Under the eye of brand CEO Luca De Meo, Alfa Romeo enjoyed a highly successful Concours d’Elegance at Pebble Beach, claiming seven prizes in addition to taking out the prestigious ‘Best in Show’ award.

Under the eye of brand CEO Luca De Meo, Alfa Romeo enjoyed a highly successful Concours d’Elegance at Pebble Beach, claiming seven prizes in addition to taking out the prestigious ‘Best in Show’ award. In fact, in a remarkable achievement, of the eight Alfas assembled on the 18th fairway of the famous Pebble Beach Golf Links, six were recognised as award-winners.

The most significant of these prizes – the ‘Best of Show’ award – went to Jon and Mary Shirley, of Medina, Washington, for their stunning 1938 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta. The significance of this can be appreciated when it is realised that it was only the second time that an Alfa has won this award in the 58-year history of the Concours, with the previous occasion being twenty years ago, for another 8C, this John Mozart’s 1937 2900B Touring Spider. But in addition to this, the car also claimed a plethora of other trophies – the ‘J.B. and Dorothy Nethercutt Most Elegant Closed Car Trophy’, the inaugural ‘Elegance in Motion Trophy’, and the hotly-contested ‘European Classic Closed’ class.

“It takes an amazing level of elegance for a closed car like this Alfa to win here,” said Concours Chairman Sandra Kasky Button.  “It requires the ultimate in style, grace and proportion. This car has all of that. It has exquisite lines, balance and all of the excitement that only an 8C Alfa can provide.”

Three Alfas were entered in the ‘European Classic Open 1922-1934’ class – a 1932 8C 2300 Le Mans, owned by Gill Noble of Gosforth, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK; Hugo Modderman’s 1933 6C 1750 Grand Sport Touring Spider, from Monte Carlo; and Bud and Thelma Lyon’s 1933 8C 2300 Castagna Cabriolet, which had travelled from Kensington, New Hampshire, which won the class overall ahead of a 1924 Delage GL Labourdette Skiff and a 1934 Bugatti Type 50 Cabriolet.  Noble’s car, meanwhile, was awarded the ‘Phil Hill Cup’, whilst the ‘Mille Miglia Trophy’ went to Modderman’s 6C.

Two rare Zagato-bodied Alfas were entered in the ‘Postwar Sports’ class – Peter P.M. Hageman’s 1962 SZ2 Zagato Coupe, and a 1964 TZ Zagato owned by Ron Hein of Los Angeles. This latter car placed second in class, ahead of Scott McPherson’s stunning 1967 Ghia 450SS Cabriolet, and just behind a 1953 Siata 208S Spider Motto Roadster, entered by Elliott Dolin of Malibu, California.

Complementing the win of the Shirleys’ 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta in the Most Elegant Closed Car Trophy’, the ‘Gwenn Graham Most Elegant Convertible Trophy’ went to yet another Alfa, Larry Klein’s 1949 6C 2500SS Pinin Farina Cabriolet, from Santa Rosa, California. Entered in the ‘Postwar Touring’ category, it was one of two similar examples at Pebble Beach, with Switzerland’s Ermanno Keller displaying his remarkably original 6C 2500 Super Sport Touring Coupe in the ‘Postwar Preservation through 1967’ class. 

by Shant Fabricatorian