It's a wrap for the 2023 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The event, held Sunday, August 20th this year, is the world's most prestigious car show. It's a gathering of car collectors who compete for Best in Show as car enthusiasts cheer them on.
2023 Best In Show
This year's top prize Best In Show winner: a prewar 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K roadster that was first owned by King Mohammad Zahir Shah of Afghanistan. It's one of just three similar cars surviving in the world today. The special roadster was presented by Jim Patterson of the Patterson Collection in Louisville, Kentucky.
The confetti flies over Jim Patterson's 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster as it is named Best of Show at the 2023 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. (Photo credit: Kimball Studios / Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance)"This 540K balances strength with sweeping lines and style, and its history is unique," said Concours Chairman Sandra Button. "In talking with Jim about this car, I was impressed by the time and thought invested in this restoration. Every piece of this beautiful Mercedes-Benz was researched so carefully to honor its history."
This year's win puts Mercedes-Benz in the lead with more Best of Show wins at Pebble Beach. Prior to this win, Bugatti and Mercedes-Benz were tied.
"In Kentucky, you know, we talk about winning the Derby. Well, there's such a thing as winning the Triple Crown," said Jim Patterson. "And so I've won this Concours twice before today. This is a Triple Crown for me."
Other strong contenders for Best of Show included the Auriga Collection's 1930 Mercedes-Benz 710 SS Special Roadster, the 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Corto Figoni Cabriolet shown care of Gregor Fisken, and the 1939 Delahaye 165 Figoni et Falaschi Cabriolet owned by the Peter Mullin Automotive Museum Foundation.
This year's event brought in more than $2.68 million for charity- bringing total charitable donations to over $37 million to date. Through the Pebble Beach Company Foundation, the primary charitable partner of the Concours, these funds will benefit more than 90 local charities, impacting the lives of more than 10,000 children annually in Monterey County.
The date is already set for the 73rd Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. It will take place on Sunday, August 18, 2024, and will celebrate the marques of Packard and Maserati as well as the creations of Italian coachbuilder Pietro Frua. More details to come in the early fall.
