PEBBLE BEACH — There’s something about rolling out of bed at 3 a.m. that makes you question your life choices — especially when those choices involve driving 150 miles before the sun has even thought about making an appearance. But when the destination is the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, one of the most prestigious automotive events in the world, you put the coffee on, hit the road, and don’t look back.

Quiet Streets of Carmel-by-the-Sea

The drive from Fresno to Pebble Beach is usually a test of patience and endurance, but at this ungodly hour, it was smooth sailing. No traffic, no cops, no distractions — just me, the open road, and the faint glow of my dashboard lights. It’s my first time back since 2019, and it feels like decades have passed.

As I wound my way through the darkened streets of Carmel-by-the-Sea, the town was a ghost town, barely stirring, with only a few diehard car enthusiasts and show cars to keep me company. Ocean Avenue, normally bustling with tourists and locals alike, was eerily quiet, with a few automotive masterpieces still perched on their red carpets like royalty waiting for their subjects to arrive.

By the time I rolled up to the Carmel Gate onto 17-Mile Drive, I couldn’t help but feel a little smug. I had beaten the crowds, sidestepped the two-hour traffic jam that would soon turn 17-Mile Drive into a parking lot, and snagged a prime parking spot without even breaking a sweat. This was the automotive equivalent of winning the lottery without buying a ticket.

The Magic of Dawn Patrol

Walking onto the Concours field at dawn was like stepping into an alternate reality where time slows down, and history comes alive in chrome and steel. The fog was still heavy over the 18th hole, giving the place a surreal, dreamlike quality that made you feel like you were walking through a living, breathing automotive museum. The Dawn Patrol had just wrapped up, and I had the rare opportunity to see the cars in all their glory before the hordes of spectators descended like locusts in pressed khakis and pastel polos.

A Personal Connection to Pebble Beach

Pebble Beach holds a special place in my heart. It’s not just because it’s the pinnacle of automotive events, but also because of my connection to its history. I had the privilege of producing and directing the documentary Racing Through the Forest, which delved deep into the history of the Pebble Beach Road Races.

So, when I saw the 1951 Ferrari 212 Export Barchetta sitting on the grass, it felt like running into an old friend. This was the very car that ran in the 1952 Pebble Beach Road Race, owned by the legendary Phil Hill and driven by Arnold Stubbs to a second-place finish. That Ferrari didn’t just race; it made history, gracing the cover of the September 1952 issue of Road & Track. Seeing it there, decades later, was like a time machine had dropped me back into the golden age of motorsport.

The Bugatti Type 59: Best of Show

Now, let’s talk about the main event: the Best of Show winner. This year, the honor went to a 1934 Bugatti Type 59, a car that could give any modern hypercar a run for its money — not in speed, but in sheer presence. This isn’t just any Bugatti; it’s a factory race car that’s seen more action than a James Bond marathon. The car is a piece of history, with every scratch, dent, and faded decal telling a story. And here’s the kicker: this Bugatti wasn’t restored to within an inch of its life. Nope, it’s a preservation car, meaning it’s still wearing the scars of its glory days as badges of honor. Winning Best of Show was a first for a preservation car, and it felt like a victory for the underdog — a reminder that sometimes, it’s the imperfections that make something truly perfect.

The Bugatti’s win was especially sweet because it beat out some serious competition. Take, for instance, the 1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Saoutchik Fastback Coupé. This car is the automotive equivalent of a fine wine — smooth, elegant, and aged to perfection. Then there was the 1934 Packard 1108 Twelve LeBaron Sport Phaeton, a car that oozes class and sophistication with every inch of its meticulously crafted body. And let’s not forget the 1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero Bertone Coupe, a car so futuristic it makes the Batmobile look like a horse-drawn carriage. This year’s race for Best of Show was a heavyweight title fight, with each contender bringing their own unique blend of history, style, and performance to the ring.

Lancia Stratos Wins Gran Turismo Trophy

Speaking of the Lancia Stratos, it didn’t just dazzle onlookers; it also caught the eye of Kazunori Yamauchi, the creator of the Gran Turismo series. Yamauchi selected this one-off Lancia concept car to win the Gran Turismo Trophy at the 2024 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, giving it the future right to appear in the legendary racing game series.

The partnership between Pebble Beach and Gran Turismo has been going strong since 2008, and each year, Yamauchi handpicks a vehicle for the trophy under his own unique criteria. The chosen cars are scanned and captured in meticulous detail, allowing them to be recreated as digital twins in the game. So far, nine of the previous 15 award winners have made their way into Gran Turismo, and the Stratos is set to join this exclusive club, where it will undoubtedly become a high-value vehicle in the “Legends Cars” dealership in GT7.

But the Concours d’Elegance isn’t just about the Best of Show winner or even the gaming world’s newest star. It’s about the experience — the sights, the sounds, the smells (because yes, the smell of vintage leather and engine oil is intoxicating in its own right). This year’s event was especially noteworthy because of the expanded range of cars on display. The organizers celebrated  everything from the 125th anniversary of Packard to the sleek, wedge-shaped concept cars of the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s.

The Legacy of Packard

Let’s start with Packard, a marque that was synonymous with American luxury for nearly six decades from 1899 to 1958. This year, the Concours paid tribute to the brand’s rich history with a special class for early Packards, ranging from the pioneering single-cylinder horseless carriages to the massive Dominant Six of 1915. These were the cars that put America on the map in the early days of the automobile, and seeing them lined up on the green was like taking a step back in time.

But the real showstoppers were the Packard 734 Speedsters, essentially factory hot rods built on a custom, shortened chassis with a variety of performance options. These cars were the epitome of American ingenuity and ambition, and they looked just as fast standing still as they did roaring down the road.

Maserati’s Rich History

And then there was Maserati, the Italian marque that’s been turning heads since 1926. This year, Maserati showcased their new GT2 Stradale on the Concept Lawn, a car that’s essentially the MC20’s angrier, faster sibling. The GT2 Stradale is a street-legal supercar with a racing pedigree, designed to tear up both the track and the road with equal ferocity.

Maserati’s display also brought out a stunning collection of vintage models, each one a testament to the brand’s rich history and enduring appeal. From the early racing models to the sleek GT cars that defined the brand in the post-war era, Maserati’s presence at the Concours was a reminder of why the Trident logo still commands respect on the world stage.

Celebrating Pietro Frua’s Designs

Speaking of Italian craftsmanship, the Concours also celebrated the work of Pietro Frua, one of the most influential coachbuilders of the 20th century. Frua’s designs were a perfect blend of form and function, with smooth, low-slung bodies that looked like they were moving even when they were standing still. His work for Maserati was particularly celebrated, with a lineup of Frua-bodied cars that were as stunning as they were rare. From the rounded lines of the early 1950s to the sharp, angular shapes of the 1960s, Frua’s designs were a masterclass in automotive artistry.

The Wedge-Shaped Concepts

But if you really want to talk about eye-catching designs, you can’t ignore the wedge-shaped concept cars that were on display. These cars were the epitome of automotive futurism, with sharp angles and dramatic lines that looked like they had been plucked straight from a sci-fi movie.

The collection included everything from the Ghia Gilda Streamline X to the Ferrari Modulo 512, each one more jaw-dropping than the last. These cars weren’t just ahead of their time; they were in a league of their own, influencing everything from production models like the Lamborghini Countach to modern designs like the Tesla Cybertruck. Seeing them lined up on the green was like taking a trip to the future, and it was impossible not to be impressed by the boldness and creativity of the designers who dared to dream so big.

And then there were the 1990s BPR & FIA GT race cars, a class that brought back memories of a time when supercars ruled the track and made every race feel like a high-stakes showdown. This was the era of the McLaren F1, the Ferrari F40, and the Porsche 911 GT1, cars that blurred the line between road and racecourse with their raw power and precision engineering.

Seeing these legends of the track up close was a reminder of why the 1990s were such an exciting time for motorsport fans, and it was clear that their legacy is still very much alive today.

The Quiet Magic of Early Morning

As the day wore on and the fog lifted, the crowds began to pour in, and the Concours d’Elegance became the bustling, vibrant event that it’s known for. But for me, the magic of the day had already happened in those quiet early hours, when the cars were just waking up and the world was still in that dreamy, foggy haze. There’s something special about being there before the crowds, when it’s just you and the cars, and you can take your time to appreciate every detail, every curve, every bit of history that’s been preserved and polished to perfection.

As I made my way back to my car, I couldn’t help but think about next year’s event. With Chrysler’s centennial and the 75th anniversary of Formula 1 on the horizon, 2025 is shaping up to be another banner year for the Concours. But for now, I’ll hold onto the memories of this year’s event, a day when the fog lifted, the cars shone, and history was made at Pebble Beach.

About the Author

GV Wire Producer Dean Kirkland is the founder and director of Gas and Gears, an independent film production company that has produced numerous television series and feature films, including the award-winning documentary “Racing Through The Forest” (2014).