One of the most important and prestigious events on the world automotive calendar gets under way on Thursday at the 18th hole of the Pebble Beach Links golf course in Monterey, California. And Pursuitist will be there to share the latest news, follow https://twitter.com/pursuitist_auto for updates from Pebble Beach.
The event started off as a Concours d’Elegance back in 1950 to honor beautiful cars and to offer a change of pace from the racing that the town also hosted. However, the event has grown in size, stature and importance and in recent years has become the perfect venue for car makers of all shapes and sizes to celebrate their heritage and showcase their futures.
For instance, McLaren and Land Rover have both chosen this year’s even to launch new models, namely the McLaren P1 GTR and the Range Rover Sport SVR, even though the Paris Motor Show is just around the corner.
Aston Martin also recognizes the importance of the event. Last year the brand celebrated its centenary at Pebble Beach and this year it will be showcasing its fastest ever road car, the V12 Vantage S Roadster.
“Pebble Beach week is more than an event, it is an occasion — a celebration of the automobile,” says Aston Martin’s Matthew Clarke. “It’s a major date for automotive enthusiasts — not just from the US but around the globe.”
But even though the event has become global, it has retained that element of exclusivity and aspiration that other motor shows may have lost.
“Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance is the world’s premier celebration of the automobile,” says Rolls-Royce’s Andrew Ball.
The company will be out in force at the event with a host of beautifully restored pre-war classics as well as its latest contemproy collection — the Phantom Drophead Coupé Waterspeed collection.
As well as classic Rollers, there will be a host of beautiful Maseratis on show as the brand celebrates its automotive centenary at the event. Only 200 of the world’s finest cars are admitted into any year’s Concours D’Elegance and Maserati won’t be the only Italian supercar company represented in 2014 as there will be a special class honoring the Ferrari 250 Testa Rosa.
Regardless of a particular brand’s age, one guaranteed highlight of every year’s event is the classic car auction that tends to set or break records when it comes to the fees paid for collectors’ cars. Among the lots that could achieve astronomical prices are a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider and an original McLaren F1, both expected to fetch in excess of $15 million each.
And in among the collector’s classics will be a one-off version of BMW’s new hybrid supercar, the i8, that comes with bespoke fittings and which is being sold to raise money for charity.
The auction will be held on Saturday, August 16 and Sunday, August 17 due to the sheer number of lots on offer.
