Pebble. This one word has abundant meaning for avid golfers. The same is true for those who have a passion for vintage automobiles. The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is the pre-eminent concours vintage car show on this great planet that we somehow manage to cohabitate. Classic Industries was at this prestigious event this year to cover all of the glorious action for the 73rd celebration on Sunday, August 18, 2024.
Dawn Patrol @ Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance 2024
Above: This 1965 Maserati Mistral Frua Spyder is owned by George Andreini, of Portola Valley, CA. Exhibited in the Q1 Maserati Frua class, the convertible variant of the Mistral coupe premiered at the Geneva Auto Show in March 1964. The convertible was derived from the sophisticated interpretation of Giovanni Michelotti of the original coupe. The Mistral Spyder had an aluminum hood, doors, and trunk lid, for lightening up the otherwise steel body and chassis. Just 124 Mistral Spyders were built. This one is chassis AM109S089. It has a 3.5-liter straight-six, double-overhead-camshaft engine, and is one of 27 produced from 1964 through 1966. The 3.5-liter mill developed 235-horsepower and had a top speed of 255 kph. Two other engine choices were available for the coupes and convertibles, 3.7 and 4.0-liter straight-six versions.
In order to get to the Pebble Beach Golf Links at the start of Dawn Patrol, Classic Industries' humble scribe hustled from his Gilroy, CA hotel in his Ford Mustang at 5:15 am. Arriving at the Pebble Concours at 6:00 am, Pebble's stern parking attendants still would not allow close by parking, despite the humble scribe's showing the media credential and explaining to three different attendants that the Pebble Concours article would appear on three website's - Classic Industries, Monterey Car Week, and Redline Review. The Mustang was parked at the beach along 17-Mile Drive, and the humble scribe caught the first shuttle bus to Pebble Beach Concours Village.
Above and below: In the A1 Antique class, A 1909 Alco 40-horsepower Runabout, owned by Bruce McCaw, of Redmond, WA marked the end of the cars driven into place during Dawn Patrol.
Above and two below: This carbon fiber bodied Corvette is a bit wider and longer, and offers more comfort in the cockpit than a stock C2 Corvette. The coupe has elements from 1965-1967 Sting Rays. The hood is a big-block stinger hood for a 1967 C2, but in this case is all carbon fiber. The primarily available for big-block V8 sidepipes were born on 1965-'67 C2 Corvettes. A company in Vermont plans to build five to 10 of these beauteous beasts a year, at a price tag of approximately $600,000. Custom fabrication abounds in this baby, from the state-of-the art chassis, to the accommodating interior, to the lightweight carbon fiber custom-hewn body. That LT4 EFI V8 mill below is said to have a delicious rumble, which all ICE aficionados will appreciate.
Above: A kind and lovely young lady agreed to model in her 1960's themed attire evoking peace, love, and understanding for the pages of Classic Industries. Don't worry, her precious canine modeling companion offered her paw print for the photo release, providing CI with the right to publish the photo.
Above: You're viewing a 1965 Serenissima 308v Fantuzzi Spyder in these two photos, owned by Tom McGough Sr. and Jr., of Shoreview, MN. Ferrari's most prolific client, Count Volpi of Venice, Italy, founded Scuderia Serenissima in 1961. Count Volpi commissioned Alberto Massimino to build a prototype to compete at Le Mans. This chassis 005 Fantuzzi Spyder has a 308V engine that's comprised of a flat-plane crank, dry sump twin-cam configuration, with two spark plugs per cylinder, and running four, two-barrel carburetors. Designer Fantuzzi created the graceful bodywork. Just two Spyders were ever built, and this is the lone survivor. The Spyder has an exemplary patina and immaculate retention of all its finishes, including paint and interior, as it competed in the Postwar Preservation Class at Pebble 2024.
Above: A young lady named Veronika asked me to take a photo of her with her cell phone next to her favorite car in her favorite hue of red. I therefore asked her permission to have a photo of her in the article. The 1930 red Duesenberg J Murphy convertible sedan that the Russian native Veronika stood beside is owned by Skip and Susan Tetz, of Goshen, New York. Though the moniker American muscle car wasn't a term back in the 1920's and 1930's, the Duesenberg was definitely an American muscle car, in terms of performance, style, and handling. Here's what comedian and automotive collector extraordinaire Jay Leno thinks is the best car ever:
Video of Jay Leno Proclaiming the Best Overall Car Ever
Automotive Artist Al Dimauro in Pebble's Retroauto Exhibit
Above: Classic Industries' humble scribe had a great chat with automotive artist Al Dimauro and his lovely wife (who was too shy to be in this photograph). Mr. Dimauro recounted when he met, at a recent automotive art exhibit - Shelby American Racing welder, fabricator, mechanic, production control manager, and 289 Shelby Cobra roadster/Cobra Daytona coupe race car driver Allen Grant. Dimauro shared that Mr. Grant invited the artist to see his shop in Palms Springs, CA. Mr. Grant also gave the accomplished artist a treasure trove of Shelby American archives photographs from those magical 1960s, when Shelby Enterprises/American was in Gardena/Venice, California. Having the opportunity to meet one of his childhood heroes, Mr. Dimauro shared that he had goosebumps. You should be able to just make out a landscape portrait/painting of Carroll Shelby and engineer, mechanic, fabricator, Ken Miles behind the #1 clad 1966 Ford GT40 MK II that Mr. Miles raced to victory at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans (Le Mans racing rules/politics robbed him of 1st place).
Above: Peter Klutt, of Halton Hills, Canada owns this stunning 1966 Ford GT40 XGT-2 Mk II. That's actually Mr. Klutt standing behind the left quarter panel, with one of his son's standing to his left. Chassis # XGT-2 was driven by Graham Hill in the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Mk II was first off the line at the start, but the 427-cubic inch V8 Ford mill had engine failure during the race and subsequently was retired. There were 11 Mk IIs with 427 engines originally produced. Mr. Klutt's restored #7 car, which competed in the Postwar Sports Racing class at Pebble Beach, is one of three equipped with an aluminum roof, upgraded suspension, and other lightweight specifications. Nine of the original 11 GT40 Mk IIs still exist.
Above: Stan Lucas, of Long Beach, CA owns this 1930 Lincoln Model L Locke Sport Roadster. The 1930 Model L Lincoln lineup is the last year that the famous Model L Lincoln V8 chassis boasted a 384-cubic-inch V8 engine that produced an impressive 90-horsepower (for its time). Mr. Lucas' Lincoln Model L Locke Sport Roadster competed in the C1 American Classic Open class. A special compartment behind the passenger seats completely concealed the folding top assembly. The innovative design is one of 15 Disappearing Top Roadsters built by the coachbuilding firm of Locke & Co. for the 1930 Lincoln Model L.
Above: Also in the Retroauto building was a lavish selection of automobilia for sale, replete with many intricately detailed neon signs.
Above: A Pierce Arrow sedan negotiates the paved path to the show field Pebble Beach Golf Links fairway during Dawn Patrol, which begins before the sun is shining or covered by fog.
Above and below: Another Dawn Patrol early morning entry - we have an ultra-cool 1954 Jaguar XK-D Type right hand drive race car with a covered aluminum tonneau cover to make the sleek machine more aerodynamic for the 24 Hours of Le Mans and other endurance races. The driver sure has a smile on his face; you would too, if you were this cat's current caretaker. Shown in the Jaguar D-Type 70th Anniversary class, the 1954 Jaguar XKD-type Prototype is owned by the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust, in Gaydon, United Kingdom. Under the aluminum bonnet there beats a superbly tuned 3.4-liter XK straight-six engine with triple Weber side draft carbs that produces 250 bhp (brake horsepower).
Ferrari Green @ Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance 2024
Above and below: On the Ferrari Green, Ferrari displayed its new offerings, like this 2024 Ferrari 295 GTS Hybrid that delivers a maximum speed of 205 miles per hour, will accelerate from 0-67 mph in 2.9 seconds, and has a combined fuel economy of 47 MPGe. Behind all the new Prancing Horses lined up below, are the vintage Ferraris that some of Ferrari's customers drove or transported to exhibit on the Pebble Beach Ferrari Green.
Above: Speaking of vintage Ferraris, here is a resplendently restored silver 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO that appears as if Paul Revere fabricated it out of Pewter.
Above: The #80 1953 Ferrari 250 MM looks to be all business.
Above and below: What a magnificent shade of blue for this 1952 Ferrari 342 America! The cockpit's pretty sublime, too.
Above: A 1959 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa looks right at home any time of the year in Pebble Beach, but especially during Monterey Car Week in mid-August.
Above and below: There was a #112 clad 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO in racing hues reflecting its early race history in Sweden. Before going to Sweden in the summer of 1963, this 250 GTO raced at LeMans, in the Tour de France, and in the Paris 1000 Kilometers at Monthlhery in 1962. She finished fifth overall at Sebring in March of 1963.
Above: Where's Magnum P.I. when we need him? Robin Master's 1984 Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole was waiting for him to solve another mystery (just kidding).
Above: Rumors swirled throughout the Pebble Beach Golf Links that detectives Crockett and Tubbs were seen running all over the area, wearing pastel suits and looking inconspicuous. Crockett parked his 1986 Ferrari Testarossa on the Ferrari Green, so she would blend in with the other Prancing Horses.
Above and below: There were both Daytona Spyders and Daytona Coupes on display. Above and just below is a 1969 Ferrari 365 GTS. Further down is a 1973 365 GTB4 Daytona Coupe in navy blue on display. The humble scribe could have spent the entire Concours on the Ferrari Green (as you might imagine).
Above and below: The 1967 Ferrari 330 P4 race car looks awesome from any angle. 330 P4s raced against Ford GT40 Mk IIs and Mk IVs respectively in the 1966 and 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Above and below: Apparently, the humble scribe thinks he's film director Alfred Hitchcock. Remember when Hitchcock would film a scene of him in the background of his scary movies? On the Ferrari Green there were several full length vertical mirrors that had all the Concours goers seeing double and triple. Some of the mirrors said 'Celebrating 70 Years of Ferrari in America.' While others provided more information about the Prancing Horses on exhibit, like the 'California State of Mind' mirror below. It was pretty cool.
Above and below: In the 1920's, there weren't many boulevard bruisers as powerful and with as much overwhelming panache as the 1928 Mercedes-Benz 710 SSK Corsica Drophead. William E. (Chip) Connor, of Hong Kong China owns this stunning example. This 710 SSK is one of only two authentic 710 SSK automobiles to be graced with custom touring coachwork by Corsica. It's also one of only three surviving SSKs with the original 18-rib "elephant blower," so named for the thunderous sound the supercharger produces when it's engaged. The K stands for Kompressor or supercharger or blower. The Kompressor doesn't run all the time. It's engaged when the driver tromps on the accelerator pedal. Notice the supercharger's engagement linkage to the left of some of those 18-supercharger ribs?
Above and below: There were many celebrants, who dressed in elegant attire for this auspicious and prestigious Concours d'Elegance. This young lady agreed to model in front of a 1971 Iso Grifo Series II 7.4 Liter Bertone Can-Am Coupe, that's owned by Hardy Bassington, of Palm Springs, CA. The 7.4 liter V8 is the prodigious GM 454-cubic inch big block V8 thumper. Mr. Bassington purchased the automobile in 2021. Given its American V8, this time-capsule car with fewer than 21,000 miles on the odometer competed in the Postwar Preservation class. When the owner found the car, stashed in its many compartments were touring items from the 1970s, including maps and cigars.
Above and below: Had the term American muscle car been coined in the 1920s or 1930s, the mighty Duesenberg would certainly qualify. Watch what comedian and automotive enthusiast Jay Leno had to say about Duesenberg in the video within this article. In the Duesenberg class, a 1935 Duesenberg J Walker Torpedo Phaeton that is owned by Anne Brockinton Lee/The Lee Collection, in Sparks, NV competed. This Torpedo Phaeton (chassis J-548) premiered in the 1935 Hollywood comedy '$1,000 a Minute.' Notice the two windshields? They are there to protect the rear seat occupants from the wind. This car is known as a dual cowl phaeton. The Duesy joined the Lee Collection in 1995.
Above and two below: Devon MacNeil, of Wellington, FL owns this gold hued 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV Bertone Coupe Speciale. The ultimate development of the Lamborghini Miura is the SV variant, which stands for "Spinto Veloce." The SV designation translates to "tuned to be fast." Just 150 Miuras had this special 385-horsepower engine that achieved a top speed of 180 miles per hour. You're looking at the only Miura to leave the Lamborghini factory with a dry sump engine, making her very special indeed.
Above and below: If anyone had thought to call high performance American cars American muscle cars back in the early days of the automobile, the above 1935 Auburn 851 Speedster would certainly qualify. This jet black beauty is owned by Herman-Bosman Brandt/Brent Merrill, of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Each 1935-'36 Auburn speedster was equipped with a supercharged Lycoming straight eight engine that produced 150-horsepower. Every 1935-'36 Speedster had a plaque on the dash that proclaimed the car had been test driven at 100.1 miles per hour. That's pretty darn fast for automobiles of the 1930's. In the third photo it's easy to see why this Auburn is known as a boattail speedster.
Mercedes-Benz Celebrated 130 Years of Motorsport
Every year at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Mercedes-Benz constructs a temporary exhibit building that showcases Mercedes automobiles from its glorious past all the way to the present day. For the 2024 event at Pebble, M-B celebrated the company's 130-year involvement with auto racing. Though Classic Industries is more interested in American muscle cars, M-B has also produced some fast, sleek, and great automobiles.
Above and below: The #21 clad race car above is a 1952 Mercedes-Benz 300SLR Gullwing. Driven by Hermann Lang and Fritz Riess, the rather aerodynamic vehicle was the overall winner at the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1952. The white 1956 Mercedes-Benz W 198 (300 SL) is the more luxurious road-going version of the aero race car. Notice there's tan leather fitted luggage behind the two seats. That silver M-B next to the pretty woman in the pink dress is a current model AMG hot-rodded M-B coupe. You may also notice that the early morning Pebble Beach fog and clouds are being burned away by the sun to make for a perfect temperature day in the upper 60's. All of the participants at Pebble 2024 were also cooled throughout the Sunday by a fresh Pacific Ocean close breeze - automotive enthusiast nirvana at Pebble, as per usual.
Above and below: A late 1930's vintage M-B Grand Prix race car is flanked by a modern Formula One M-B racing machine. These 1930's vintage M-B V12 and Auto Union V16 powered Grand Prix race cars obtained speeds of up to 200 miles per hour!
Pebble Beach Concept Lawn Turns 35
Above and below: There was some superb concept cars on display on Pebble's Concept Lawn. The Aspark Owl is an electric powered hyper car that has achieved its Guinness World Record-breaking acceleration of zero to 60 mph in a neck-snapping, mind-bending 1.69 seconds and a top speed exceeding 249 mph (400 km/h). The hyper car delivers an impressive range of 280 miles (450 kilometers). The gentleman who created the Aspark Owl is wearing a stylish purple suit and shirt and possibly viewing all the deposits for new orders on his cell phone for this awesome looking Aspark Owl.
Above and three below: Maserati premiered the Maserati GT2 Stradale, "an all-new super sports car derived from Maserati's MC20 halo vehicle to the Global public at the 2024 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Concept Lawn." Not much was revealed about the stunning Maserati super car at Pebble. Maserati cryptically stated, "Its dramatic design language, reduced weight, and maximum performance output will set it apart from the super car class today." Gray Baskerville, famous 'Hot Rod' magazine automotive journalist and originator of the term 'suede paint job' for a satin gray primer, in this case a satin purplish blue paint scheme that shifts with the light, would likely dig this satiny purplish blue sheen. So to does the humble scribe at Classic Industries!
Above and below: The Rimac Nevera R is characterized by the Rimac Group as a Hyper Sports Car. The company's design and development philosophy is Radical, Rebellious, Relentless. The Nevera R is powered by the next-generation 108 kWh Rimac battery pack. With 2,107-horsepower available at the whim of the driver's right foot, it's quicker than the record-breaking Nevera, hitting 186 miles per hour (300 km/h) in 8.66 seconds.
Best of Show Winner @ Pebble Beach 2024 Concours
For the first time ever in its illustrious 73-year history, the Best of Show winner came from the ranks of the Preservation class. A 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports presented by Fritz Burkard of The Pearl Collection in Zug, Switzerland was awarded the top prize.
Pebble Beach Concours Chairman Sandra Button proclaimed, “This storied Bugatti, the first Type 59 built, is a rare factory race car that recorded multiple Grand Prix victories at the hands of several important racing greats—and it also has ties to royalty. Perhaps most importantly, it wears all of its history to this day, having been preserved in the livery it was given when redressed by King Leopold of Belgium.”
Thrilled owner Fritz Burkard emoted, “I’m so happy for the car, so happy for Bugatti. This car is incredible. It’s so much history—one of the most successful Bugattis in history—and to win with this car means a lot to me. First time a Swiss, first time a European wins, first time a preservation wins. It’s important that preservation also gets recognition, because a car can only be once original. And it drives so beautifully.”
For the full list of winners at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance 2024 and information about the 2025 event, visit the Pebble Beach Concours website.
Above and below: Fritz Burkard celebrates his Best of Show victory at the 2024 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Two Pebble Beach Concours Media-shot photos published with permission of same.
Classic Industries Sells American Muscle Car Parts
Most every automotive gearhead knows that Classic Industries is a leading provider of American muscle car parts. The fact that there aren't many American muscle cars depicted in this article about the 73rd Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is simply that there weren't many in the show field.
Every year, his wife, the humble scribe, and his American female Labrador retriever Shelby, named after the 1965 Shelby GT350 Mustang, travel to the Monterey, California area in mid-August to cover the awesome automotive events that comprise Monterey Car Week. It's a working vacation for the humble scribe. He's burning vacay time during this pleasurable junket. So, he hopes to not get fired for running such a longwinded article that doesn't have many USA muscle machines. As Rear Admiral Grace Hopper, a U.S. Naval officer is often attributed to saying, "It's better to ask for forgiveness than permission."
Classic Industries American Muscle Car Catalogs
Should you be an American muscle car enthusiast and owner, Classic Industries offers both an enormous website and several large GM, Chrysler, and a Ford Mustang catalog that has hundreds of thousands of restoration, performance, restomod, and accessory parts listed for your pride and joy. Simply select the catalog button below and find the catalog that you wish to receive in the mail. Have fun in the building, driving, showing, racing, and cruising of your American muscle machine.
