Vintage News
59th Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Names 1937 Horch 'Best of Show'
By words: Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, photos: Fourtitude Staff & Ron Kimball Studios
Sep 1, 2009, 21:21

PEBBLE BEACH, CA – A 1937 Horch 853 Voll & Ruhrbeck Sport Cabriolet, owned by Robert M. Lee of Sparks, Nev., was named “Best of Show” at the 59th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance held Sunday along the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links®. Proceeds from raffles, auctions, sponsorships and gate receipts helped contribute more than $1 million to charity for the fourth consecutive year.

“The Horch has wonderful lines, a great proven chassis and all the beauty that make it the whole package,” said Lee, who also won best of show at Pebble Beach in 2006. “Pebble Beach is the greatest car show in the world and winning here is indescribable. It’s been a wonderful day for us here and I have the best team to thank for making it happen.”


Competitors from 30 states and 19 countries brought their prized automotive possessions to the California’s Monterey Peninsula for judging in 28 classes.

“This Horch is an incredibly beautiful open car with stunning styling,” said Concours Chairman Sandra Button. “It’s very Teutonic, but also almost French. It’s fantastic. Bob certainly knows how to prepare cars for competition.


“The Pebble Beach Concours is an annual glimpse of history’s most illustrious and significant automobiles. It’s absolutely thrilling to see more than 100 years of automobiles lining the 18th fairway – coming to Pebble Beach from places as far as Hong Kong, Argentina and Australia – while knowing that all proceeds are adding to the more than $13 million we’ve raised for our charities through the years.”

In 1935, the Horch Company, founded by August Horch in 1899, introduced a new model with a 5-liter, straight-eight engine called the Horch 850. The shorter wheelbase 853 model, which won Best of Show today, was very popular among Germany’s rich and famous, offering luxury at a very competitive price. The last Horch was built in 1958.


Bentley, a featured marque at the 2009 Concours, had the largest presence on the Pebble Beach show field. The Concours also celebrated the centennials of Bugatti, Audi and Morgan, and highlighted the styling of Zagato. Motorcycles were displayed for the first time in a class of British bikes built through 1959. In all, more than 200 cars and motorcycles were present, encompassing more than 100 years of the automobile.

Former Tonight Show host Jay Leno brought his 1928 Bugatti Type 37A 2 Seat Sports to Pebble Beach and was a guest auctioneer. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger also participated on stage, auctioning his signed bomber jacket, which raised $30,000 for charity. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld was a Concours participant, collecting second place in the Porsche class with his 1970 Porsche 908/03 Spyder.


The Pebble Beach Concours occurs every year on the third Sunday in August. Among the featured marques for the 60th Pebble Beach Concours, slated for Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010, will be Alfa Romeo and Pierce-Arrow. The event will also welcome Hot Rods back to the show field, as well as the second annual motorcycle class showcasing American bikes. Other features will be announced in coming months.

2009 AWARDS & TROPHIES:

BEST OF SHOW 1937 Horch 853 Voll & Ruhrbeck Sport Cabriolet Robert M. Lee , Sparks, Nevada BEST OF SHOW NOMINEE 1953 Siata 208CS Stabilimenti Farina Spyder David B. Smith , Medina, Washington MOST ELEGANT AWARDS Strother MacMinn Most Elegant Sports Car 1938 Bentley 4 1/4 Litre "Embericos" Pourtout Coupé Arturo & Deborah Keller, Petaluma, California J.B. and Dorothy Nethercutt Most Elegant Closed Car Trophy 1938 Talbot-Lago T150C-SS Figoni et Falaschi Coupé William Johnston, Richland, Michigan Gwenn Graham Most Elegant Convertible Car 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Gurney Nutting Sedanca Drophead Coupe Jay & Christina Moore , Lahaina, Hawaii Most Elegant Open Car 1929 Bentley Speed Six Vanden Plas Dual Cowl Tourer Arturo & Deborah Keller , Petaluma, California CLASS AWARDS Class A: Antique & Vintage 1st 1912 De Dion Bouton DM A.S. Flandrau Roadster The Nethercutt Collection - Helen & Jack Nethercutt, Sylmar, California 2nd 1921 Paige Model 6-66 Daytona Speedster Tom & JoAnn Martindale , Santa Cruz, California 3rd 1911 Pierce-Arrow Model 36 Miniature Tonneau Kristina, Aubrey, Garrett, & Bryant Gavello, Atherton, California Class C-1: American Classic Open 1930 - 1932 1st 1928 Hudson Super 6 Murphy Convertible Sedan Eldon & Esta Hostetler , Middlebury, Indiana 2nd 1930 Cadillac 452 V-16 Fleetwood Roadster Aaron & Valerie Weiss, San Marino, California 3rd 1930 Ruxton Model C Rauch & Lang Phaeton Jim & Evelyn Fasnacht, Houston, Texas Class C-2: American Classic Open 1933-1941 1st 1938 Lincoln K V-12 LeBaron Convertible Sedan Ralph & Adeline Marano , Westfield, New Jersey 2nd 1934 Cadillac 452D V-16 Fleetwood Convertible Sedan Monty Holmes , Seattle, Washington 3rd 1941 Chrysler LeBaron Thunderbolt Gerard J. DePersio, MD, Tustin, California Class C-3: American Classic Open Packard 1st 1932 Packard Twin Six 905 Coupe Roadster Tom Moretti, Inverness, Illinois 2nd 1934 Packard V-12 1107 Coupe Roadster Charles L. Mong , Indianapolis, Indiana 3rd 1932 Packard 903 Eight De Luxe Sport Phaeton Frank & Loni Buck, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Class C-4: American Classic Closed 1st 1934 Packard V-12 1106 LeBaron Sport Coupe Harry Yeaggy , Cincinnati, Ohio 2nd 1933 Packard 1006 LeBaron All Weather Landaulet Dr. Lonnie Fallin, Littleton, Colorado 3rd 1926 Lincoln L 149A Dietrich Fully Collapsible Cabriolet Thomas & Robert Russell, La Crescenta, California Class C-5: Packard Vee-Windshield Dietrich 1st 1934 Packard Twelve 1108 Dietrich Sport Sedan Robert & Sandra Bahre, Oxford, Maine 2nd 1933 Packard Twelve 1006 Dietrich Convertible Victoria Joan & Scott Kriens, Sarasota, California 3rd 1932 Packard Twin Six 906 Dietrich Sport Phaeton Robert & Sandra Bahre , Oxford, Maine Class E-1: Bugatti - 100 Years of Style and Speed 1st 1931 Bugatti Type 51 Dubos Coupé The Nethercutt Collection - Helen & Jack Nethercutt, Sylmar, California 2nd 1929 Bugatti Type 43A 2 Seat Sports Ton & Maya Meijer , St. Etienne du Gres, France 3rd 1925 Bugatti Type 13 Brescia 2 Seat Sports Ed Godshalk , Newberg, Oregon Class E-2: Bugatti Type 57 Special Coachwork 1st 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante Coupé Ray Scherr , Westlake Village, California 2nd 1939 Bugatti Type 57C Aravis Oscar Davis , Elizabeth, New Jersey 3rd 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Paul Née Pillarless Coupé Martin Gruss , Palm Beach, Florida Class F-1: Vintage Bentley - 6 1/2 Litre Cars 1st 1930 Bentley Speed Six Gurney Nutting Weymann Sportman's Coupé Joseph & Margie Cassini, III, West Orange, New Jersey 2nd 1930 Bentley Speed Six H.J. Mulliner Drophead Coupé The Hon. Sir Michael Kadoorie, Hong Kong 3rd 1929 Bentley Speed Six Vanden Plas Dual Cowl Tourer Arturo & Deborah Keller , Petaluma, California Class F-2: Vintage Bentley - 8 Litre Cars 1st 1931 Bentley 8 Litre Vanden Plas Tourer Peter G. Livanos , Cobham, United Kingdom 2nd 1931 Bentley 8 Litre Vanden Plas Tourer Henry & Gale Petronis , Easton, Maryland 3rd 1931 Bentley 8 Litre H.J. Mulliner Weymann Paneled Saloon Stephen Brauer, St. Louis, Missouri Class F-3: Bentley Team & Race Cars 1st 1933 Bentley 4 1/4 Litre Offord Sports The Collier Collection, Naples, Florida 2nd 1928 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre Vanden Plas LeMans Sports Ian S. Andrews, Olney, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom 3rd 1930 Bentley Speed Six "Old Number 3" Vanden Plas Tourer Peter Neumark , Denbighshire, Wales Class F-4: Derby Bentleys 1st 1934 Bentley 3 1/2 Litre Vanden Plas Tourer Alan W. McEwan , Redmond, Washington 2nd 1934 Bentley 3 1/2 Litre Thrupp & Maberly Drop Head Coupé Neal Kirkham , Saratoga, California 3rd 1936 Bentley 4 1/4 Litre Vanden Plas Tourer George Howitt , Knokke-Heist, Belguim Class G: Duesenberg 1st 1930 Duesenberg J Hibbard and Darrin Convertible Victoria The Off Brothers Collection, Richland, Michigan 2nd 1929 Duesenberg J Murphy Dual Cowl Phaeton Paul E. Andrews, Jr. , Fort Worth, Texas 3rd 1932 Duesenberg J Bohman & Schwartz Convertible Coupe Stephen Finn, Los Altos Hills, California Class H: Rolls-Royce Prewar 1st 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Gurney Nutting Sedanca Drophead Coupe Jay & Christina Moore , Lahaina, Hawaii 2nd 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Gurney Nutting Fixed Head Coupe Frank & Milli Ricciardelli , Monmouth Beach, New Jersey 3rd 1920 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost 40/50 Hooper Tourer Ronald & Billie Jo Johnson , Rolling Hills Estates, California Class I: Mercedes-Benz Prewar 1st 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Sindelfingen Cabriolet A Off Brothers Collection Ron Elenbaas & Bill Johnston, Key Largo, Florida 2nd 1933 Mercedes-Benz 380K Erdmann & Rossi Special Roadster Ken & Patty McBride , Seattle, Washington 3rd 1929 Mercedes-Benz SSK Carlton Two-Seat Sports Evert V.N. Louwman , Raamsdonksveer, The Netherlands Class J-1: European Classic Open 1st 1937 Jaguar SS100 Open Sports Robin & Alison Green , Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom 2nd 1930 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A SS Castagna Cabriolet Howard & Madlyn Fafard , Jupiter, Florida 3rd 1939 AC 16-80 March 2 Seat Sports Robert W. Cushman , Bedford, New Hampshire Class J-2: European Classic Closed 1st 1938 Talbot-Lago T150C-SS Figoni et Falaschi Coupé William Johnston, Richland, Michigan 2nd 1937 Hispano Suiza K6 Henri Chapron Coach Mouette Jules Heumann, San Francisco, California 3rd 1928 Daimler Double Six 50 Limousine Robert & Barbara Lorkowski , Bruce, Wisconsin Class L-1: Prewar Preservation 1st 1936 Bugatti Type 57C Ventoux Mark J. Smith, Melvin Village, New Hampshire 2nd 1911 Oldsmobile Limited Touring John W. Rich Sr., Pottsville, Pennsylvania 3rd 1931 Packard 833 Sport Phaeton Jack & Kathy Boxstrom , Ontario, Canada Class L-2: Postwar Preservation through 1967 1st 1963 AC Ace Bristol Sport Mark & Connie Gessler , Potomac, Maryland 2nd 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster Arthur DeMoulas , Boston, Massachusetts 3rd 1956 Porsche 356 1500GS Carrera Coupe Roger & Kathleen Craig , Palo Alto, California Class M-2: Ferrari GT / Competition 1st 1953 Ferrari 375 America Vignale Coupe Heinrich & Magdalena Kämpfer , Seengen, Switzerland 2nd 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Pinin Farina Coupe Special Caballeriza Inc., , Mexico 3rd 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Pininfarina Coupe Bill Grimsley, Sausalito, California Class N: A Century of Morgan Motor Cars 1st 1937 Morgan Sports 2 Seater Barrelback Brian & Randy Pollock, Mercer Island, Washington 2nd 1965 Morgan +4 Super Sports Roadster Machiel Kalf , Oudendijk, The Neterland 3rd 1952 Morgan +4 4-Passenger Drophead Coupé Dennis R.J. Glavis & Pamela Ann Glavis, Valencia, California Class O-1: Postwar Sports 1st 1953 Siata 208CS Stabilimenti Farina Spyder David B. Smith , Medina, Washington 2nd 1950 Jaguar XK 120 Roadster Peter S. Kalikow , New York, New York 3rd 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Touring Drop Head Coupé Jim Utaski , Skillman, New Jersey Class O-2: Postwar Touring 1st 1954 Bentley R-Type Continental H.J. Mulliner Sports Saloon Peter G. Livanos , Cobham, United Kingdom 2nd 1951 Bentley MKVI Facel-Metalon Coupé David Cohen , West Vancouver, B.C. 3rd 1951 Delahaye 235 Saoutchik Cabriolet Peter & Merle Mullin, Los Angeles, California Class P: Zagato - 90 Years of Design 1st 1957 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Zagato Berlinetta Lee & Joan Herrington , Bow, New Hampshire 2nd 1949 Fiat Topolino 750MM Zagato Coupe Scott & Courtney Gauthier , Scottsdale, Arizona 3rd 1956 Maserati A6G/54 Zagato Coupe J. Roberto Quiroz , Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico Class Q: Audi - 100 Years of Excellence 1st 1937 Horch 853 Voll & Ruhrbeck Sport Cabriolet Robert M. Lee , Sparks, Nevada 2nd 1939 Horch 853A Glaser Cabriolet John W. Rich Sr., Pottsville, Pennsylvania 3rd 1939 Auto Union D-Type Grand Prix Single Seater Malcolm Barber , Warlingham Surrey, United Kingdom Class R: Porsche 1st 1972 Porsche 917/10 Can-Am Bruce Canepa , Scotts Valley, California 2nd 1970 Porsche 908/03 Spyder Jerry Seinfeld , Long Beach, California 3rd 1984 Porsche 962C Group C Bruce Canepa , Scotts Valley, California Class V: Open Wheel Race Cars 1st 1907 Fiat 60 HP Targa Florio 2 Seater Manny Dragone , Bridgeport, Connecticut 2nd 1957 Kurtis Kraft 500 G-2 Frank Kurtis Roadster Patrick Phinny , Carmel, California 3rd 1914 Mercer 450 Race Car George F. Wingard , Eugene, Oregon Class X: British Motorcycles through 1959 1st 1954 A.J.S. E-95 "Porcupine" Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Leeds, Alabama 2nd 1947 Vincent - HRD Series B Rapide "Gunga Din" Paul Pflugfelder , Concord, Massachusetts 3rd 1932 BSA W32-6 with Side Car Theresa Worsch , Rancho Santa Fe, California SPECIAL AWARDS Alec Ullman Trophy 1937 Hispano Suiza K6 Henri Chapron Coach Mouette Jules Heumann, San Francisco, California Ansel Adams Trophy 1921 Paige Model 6-66 Daytona Speedster Tom & JoAnn Martindale , Santa Cruz, California Art Center College of Design Award 1938 Talbot-Lago T150C-SS Figoni et Falaschi Coupé William Johnston, Richland, Michigan Briggs Cunningham Trophy 1930 Bentley Speed Six "Old Number 3" Vanden Plas Tourer Peter Neumark , Denbighshire, Wales Chairman's Trophy 1933 Lincoln KB Brunn Convertible Victoria Larry & Juana Carter, Los Gatos, California Charles A. Chayne Trophy 1912 De Dion Bouton DM A.S. Flandrau Roadster The Nethercutt Collection - Helen & Jack Nethercutt, Sylmar, California Classic Car Club of America Trophy 1930 Pierce-Arrow B Waterhouse Convertible Victoria Larry & Miriam Waterhouse, Hilton Head, South Carolina Elegance in Motion Trophy 1937 Delage D8S Letourneur et Marchand Aerodynamic Coupé The Patterson Collection, Louisville, Kentucky Enzo Ferrari Trophy 1953 Ferrari 375 America Vignale Coupe Heinrich & Magdalena Kämpfer , Seengen, Switzerland FIVA Pre-War Award 1931 Packard 833 Sport Phaeton Jack & Kathy Boxstrom , Ontario, Canada FIVA Post-War Award 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster Arthur DeMoulas , Boston, Massachusetts French Cup 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante Coupé Ray Scherr , Westlake Village, California Gran Turnismo 1965 Alfa Romeo TZ2 Zagato Competition Berlinetta The William Lyon Family, Newport Beach, California Lincoln Trophy 1938 Lincoln K V-12 LeBaron Convertible Sedan Ralph & Adeline Marano , Westfield, New Jersey Lorin Tryon Trophy Arturo Keller, Petaluma, California Lucius Beebe Trophy 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Gurney Nutting Fixed Head Coupe Frank & Milli Ricciardelli , Monmouth Beach, New Jersey Mercedes-Benz Trophy 1929 Mercedes-Benz SSK Carlton Two-Seat Sports Evert V.N. Louwman , Raamsdonksveer, The Netherlands Mille Miglia Trophy 1949 Fiat Topolino 750MM Zagato Coupe Scott & Courtney Gauthier , Scottsdale, Arizona Montagu of Beaulieu Trophy 1937 Bentley 4 1/4 Litre Gurney Nutting Sedanca Coupé Simon & Pearl Taylor , London, United Kingdom People's Choice Award 1955 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Pinin Farina Coupe John La Barbera & Lynn Gabriel, Pasadena, California Phil Hill Cup 1933 Bentley 4 1/4 Litre Offord Sports The Collier Collection, Naples, Florida Road & Track Trophy 1949 Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta William E. (Chip) Connor, Hong Kong Tony Hulman Trophy 1957 Kurtis Kraft 500 G-2 Frank Kurtis Roadster Patrick Phinny , Carmel, California

PEBBLE BEACH FACTS & STATS:

• The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance was founded in 1950. • The Lodge at Pebble Beach™ (formerly the Del Monte Lodge) has been the host of the Concours since the event’s inception. • Nearly 30 cars were on display 59 years ago. • Bentley, a featured marque at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, will have the largest presence on the show field. The Concours is also celebrating Bugatti, Morgan and Audi centennials, as well as highlighting the styling of Zagato. • Charles Morgan, Managing Director of Morgan Motor Company and grandson of company founder H.F.S. Morgan, will lead a special contingent of Morgans that will be driving in the Thursday, Aug. 13 Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance, which includes a reception at the 239-year-old Carmel Mission. • Special classes will include Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta, Ferrari TR59 and Packard Vee-Windshield Dietrich. • Motorcycles will appear on the Concours show field for the first time. The first motorcycle class will showcase British bikes built through 1959. • More than 200 cars and motorcycles will line the 18th hole of Pebble Beach Golf Links® for the Aug. 16 Concours. There are 32 classes including four display classes. The overall winner – Best of Show – is selected from among the judged class winners. • Participants will bring cars to Pebble Beach from 30 states and 19 countries (including the U.S.). Cars will be traveling from as far away as Hong Kong and Australia; they began shipping well before the summer. • Tonight Show host Jay Leno, who was a 2004 Pebble Beach Concours class winner with his 1916 Crane-Simplex Model 5 Holbrook Skiff, will display his 1928 Bugatti Type 37A 2 Seat Sports. He will also participate on-stage during Sunday’s Concours award ceremonies. • Emmy and Tony Award winner Edward Herrmann will serve as the Concours’ Master of Ceremonies for the 11th consecutive year. • The Concours will display 100 years of the automobile, from the oldest car on the field, a 1910 Daimler 57HP Hooper Limousine, to several 2011 concept vehicles. • Manufacturers use the Concours as a new-car showcase for the more than 800 national and international media who cover Pebble Beach Auto Week. • Over 20 concept and new cars will be featured during the weekend, including vehicles from Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Devon Motor Works, Ferrari, Fisker Automotive, Hyundai, Iconic Motors, Infiniti, Jaguar, Lexus, Lincoln, Lotus, Mercedes-Benz, Morgan, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Spyker, Stile Bertone, and Tramontana. • The Concours raised more than $1 million for local charities in 2008, which means the annual event has contributed well over $12 million to philanthropic organizations through the years. • More than 700 volunteers support the Pebble Beach Concours, including several dozen who travel to Pebble Beach from outside the U.S.

About the Pebble beach Concours d'Elegance
First conducted in 1950, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® (www.pebblebeachconcours.net) has grown to become the world’s premier celebration of the automobile. Only the most beautiful and rare cars are invited to appear on the famed 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links®, and connoisseurs of art and style flock to see these masterpieces. Charitable donations raised by Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® now total over $10 million. Related events include the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance™ presented by Rolex, Pebble Beach RetroAuto™, and Pebble Beach® Auction presented by Gooding & Company.

Pebble Beach®, Pebble Beach Golf Links®, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance™, and Pebble Beach RetroAuto™ are trademarks, service marks and trade dress of Pebble Beach Company. All rights reserved.

Pebble Beach Company, headquartered in Pebble Beach, Calif., owns and operates the world-famous Pebble Beach Resorts®, including The Lodge at Pebble Beach™, The Inn at Spanish Bay™ and Casa Palmero®. The company also operates four renowned golf courses: Pebble Beach Golf Links®, Spyglass Hill® Golf Course, The Links at Spanish Bay™ and Del Monte™ Golf Course. Its other famed properties include the scenic 17-Mile Drive® and The Spa at Pebble Beach™. In addition to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, Pebble Beach Resorts® annually hosts the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, The Walmart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach and the Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational. Pebble Beach Golf Links® has hosted four U.S. Opens, four U.S. Amateurs, one PGA Championship, and will host its fifth U.S. Open in 2010. For reservations or more information please call (800) 654-9300 or visit the Website at www.pebblebeach.com.

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