Werner Pfister's Pebble Beach


Text and Photos by Werner Pfister

Scroll down for photo gallery.

Ferrari celebrated its 50th Anniversary in the US with a large turnout of Ferraris at the 54th Annual Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. In fact altogether, 45 Ferraris were displayed at The Lodge on the 18th fairway, encompassing five different judging classes. Perhaps the most interesting was "Ferrari Major Race Winners" and it was filled with 10 historically significant cars.

JON SHIRLEY IS DISCUSSING THE FINER POINTS OF HIS 1953 FERRARI 340/375 PININFARINA BERLINETTA WITH WELL KNOWN RESTORER AND CLASS JUDGE, PAUL RUSSELL. IT LOOKS LIKE RUSSELL AND HIS TEAM WERE IMPRESSED BY THE EX-CARRERA PANAMERICA RACER AS SHIRLEY WON 1ST PLACE IN THE FERRARI COMPETITION CATEGORY. THIS CAR (#0322 AM) IS ONE OF THREE CARS FITTED WITH THE 4.5 LITER GRAND PRIX TYPE MOTOR PUTTING OUT ALMOST 390 HORSEPOWER.

THIS YELLOW 1965 275 GTB PINIFARINA COMPETITION SPECIALE (SERIAL #6885) ENTERED BY ECURIE FRANCORCHAMPS IN THE 1965 24 HOURS OF LE MANS. DRIVERS, MAIRESSE AND BEURLYS TOOK 1ST GT CLASS AND 3RD OVERALL. INTERESTINGLY FERRARI HAD BEEN REFUSED GT CLASS HOMOLOGATION FOR THE 250 LM ( WHICH INCIDENTALLY WON IN THE PROTOTYPE CLASS) AND THEN DEVELOPED THE 275 GTB/COMPETIZIONE FOR THE GT CATEGORY. THIS SIGNIFICANT AUTO IS OWNED BY PRESTON HENN.

THOMAS STEGMAN ENTERED HIS 1965 250 LM PININFARINA COUPE SPECIALE ( #6025). THIS WAS THE GENEVA AND NEW YORK AUTO SHOW CAR FOR THE COMPETITION 250/275 LM SERIES.

LUIGI CHINETTI, JR. SHOWED HIS 1966 365 P PININFARINA 3 POSTI SPECIALE (#8971). THIS IS ONE OF TWO 3 SEATERS PRODUCED BY FERRARI ALMOST 25 YEARS BEFORE McLAREN'S 3 SEAT F-1 ROAD CAR.

ZAGATO DESIGNED THE BODY FOR THIS VERY EXCITING BUT UNDERSTATED 1957 250 GT COUPE SPECIALE . OWNED BY LEE HERRINGTON, IT PLACED 3RD IN ITS CATEGORY.

THIS 1955 250 EUROPA GT PININFARINA BERLINETTA SPECIALE (#0403) WAS ENTERED BY CORNELIUS TAMBOER. THIS UNUSUAL REAR SAIL PANEL TREATMENT MIMICS PININFARINA'S 375 DESIGN FOR THE ROSSELLINI/BERGMAN CAR.

CAR # 447 IS A 166 MM/53 VIGNALE SPYDER (# 0290) OWNED BY JIM FUCHS. IT IS RESTORED TO THE LIVERY IT RAN IN THE 1953 MILLE MIGLIA WHEN IT CAME IN 24TH.

THIS IS THE FERRARI WHICH REALLY PUT THE FLEDGLING FIRM INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS WHEN IT WON BOTH THE 1949 MILLE MIGLIA AND THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS THE SAME YEAR. FIRST, BIONDETTI DROVE THIS 166 TOURING BARCHETTA (# 0008M) TO VICTORY IN THE MILLE MIGLIA, WHILE LUIGI CHINETTI, SR. DROVE FOR MOST OF THE RACE AT LE MANS

ALTHOUGH A CHRYSLER DESOTO UNDER THE SKIN, ITALIAN STYLING AFICIONADOS COULD NOT HELP BUT TO ADMIRE GHIA'S ADVENTURER II CONCEPT CAR FROM 1954. CHUCK SWIMMER RECEIVED A 3RD PLACE AWARD FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL CAR.