Teasing the concours showdown on the Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance

Every year, thousands of applicants vie for a spot at the illustrious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, a colossal number of truly special collector cars that is then whittled down to just 200 invites. Even this is a challenge in itself, as entrants are unlikely to be selected if they attended any other major concours in the same year. However, passing the rigorous selection process is just the beginning of the battle towards a chance of securing the globally-coveted ‘Best in Show’ award, and entrants will want to do anything in their power to give themselves an edge over the competition. Which is where the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance comes in.

Before the custodians of some of the world’s finest metal can (try to) relax as their prized possessions are scrutinised on the perfectly manicured greens of the Pebble Beach Golf Cub, they must fire up their engines and warm their tyres on the picture-perfect roads of coastal California.

Tracing the legendary 17-Mile-Drive and Highway 1, following the Pacific coastline towards Big Sur, before looping back to cross the Rolex finish gantry in Pebble Beach, the Tour d’Elegance plays a crucial role in the Concours. As many of you know, if two cars tie for ‘Best in Class’, the one which has completed the Tour will be selected as a finalist with a chance of securing that all-important ‘Best in Show’ trophy.

Almost all of the world’s most coveted collector cars have completed the Tour at some point in their history, but 2023’s convoy felt decidedly younger. Perhaps that’s because Lamborghini and McLaren are both celebrating their 60th anniversaries at this year’s event, while Porsche celebrates 75 years of automotive excellence, each with a dedicated class. Highlights from the three marques’ back catalogues were out in force, including the McLaren F1 GTR Chassis 027R, which cut through the fog with it’s radical aero and piercing yellow and blue Parabolica Motorsport livery.

Representing Sant’Agata alongside a selection of other raging bulls was the fabulous ex-1981 Monaco Grand Prix Lamborghini Countach pace car, while Stuttgart’s progeny were no less impressive. Chief among them was the Porsche 906E raced by Ed Hugus and John Cannon at the 1967 12 Hours of Sebring. Fresh from an exacting restoration at the hands of the Road Scholars, the prototype Porsche looked truly mesmerising in its period-correct yellow and black tape livery.

Also out in force were the great pre-war sporting Mercedes-Benzes, such as the S, SS, and SSK, each increasing in power and agility. Over the years, five of these ultra-desirable Mercs have taken home the top award at the Pebble Beach Concours, making them a strong choice for those with their eyes on the event’s biggest prize. Arguably even more spectacular is the aero-inspired coachwork found in the Figoni Centennial class, which pays tribute to the famed Parisian coachbuilder Joseph Figoni.

Even if his name is unfamiliar, you’ll surely recognise the gorgeous lines of his magnum opus, the Talbot-Lago T150C-SS Teardrop Coupé, which never fails to make our jaws hit the floor. We also can’t forget the Revs Institute, who enjoyed the Tour in their otherworldly metallic brown Figoni-bodied 1937 Delahaye Type 135MS Special Roadster.

Any discussion of pre-war automotive jewellery wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Pearl Collection’s stunning Bugatti Type 57 Atalante, or the more competition-focused blue Alfa Romeo 8C brought by Fiskens. Regardless of your automotive preference, one of your four-wheeled holy grails will have been cruising California’s coastal roads, so we urge you to enjoy this fantastic image gallery supplied to us by the masterful Rémi Dargegen. And don’t forget to check back in on Monday to find out the results of the Concours d’Elegance!