What is the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach?
Concours d’Elegance is French for “a completion of elegance”; it’s also an annual charitable event held in Pebble Beach. Car show as well as a frequent showcase for new model unveilings, the Concours d’Elegance has become a yearly showcase for vintage performance vehicles, all of which are judged based on function, history, authenticity, and style. It’s the capstone to Monterey Car Week in Monterey, California, attracting over 15,000 enthusiasts each year — so naturally, Ferrari has a presence as well.
A Brief History of the Concours d’Elegance
Founded in 1950 as a companion to the Pebble Beach Road Race, the event was held on a practice tee and driving range in its first two years, which featured only 30 cars in 1950 and 23 in 1951. 1952 saw the event move to the Pebble Beach Golf Links. Even from modest beginnings, the event has been held every year since with the exception of 1960, when it was scuttled due to scheduling conflicts.
The Concours d’Elegance began to transform into what it is today in 2001, when a category specifically for the preservation of cars was added to the show. By 2006, the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach featured 25 judge classes, featuring 175 cars from 13 countries and 27 states, with the total estimated cost of the vehicles exceeding $200 million.
In 2011, the event was named 2011 Motoring Event of the Year by the International Historic Motoring Awards, further solidifying its status as an event not to be missed by classic car enthusiasts.
Tour d’Elegance
There’s more to the Concours d’Elegance than a Pebble Beach Car show: the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance offers a chance for attendants to witness these classic cars in action. This driving event traces the original 17-mile drive of the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach, winding through mountains and valleys before pausing for a time to be displayed on Ocean Avenue in Carmel-By-the-Sea, California.
Best of Show
While several awards are given over the course of the festivities, the most prized recognition at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is Best of Show. In 2019, the winner was a 1931 Bentley 8 Litre Gurney Nutting Sports Tourer owned by Sir Michael Kadoorie.
Of course, the world’s finest automakers are frequently represented in the Best of Show award, with a 1954 Ferrari 375 MM Scaglietti Coupe taking the prize in 2014.
Learn More With Continental AutoSports Ferrari
With classic Ferraris frequently on display, the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach is a prime destination for anyone who’s enthusiastic about the Prancing Horse, and about classic race cars in general! Want to learn more? Contact Continental AutoSports Ferrari to discuss the event, Ferrari’s presence there, and, of course, to inquire about purchasing your very own Ferrari.
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