The Concours d'Elegance in now considered the premier car show of pre and postwar automobiles along with the latest concept car designs. It is a charitable event held every August at the Pebble Beach Gold Links (18th hole). The show was started in 1950 and has grown every year in both prominence and the number of participants. Cars are judged for authenticity, history, style and function. Cars are grouped into classes based on manufacturer, country of origin, era, and coach builder. Thousands of spectators from all over the world attend the event. Locally, this event is referred to as Car Week. In exchange for a great contribution to the local economy, residents get to enjoy lack of parking, street closures and traffic jams in their otherwise quiet little town.
Cars arrived at the wee hours, just as blue light was trying to get up over the fog. Each car is escorted to their 'parking' spot on the green and must park within markings on the well tendered grass. No exceptions!
Race cars were an exception to the rule that each car has to drive onto the green under its own power and no cars are allowed to park overnight. Race cars require a considerable amount of time to warm up and cannot wait in line without over heating. They were allowed to be towed, if necessary, and may bypass the entrance lines by parking on the green overnight.
Tom was on the 18th hole well before the official opening time. He took advantage of photographing cars as they came in and once they were set up. Later the presence of a huge crowd would make photography more difficult. This is a 1951 Delahaye 235 with Chabron coachwork. Both Delahaye and Chabron were featured at this year's Concours.
Giorgetto Guigiaro formed ItalDesign, started construction of this car and delivered the prototype to Turin Motor Show 40 days later. It is built on a Bizzarrini P538 chassis #3.
The ocean and golf course made excellent backgrounds. This is another Delahaye.
Arriving! This cute number is a Delahaye roadster.
This is a Delahaye with coachwork by Chabron.
Same car as above with a different profile.
Participants dressed to match the era of their cars. This is a German made Horch. It is a part of the Auto Union Company, another featured marque this year. The modern Audi evolved from the Auto Union Company.
A Delahaye roadster.
One of the featured marques, this is a Bizzarrini. Many of these low production Italian models were made strictly for racing in their day. They were acquired by collectors and restored for street driving.
A Deusenberg getting into position.
Another Bizzarrini.
A cute car!
This is a Delahaye roadster
The crowd!! Waiting!
Perfectly lined up per specs and instructions, very disciplined!
Extremely rare Type 57 Bugatti.
This is a two seat Indy 500 car, another feature this year. The extra seat was for the mechanic before the days of pit stops.
A detail of the Horch.
The presence of a green ribbon such as this indicates that the car completed the Tour d' Elegance. This is a 40s vintage BMW sports roadster.
Exhaust pipes from a Deusenberg.
A very rare 512 model Mercedes sports roadster. This is a very large car.
Not sure what this is.
A super charged Deusenberg. These were the biggest, fastest and most expensive automobiles of their day.
A 2017 Ford GT super car.
The car is a 1937 Cord. The pretty lady . . . not from 1937!
Line up of Delahaye Chabron bodies.
This is a Delage, a French manufacturer.
An artistic rendering of reflections and lines.
Another Delage.
A Deusenberg roadster (probably 1932).
Each year there are motorcycles. This year the BMW had exclusive rights as they celebrated 100 years of producing cars and motorcycles.
This is a 2017 Ford GT. The GT was originally a race car (1966) and just recently has been produced as a 'super car' for the street.
A Bizzarrini.
Usually concept cars are introduced at the Detroit Auto Show in January. This year there was a change in that timing whereby the most important concept designs were introduced at this show.
This is a concept Maybach representing the luxury line manufactured by Mercedes.
A concept Cadillac.
This is a concept design shown by Acura.
An Infiniti concept design.
Concept car designs indicate a future trend in car design. These particular cars are not intended to be mass produced. This is another photograph of a Cadillac.
Sign says it all.
In case you are uncertain . . . a Lexus.
A Delage radiator ornament.
Seen on an Auburn.
Seen on a Cadillac. Many of the radiator ornaments are after-market accessories rather than the 'official' company logo.
Seen on a Stutz.
Seen on a Marmon.
Gorgeous!