Here’s An Inside Look At This Weekend’s Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

A veritable orgy for automotive enthusiasts, it’s officially car week in and around Monterey, California. Those who make the trip will see some of the most beautiful, rare, and wonderful cars ever built on display in multiple events held over the next six days. Heck, even the parking lots at the various venues are filled with drool-inducing exotic cars. You can even see vintage racecars take to the track in the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca, and perhaps drive a vintage ride home by participating in any of several auctions taking place during the week. But the epicenter of the motoring universe occurs on Sunday afternoon, the famed Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Dating back to 1950, prized collectible cars from virtually every era are showcased on the famed 18th fairway of the Pebble Beach Golf Links. Automakers also unveil some of their newest production and concept cars to the well-heeled crowd in attendance. And you’ll need to have a wad of cash on hand to walk the 18th fairway, as tickets to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance go for a steep $450 each (a good portion of which is donated to local youth-focused non-profit educational programs).

“The hard work, discipline and logistics required to produce this special event never fails to impress me,” says Mitch Katz, founder and CEO of Premier Financial Services, a provider of lease financing for exotic, vintage and luxury cars. “Even if you don’t own a classic car, you can appreciate and enjoy the spectacle that takes place on this one Sunday in August each year.”

A field of around 200 vintage vehicles are judged based on style, technical merit, and history, as well as their originality and the accuracy of their preservation or restoration. Each year, the Concours highlights specific marques and car classes, with the 2019 edition celebrating the centennials of Bentley and Zagato, and featuring Bugatti race and touring cars. As many as 30 separate car classes are judged, from American Classics to Postwar Preservations and Historic Hot Rods. While as many as 100 models may be submitted for a given class, only eight or nine will eventually qualify for entry in each, with the absolute best among them being designated Best of Show.

What will the judges look for amid this sea of alluring autos? Premier provides the following insights compiled by classic car gurus Paul Russell, a leading expert in car restoration, and Sandra Button, who has served as Chairman of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance since 2002:

Around 100 technical judges are on hand to examine the cars, and they’re recognized as the world’s most knowledgeable authorities in their respective car classes. They’ll prepare ahead of time by studying photographs, researching data, and the historic documentation for each entry they’ll be inspecting. Since many of them are involved in the automotive business, each judge is required to disclose any possible conflicts of interest. The chief judges will subsequently take whatever steps may be required to eliminate any possible bias.

Unlike common suburban car shows, you won’t ever see the same vehicles shown year after year at Pebble Beach. In fact, cars are restricted to competing in the Concours only once per decade. What’s more, entrants cannot be shown at any other public car show, event, display, or auction in August ahead of the Concours. 

All cars are initially judged within each class, and begin with a tally of 100 points, with marks deducted for any flaws or shortcomings. Every judge must describe the specific flaw each time a point is deducted. Each one of the judges spends around 20 minutes closely examining every model in a given class, and all of the judges must agree on which cars are given the First, Second and Third in Class awards. 

Authenticity is a key factor in judging classic rides at the Concours, specifically how well a car has been restored to reflect its original condition when it left the showroom. On the other hand, an entrant will lose points if the judges deem it’s been “over restored.”

Fans of Antiques Roadshow are familiar with the term “Provenance,” and it’s a critical element in judging at the Concours. A car’s ownership history, or an interesting backstory – whether it was originally owned by a famed celebrity or was a long lost and subsequently restored barn find – can elevate its stature with judges, and result in extra points being awarded.

Finally, and perhaps obviously, the car designated Best of Show must have a “wow” factor. A panel of experienced senior judges examines the individual class winners, and votes for the single car that they feel is the most magnificent example of automotive excellence. Their task is to select the one car that, according to Concours Chairman Button, “Makes their heart sing.”

The Best of Show winner last year was an elegant 1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta, which is shown at the top of this post. Fresh from restoration, it was owned by David and Ginny Sydorick. According to a report in Hemmings Daily, the Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B was a detuned racing car for the street, and was based upon the brand’s successful 8C 2900A. That model was itself a kinder and gentler version of the 8C 2900 sports racer. The Sydorick’s Alfa Romeo was one of 10 such models built. Completed in early 1937, it was originally revealed at that year’s Paris Auto Salon.