its predecessor—plus some added benefits. “Pirelli had designed a new low-profile tire that was just perfect,” says Balboni, “and we added parallel double wishbone suspension, better wheels, and brakes. It changed the life of the Countach and became the perfect car to drive!” Three series and 435 units of the LP400S were produced, subsequently adding a padded steering wheel, concave wheels, lowered suspension, and increased headroom. Meanwhile, Walter Wolf, the Canadian who formed his own Formula 1 racing team, was so impressed with the Countach he purchased two LP400 models and one LP400S, each
featuring a specially designed 5.0-liter engine. The Wolf Countach trio sported unique paint and distinctive options, including a rear wing adjustable from the cockpit, enlarged wheel-arches, an F1-type steering wheel with “Walter Wolf” engraved on it, and eight caliper disc brakes, which Balboni was instrumental in developing. “I test-drove the Walter Wolf cars at the Riccardo Paletti racetrack in Varano de’ Melegari,” says Balboni. “It was a beautiful experience—like driving a Formula 1 car. With the new brakes and bigger wheels, drivability was vastly improved with almost no power oversteer. They were thrilling. . . . Emozionante!” By this time Balboni was test-driving all Countach models and working closely with engineers to perfect every aspect of the design. “The relationship between the car, the test driver,
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“IT WAS A UNIQUE SYMBOL OF AFFLUENCE AND MACHISMO. THE ‘YOUNG AND RESTLESS’ DIDN’T CARE IF IT WAS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE; THEY BEGGED OUR SALESMEN TO ADD THEM TO THEIR CLIENT LISTS.” — VA L E N T I N O BAL B O N I
and the engineer is a ménage à trois,” says Balboni. “The test driver becomes at one with the car and monitors its every move and reaction, every little impression. Then he describes it to the engineer who makes the drawings, the calculations. Sometimes we would argue and yell, because I always wanted more power, power, power, and the engineer wouldn’t want to follow my suggestions. But honestly, almost always, the engineer was right. I learned a lot.” The next evolution of the Countach, the LP500S that debuted in 1982, switched to a 4,754-cc engine. The additional power of the LP500S was significant, but perfection wasn’t attained—at least in Balboni’s mind—until the 1985 launch of
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the LP5000 QV with its 5,167-cc powerhouse and quattrovalvole configuration (four valves per cylinder). “The music produced by a 455 horsepower V12 QV engine is exquisite. This driving experience was orgasmic!” enthuses Balboni. It was the LP500S that evokes one of Balboni’s favorite memories of the Countach. “I was test driving a black LP500S on the roads near the factory. It was November—a very foggy evening, and it was getting dark. I had a problem with the generator and the lights went out, so I pulled into a field and called my friend to bring me a new battery. While I waited, I watched a farmer plowing the field and as he turned his tractor toward me, his lights fell on the car through the mist. I was
Countach class winners rest at the base of the awards ramp, waiting to learn their fate and receive their trophies and ribbons.
This 1973 LP400 is the earliest surviving prototype for the Countach.
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Below: The 1985 5000 Quattrovalvole of Jeffrey Ajluni placed Third in Class.
in my light blue Lamborghini overalls, sitting on the door sill with both doors up. The farmer stopped the tractor midfield, jumped down from the cab and ran for his life! I think he thought the car was a UFO!”
After more than 40 years of test-driving and consulting, Valentino Balboni retired from Lamborghini and now spends much of his time rebuilding and preserving his beloved Lamborghinis.
A total of 657 of these masterpieces were produced, and Balboni had just one problem with them: “I was afraid that we would never be able to make a better car. When you sit behind the wheel with that huge windscreen before you and you hit the gas, you feel like you are in a space shuttle leaving Earth. You are convinced you are flying, not driving. My concern was how can we improve on perfection?”
So where did he celebrate the 50th Anniversary of his darling wild child—the Countach? “In America, of course! We celebrated the Countach’s 50th and the Concours’ 70th Anniversaries together at Pebble Beach. Where else would anyone want to be?”
Depending on your outlook, the 25th Anniversary edition of the Countach, launched in 1988, was another improvement on the model and enabled it to leave the bullring in style—for a time. That said, the old guard, including Balboni, might argue that the addition of air conditioning and a restyling by Pagani with refashioned fins and a smoother contour, detract ever so slightly from the original brusque, pure-blood Countach, which Balboni feels so perfectly reflected the temperament of Ferruccio Lamborghini.
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There, a new Countach debuted: the LPI 800-4, a hybrid supercar that will be offered in a limited series of just 112 cars. Care to go for a test-drive, Valentino? Kate Constantin has edited Management Week and Business Age and has written for several other periodicals, including Financial Times and Computer Weekly. She also loves and collects cars and often writes for concours publications and car auction catalogs.
Simon Kidston’s LP400 was one of two cars wearing the color Viola Metallizzato in our Countach class.
Below: A side view of the Countach class winner, the 1981 LP400S Series III of Robert Bishop.
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CONCOURS CARS TAKE TO THE ROAD Watch the Start of the Tour d’Elegance
There was both relief and joy as the first cars pull to the starting line of the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance presented by Rolex on the Thursday of Pebble Beach Automotive Week. Yes! It was happening. We were together at last after a year’s hiatus. There were fist bumps and airhugs—and even a few real hugs. And then the cars set off. A total of 163 concours cars took to the road for this edition of the Tour. As usual, the route headed out along 17-Mile Drive past The Lodge at Pebble Beach, over to Monterra, then down Highway One to Big Sur. The return route bypassed Carmel, concluding instead with a toast and appetizers at the new Concours Village just opposite the Tour start-finish line.
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Kevin Cogan’s 1951 Ferrari 340 America Touring Barchetta leads cars around a bend on the Tour.
NEW CARS & CONCEPTS The Concept Lawn, staged on the practice putting green near the front door of The Lodge at Pebble Beach, has become the place to spot new cars and concepts during car week.
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RETURN
In addition to collector cars, the latest new cars and concepts are often on display at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Several new cars debuted in the days leading up to the event, and on Concours Sunday, as collector cars rolled onto our competition field, new cars and concepts filled our Concept Lawn.
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ASTON MARTIN Valhalla | NORTH AMERICAN DEBUT Valkyrie Spider | WORLD DEBUT
Aston Martin Executive Chairman Lawrence Stroll has pledged to deliver 10,000 new cars by 2025, and at Pebble Beach, accompanied by Aston Martin CEO Tobias Moers, he unveiled two of the marque’s latest creations. In Aston Martin’s new home along the eighteenth fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links, the Aston Martin Valhalla and the Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider, respectively, made their North American and World debuts. The Valhalla is a hybrid supercar that is driver-focused despite its advanced technology. With a 4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine developing 750PS, which is supplemented by a battery hybrid system contributing an additional 204PS, it can reach a top speed of 217 mph and go from 0-62 mph in 2.5 seconds. The Valkyrie Spider, with its removeable roof panel, is a topless take on the marque’s hypercar—and the fastest open
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car from Aston Martin to date. The Valkyrie’s 1155PS hybrid V12 remains the same, but the carbon fiber structure has been revised and its aerodynamics and active chassis systems have been recalibrated.
Aston Martin Executive Chairman Lawrence Stroll and CEO Tobias Martin prepare to unveil Aston Martin’s latest offerings.
The Valhalla features Aston Martin’s most advanced, responsive and highest performing V8 engine, revving to 7200 rpm and developing 750PS.
With a roof that can be removed, the Valkyrie Spider offers the ultimate open driving experience.
Stroll shares Aston Martin’s new offerings with an enthusiast.
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AUTOMOBILI PININFARINA Battista Anniversario | NORTH AMERICAN DEBUT
A few days prior to the Pebble Beach Concours, on the ramp used for the Concours Awards Ceremony, luxury electric car maker Automobili Pininfarina unveiled the Battista Anniversario. This electric hyper GT is named for Battista “Pinin” Farina, who created the legendary car design and coachbuilding firm of Pininfarina S.p.A. Automobili Pininfarina has ties to that
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Italian firm, and although the carmaker is based in Germany these cars are handbuilt in Italy and their livery pays homage to the Piedmont countryside, incorporating Bianco Setriere, Grigio Antonello and Pininfarina’s signature Icona Blu. The allelectric powertrain can deliver 1,900 hp with zero emissions. Just five Battista Anniversarios will be made.
FERRARI
Ferrari 296 GTB | NORTH AMERICAN DEBUT
Ferrari’s second electric hybrid, the Ferrari 296 GTB, made its North American debut in concert with the Pebble Beach Concours. The car, with a design inspired by the 1964 Ferrari 250 LM, exhibited both elegance and a ready-to-pounce sporting presence.
A livestream of this event, which includes an interview with Ferrari Chief Design Officer Flavio Manzoni about designing the new 296 GTB, was produced for Ferrari by our streaming partner Torque Media, and the replay is available online.
Both the 296 GTB and its precedent were showcased together at Casa Ferrari, located at Fairway One, alongside the first fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links, where the Concorso Ferrari takes place. The Ferrari parade, the Saturday afternoon event when prancing horses proudly march onto this hallowed turf for Concorso Ferrari, has quickly grown to be one of the highlights of Pebble Beach Automotive Week. A total of 80 Ferraris, including many historic Monzas, pulled into a striking star position on this occasion.
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KOENIGSEGG Jesko Absolut | US PUBLIC DEBUT Gemera | US PUBLIC DEBUT
Christian von Koenigsegg continues to shake up the world of megacars. On the day prior to Concours Sunday, on the ramp that hosts the Concours Awards Ceremony, he shared two of his megacars. The Gemera is a mega-GT car that is also, unexpectedly, a spacious four-seater—the first four-seater for the marque, with trunk room for four full suitcases. The Gemera was showcased alongside the Jesko Absolut, a car that Koenigsegg claims will be the fastest megacar he ever makes. The twin turbocharged V8 engine, featuring the world’s lightest V8 crankshaft, is capable of producing 1600 bhp, and it is mated to an innovative nine-speed multiclutch “Light Speed Transmission.” The shape of this Jesko has been lengthened, the standard rear wing has been removed to reduce downforce and drag, and two rear hood fins have been added for stability. It has a drag coefficient of only 0.278 Cd.
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“This is the last hurrah for us for top speed, and we’ll see how fast it is, but it should be insanely fast,” says von Koenigsegg. Both cars initially debuted last year to an empty hall at the cancelled 2020 Geneva Motor Show, so enthusiasts were glad to see them in public. Deliveries of the Jesko are expected to begin in 2022, and the Gemera in 2023. Christian von Koenigsegg
The Jesko Absolut is said to be the fastest car Koenigsegg will ever make.
Christian von Koenigsegg addresses the press from the Concours awards ramp where his cars were unveiled.
Koenigsegg Head of Design Sasha Selipanov poses beside the Jesko Absolut.
The Gemera is a mega-GT car that seats four.
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WAGONEER Grand Wagoneer
Wagoneer was a new presence at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours. The new Grand Wagoneer was showcased here, and Scott Tallon, Director of the Jeep brand for FCA North American, was on hand to provide an indepth introduction.
MotorTrend’s Ed Loh leads a conversation about the Wagoneer.
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The Wagoneer exhibit was a new addition to our 2021 manufacturing displays.
ACURA
2022 Acura NSX | WORLD DEBUT
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AUDI
Skysphere Concept | WORLD DEBUT
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BENTLEY MULLINER Bacalar – Car Zero | WORLD DEBUT
BUSSINK GT R Speedlegend
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FORD MOTOR COMPANY 2021 Ford GT ’66 Daytona Heritage Edition 2022 Ford GT ’64 Prototype Heritage Edition | WORLD DEBUT
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GENESIS Genesis X Concept
GUNTHER WERKS
993 Remastered Speedster
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HENNESSEY Venom F5
INFINITI Infiniti QX60
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AUTOMOBILI LAMBORGHINI Countach LPI 800-4 | WORLD DEBUT
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MARC PHILIPP GEMBALLA Marsien
THE LINCOLN MOTOR COMPANY Lincoln Aviator Shinola Concept | WORLD DEBUT
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McLAREN AUTOMOTIVE McLaren Artura
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MASERATI MC20
PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA Taycan 4S Cross Turismo
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CELEBRATING THE JAGUAR E-TYPE: Speed Embodied in Style
Thomas Hamann’s Jaguar E-type passes before the front door of The Lodge at Pebble Beach during the Tour d’Elegance.
Fifty years back, the Jaguar E-type almost missed the moment for its own debut. It had been loaned in advance to a few journalists and was returned when there was too little time for its formal transport to the 1961 Geneva Motor Show. Jaguar exec Bob Berry took matters into his own hands, jumping into the car and driving it flat-out from Coventry, England, to Geneva, Switzerland, arriving with just 20 minutes to spare. There, the E-type met with immediate acclaim. Enzo Ferrari later called it the “most beautiful car ever made”—and many enthusiasts have agreed. The pandemic interrupted our plans to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the debut of this sporting car with a trio of famed examples—but one very significant E-type travelled to our show field from Germany to represent this magnificent model.
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This E-type (chassis 860010, with registration 6162 RW) was one of three cars built for the launch of the model in 1961. It was retained by Jaguar for the first four years of its life, serving first as a press vehicle and then as a development test vehicle. Perhaps most notably it was used for high speed testing by Norman Dewis, Jaguar’s chief competition test driver, and it was tested at speed by Paul Frère. The car was also the first to be fitted with many technical innovations, some of which made it into production. We thank Thomas Hamann for sharing this important E-type with us and with the enthusiasts who gathered here at Pebble Beach.
Trust your source. Trust your decisions. DISCOVER MOR E AT WSJ .COM
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EXPLORING THE PAST, ENVISIONING THE FUTURE: The Forum Finds a New Home
With the support of AIG and Alliant, we were able to offer a full calendar of Pebble Beach Classic Car Forum sessions this year—and these sessions were relocated to the new Concours Village, so they can be an increasing part of the mix of car events offered near The Lodge at Pebble Beach.
One Forum session, titled Pebble Beach in 2050, focused on what the Concours might look like when it celebrates its 100th anniversary. Automotive experts talked about how the next generation of enthusiasts views cars and how those views might change the hobby.
The Forum provides the opportunity for auto experts and enthusiasts to interact, sharing knowledge and entertaining and inspiring each other. This year, individual Forum sessions ranged from expert panel discussions about our features, such as the Lamborghini Countach and Porsche 917, to insightful conversations offering new perspectives on collecting and a glimpse of what a concours might be like in 2050. We also hosted our first forum filled entirely by women, and a fun introduction to carrelated online shows that can be streamed on demand. We’ll be sharing these sessions one-by-one over the coming months.
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Another Forum session focused on Women Who Love Their Cars.
31 AUGUST – 4 SEPTEMBER 2022 BLENHEIM PALACE OXFORDSHIRE, ENGLAND
2021 Best of Show
1938 MERCEDES-BENZ 540 K CABRIOLET A
WWW.SALONPRIVECONCOURS.COM
Traditions: Charity Drawing
Pebble Beach CEO David Stivers and Concours Chairman Sandra Button share the total charity donations from the Concours to date.
Spurred by Donations from Genesis, Infiniti, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz,
CONCOURS CHARITY DRAWING GIVES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY A steady stream of historic automobiles paraded across our awards ramp to collect their ribbons and trophies on Concours Sunday—and then there was a pause in the action as four very new cars proceeded up the ramp one-by-one. These four cars emphasized the two primary goals of the Pebble Beach Concours: in addition to celebrating great cars and great car people, the event also strives to give back to the local community and help people in need. These four cars were donated by our manufacturing partners to support our Concours charities via our annual Charity Drawing, an unbroken tradition of giving for more than two decades. (Notably, even though the 2020 Concours was cancelled, Lexus donated a vehicle for this drawing last year,
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raising more than $225,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County.) Funds raised through the Charity Drawing go directly to the charities and are in addition to other charity donations raised by the Concours. Four cars were donated to our charities this year as follows: GENESIS donated a 2022 Genesis GV70 3.5T AWD Sport, with an approximate MSRP of $52,600, to raise funds for Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital Foundation and Natividad Foundation. INFINITI donated a 2022 Infiniti QX50 Luxe AWD, with an approximate MSRP of $46,500, to support Seneca’s Kinship Center.
Lexus donated a 2022 Lexus NX F Sport.
Gooding Auctioneer Charlie Ross stepped up to emcee our charity drawing this year.
Infiniti donated the 2022 Infiniti QX50 Luxe AWD.
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Traditions: Charity Drawing
The 2022 Genesis GV70 3.5T AWD Sport pulls to center stage.
Above: Ross prepares to pull a winning ticket. Right: Mercedes-Benz donated a 2021 MercedesBenz GLE 250 SUV.
LEXUS donated a 2022 Lexus NX F Sport, with an approximate MSRP of $42,500, to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County. MERCEDES-BENZ donated a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 250 SUV, with an approximate MSRP of $38,050, to support Montage Health Foundation and United Way Monterey County. As each car pulled onto the awards ramp, a big brass drum with the charity drawing tickets was spun, and the name of the winner was announced. The Genesis went to Gabriel S. of
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Pinole, the Infiniti to Norma S. of Salinas, the Lexus to Chris F. of Port Hueneme, and the Mercedes-Benz to Sarah H. of Seaside. Final charitable donations from the 2021 Pebble Beach Concours are still being tallied (the Concours year concluded on September 30), but a preliminary figure of $1,770,099.54 dollars raised for charity was announced on Concours Sunday by Pebble Beach Concours Chairman Sandra Button and Pebble Beach Company CEO David Stivers. This brings total Concours charitable donations to more than $32 million to date.
70th Concours Mementos
A forthcoming book, published in partnership with Hothouse Media, celebrates 70 Years of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
NEW CONCOURS BOOK & COMMEMORATIVES NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
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If you missed the opportunity to visit Pebble Beach RetroAuto to purchase some Concours memorabilia, you’re in luck: we’ve just uploaded several items, including our 2021 posters and program, to our online store. There you will also find books related to our 70 years of history, including the opportunity to reserve your copy of our forthcoming offering, titled appropriately Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance: 70 Years of Automotive Excellence.
The forthcoming Hothouse publication is available in three editions. The Publisher’s Edition, with slipcover, is shown at top right. The Chairman’s edition, with leather-covered clamshell case, is shown in the other images.
A GUIDE TO OUR NEW BOOK Our forthcoming book, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance: 70 Years of Automotive Excellence, is a rich visual celebration of the amazing cars, the great collectors, the judges and the partners that have enabled this event to reach and remain at the pinnacle of the historic motoring movement for so many years. Published in partnership with Hothouse Media (the publishers of Magneto magazine), the book will be lavish in every respect—oversized and beautifully produced, with over 240 pages of great writing and stunning photography. It is available in three editions: Standard Edition: Printed in full color on Finesse silk 170gsm paper.
Publisher’s Edition (limited to 500 copies): Printed in full color on Finesse silk 170gsm paper, with silk cover and silkcovered slipcase. Chairman’s Edition (limited to 250 copies): Printed in full color on Finesse silk 170gsm paper, leather-bound, presented in a leather-covered clamshell case with magnetic class, and complete with brass plaque indicating number and signed by Sandra Button, Concours Chairman. Click here to purchase our new book.
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70th Concours Mementos
One version of our 2021 main event poster showcases the 1954 Ferrari 375 MM that won in 2014.
A GUIDE TO OUR 2021 POSTERS 2021 CONCOURS POSTERS
To mark the 70th Celebration of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, our primary event posters pay homage to our history, highlighting the magnificent cars that have taken our top award, Best of Show, over the past seven decades. Well over half of those cars are returning to our show field this year to be displayed at the edge of Carmel Bay, and in a nod to their diversity, we are offering not one but two Concours posters, featuring two very different recent winners. Several additional winners are also featured in the background. The first of these Concours posters features a prewar sports tourer much desired by collectors today: the 1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta of David & Ginny Sydorick that was named Best of Show in 2018. The 8C 2900B was perhaps the most technically advanced, modern and compelling sports car available in the 1930s, and this particular 8C (chassis 412020) Lungo Berlinetta with Superleggera coachwork was a seminal work for both Alfa Romeo and Carrozzeria Touring. It was revealed at the 1937 Paris Auto Salon, then appeared at the 1937 Milan Auto Show and the 1938 Berlin Motor Show. It was also featured in many magazines and in the Alfa Romeo sales brochure, where it was called the “Coupé Leggero.” It differs from later 8C 2900 Berlinettas by having a more steeply raked aerodynamic grille and no running boards. David Sydorick worked with restorers to return the car to its 1938 Berlin Motor Show specifications. The other Concours poster features the remarkable postwar car that made its way to our top award in 2014: the 1954 Ferrari 375 MM Scaglietti Coupe then owned by Jon Shirley and now returning to us thanks to the Destriero Collection. While many competition versions of the 375 MM were built, this is one of just five road-going cars. It was ordered by film director Roberto Rossellini, one of Ferrari’s best customers, and it started life as a Pininfarina-bodied competition spyder (0402AM). An accident irreparably damaged that first body and the car was sent to Carrozzeria Scaglietti for a replacement. This car was Scaglietti’s first passenger car design for a Ferrari. Jon Shirley first restored the car in 1995, and after new information was discovered about the car, he restored it again prior to winning Best of Show.
2021 RETROAUTO POSTER
The Porsche 917 took the world by storm in the early 1970s, winning at Le Mans and dominating other racing series, including the Canadian-American Challenge Cup (Can-Am for short). Our poster features one of the winningest 917 Can-Am cars. This 1973 Porsche 917/30 (chassis 003) was built for the Penske racing team. With Mark Donohue behind the wheel, it placed second at Road Atlanta and then won the final five races of the season, taking the Can-Am championship in 1973. A couple years later, it set a closed-course speed record of 221.12 mph at Talladega. It was restored in 2016 by Bruce Canepa and was brought to us by the RK Collection. 2021 TOUR POSTER
Our Tour poster highlights Carrozzeria Pininfarina, and taking pride of place on the canvas is one of the coachbuilder’s most
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CONCOURS VILLAGE AT PEBBLE BEACH
August 12 to 15, 2021
Pebble Beach®, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Logo®, Pebble Beach RetroAuto™, The Inn at Spanish Bay™ and their distinctive images are trademarks and service marks of Pebble Beach Company. All rights reserved. © 2021 Pebble Beach Company.
Printed in Canada.
The 2021 RetroAuto poster focuses on the 917.
70th Concours Mementos
Pebble Beach TOUR d'ELEGANCE PRESENTED BY
Left: The Tour d’Elegance poster focuses on the Ferrari 365 P “Tre Posti” that went on to be a Best of Show nominee this year. Below: Another version of our 2021 main event poster showcases the Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B that took our top award in 2018.
AUGUST 12, 2021
Pebble Beach®, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance TM and their distinctive images are trademarks and service marks of Pebble Beach Company. All rights reserved. © 2021 Pebble Beach Company. Printed in Canada.
innovative postwar designs: the Ferrari 365 P “Tre Posti” Coupe Speciale that debuted at the Paris Auto Salon in 1966. The 365 P was the first mid-engine V12 Ferrari designed for road use—and it almost didn’t happen. Enzo Ferrari wasn’t convinced that any road car needed all that power, but others, including Fiat head Gianni Agnelli and Ferrari racing legend Luigi Chinetti, argued for it. And Sergio Pininfarina, then a relatively new designer seeking to strengthen the relationship between Ferrari and his family’s firm, was eager to show what he could do with such a platform. At the car’s core is the engine and engineering of the 365 P2 raced by NART, Chinetti’s North America Racing Team. But its most innovative feature, as indicated by its nickname “Tre Posti,” is the trio of seats inside; the driver sits front and center, flanked by two passengers just slightly set back. The car was with the Chinetti family for years, but it returned to our 2021 under the care of RQ Collections. Click here to purchase our posters
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OUR POSTER ARTIST
Tim Layzell, who is rightly regarded as one of the world’s leading motoring artists, painted all four of our posters this year. Layzell has developed two unique artistic styles. In one, he paints with an eye to realism and detail while maintaining an element of nostalgia, reflecting the unique tones provided by color photography of the 1950s and early ’60s. In other works, he paints in his own distinct “pop art” style where solid blocks of color and strong lines draw the observer’s eye into the work. To learn more about his work, visit www.timlayzell.com.
Capture the magic of the adventure.
ZEISS Camera Lenses wishes to thank everyone for attending Concours d'Elegance and stopping by our booth to see the ZEISS ZX1 camera. We're delighted to have made our Concours debut in Pebble Beach and we look forward to seeing you next year. Until then, wherever the road takes you, make sure your images are the best they can be. ZEISS and the ZEISS ZX1, we're happy to have met you. www.zeiss.com/us/zx1
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The 2021 Chairman’s Trophy went to Fritz Burkard’s 1929 Type 35B Grand Prix.