1965 Bugatti original type 101 chassis and motor, Exner body. The last ‘new’ Bugatti 101 chassis was purchased by Exner, who had Ghia body it per his Revival Car designs, then appeared at the Turin Auto Show in 1965.
Story and photos by Brandes Elitch
When you attend a world class car show, you should expect some drama and excitement. But I am pretty sure that nothing will ever match the excitement when the show cars come through the entrance in back of the Lodge and start to drive on the field at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. You stand there, just a few hundred feet from the Bay, waiting anxiously until about 6:30 when it warms up and sunrise is about to begin, and they start their run.
The path is narrow and winding, and there is a small crowd on each side, so you cannot see what is coming until it is just a few feet right in front of you. The cars are not grouped by class when they come in, so each one is a complete surprise and might have been manufactured 100 years after the one just preceding it. Some cars are so famous that you may have seen them before, at least in pictures, but a car can only be shown a second time here after so many years have gone by, and the organizers like to have a car that has been recently restored and is being shown for the first time to debut here. I am not exaggerating when I say that as they trundle by, with all the spectators waving and cheering, it is a shock, because you are seeing the most famous and important cars of the last hundred years just a few feet away, so close you could touch them as they go by. And this takes a while, because there are about 215 cars on the 17th fairway, just in back of the Lodge, which is itself 90 years old.
After that, I walk on the field in a daze.
Walking the field, which is comprised of fully 229 cars, including 55 entries from 22 different countries and 174 US entries, from 31 states….
This year the theme was celebrating four Centennials: Chrysler, Invicta, Moretti, and the Rolls Royce Phantom. Another celebration is for 75 years of Formula One. There are also special displays for famous Land Rovers and the Shelby Cobra.
A Land Rover emerges from the early morning shadows.
While the show is typically considered the greatest Concours in the world, what I have come to realize is that it is really a triumph of organization and planning skill and that is what makes it happen; thousands of hours of collective research and planning. This is especially true of the Selection Committee, which has been faithfully executing its work for the last twenty years. They not only select the classes and cars but also do the research and seek out owners who have significant models. There are about 15 people on this committee. There is an extensive category of judges, who are considered among the most knowledgeable automobile historians in the world. They choose who wins the main awards and trophies. https://www.pebblebeachconcours.net/cars/2025-featured-classes/
The Chief Judge is Chris Bock, and he has filled that role since 2013. To state the obvious, I think you would have to have the patience of Job to have this job. He is also on the Selection Committee. There are 57 honorary judges. There are 31 classes this year.
We should recognize that since the inception in 1950, this show has resulted in $45 million in charitable donations. I believe that over $3 million has been raised both last year and this year. Now you would think that since this is one of the few enclaves in the world where truly wealthy people live, this would not be all that necessary. You might be surprised to learn that more than 50,000 residents require monthly food assistance, and 20% of children under age 17 live below the poverty line. The Pebble Beach Company Foundation now impacts the lives of 100,000 children in Monterey County. This is quite excellent.
Thanks go to the organizers, the sponsors, the Selection Committee, the judges, the entrants, and the volunteers who make this all happen. As always, it was a triumph.
Best of Show
This year the winner of Best of Show was a 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C with a body by Nieuport-Astra. It is well known as the “Tulipwood Car,” using 1/8-inch strips of mahogany, not tulipwood, riveted to 3/4 inch ribs underneath, and the body is estimated to weigh only 160 pounds. This car was auctioned in 2022 for $9,245,000. It has 50 alligator hides for upholstery. That must have been a chore to install.
Best of show
For more on this car and how it was confused with an Alfa, click here:
Moretti Centennial
Moretti is another interesting choice, being, I suspect, practically unknown to most American car enthusiasts, including me. It is often called a “baby Ferrari,” which really means “not an Etceterini.” The 1954 car had a 750 cc, DOHC I-4 motor, with two Weber carburetors. Even with the driver onboard, it only weighed 1200 pounds. It was mounted on a tubular chassis with IRS and a 4-speed transmission. What distinguished Moretti was that it built its own SOHC and DOHC motors, gearboxes, suspension, and differentials in-house. There are 3 Moretti GT coupes on the field here. Moretti survived until 1989.
This 1953 Moretti is now owned by Drs. Dennis and Sue Adair and is the R&T text car. Full story in VeloceToday is below.
1954 Moretti 1200 Gran Sport has a body by Rocco Motto penned by Giovanni Michelotti. Today owned by Alex Vazeos.
Invicta Centennial
As you see from the photos here, Invicta was a masterful choice this year, particularly since it is pretty obscure to American collectors and most likely never seen before here. There is a quote from Ralph Stein, “I don’t believe that here was ever a machine which in looks and gadgetry generated such pangs of acquisitiveness.” Only 77 S-type chassis were made. It is thought that as many as 56 cars have survived today.
1929 Invicta Carlton Sports Tourer. We don’t normally think of Invictas as tourers, and this one spent time on duty in Nigeria. Now owned by Ted Delphia of Michigan.
1931 Invicta. An Ards TT car, driven by Elsie Wisdom at Brooklands in 1931. Once owned by actor Tyrone Power, now owed by Renaat Declerch of Belgium.
Invicta engine. It is a 4.5 liter Meadows engine which provided ample power for the low slung chassis.
1933 Invicta S Type Tourer, nicknamed “Saracen.”
Chrysler Centennial
The much heralded but little sold 1934 Chrysler Airflow. The current owner drove it over 5000 miles from Hershey to Seattle in 1990. It was restored in 2005.
1941 Chrysler Newport LeBaron Dual Cowl, from the National Automobile Museum in Reno, designed by Ralph Roberts. Only four Newports known to exist, this one once owned by Lana Tuner’s ex, Henry J. Topping, Jr.
1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt LeBaron Convertible, Roger Willbanks Family. The car of the future, in 1940, again designed by Ralph Roberts with Alex Tremulis. This is the fourth of five concept cars built.
1941 Chrysler Town & Country Station Wagon, Malamut Auto Museum. “Barrel back” with original white ash and mahogany panels, a 9 passenger example of which only 30 have survived.
This is the Leo Carillo Chrysler Town and Country Convertible, now owned by the Keller Collection. Carillo played the character Pancho in ‘The Cisco Kid’ TV series. It came with two hoods, one normal and this one, for special occasions.
Virgil Exner Creations
My specific interest this year was the display of cars designed by Virgil Exner, since I am about to start the restoration on my 1957 Imperial. On Thursday afternoon I attended a lecture given by 4 authorities, including Peter Larsen, a famous writer, who is on the Selection Committee. He related that he has been working to create this Exner display for a few years and was not only glad that it was ultimately approved but that he was able to get owners of rare cars to display them, which does not always happen and can be difficult to do. He also wrote the article on this subject for the program. I must quote from that here, summing up Exner’s ability:
“…his great and varied talent, his many stirring designs, his at times intoxicating vision, his widespread influence, and not least his sure hand and great taste.”
1952 Chrysler d’Elegance was one of several Chrysler-Ghia idea cars created by Virgil Exner Sr, and one of his favorite cars.
1952 Chrysler Styling Special was the original Styling Special, designed by Exner and built by Ghia and the progenitor of the 18 or so Thomas Specials.
1953 Chrysler Thomas Special. In 1952 the French Chrysler importer asked Chrysler’s head of exports, C.B. Thomas, to approve the production of 18 Ghia bodied Chryslers. This one was discovered in a Swiss barn in 1970 and now owned by Dan Hembal.
1954 DeSoto Adventurer II was Exner’s idea of Savonuzzi’s Supersonica series. This chassis was first owned by King Mohammed V of Morocco, but now owned by Linda and Paul Gould.
1954 Dodge Firearrow IV. The last of the four Firearrows and became the basis for the development of the Dual Ghia, made in Italy in 1956.
Ghia Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance 2025 one-time special trophy presented by Pebble Beach Chairman Sandra Button. Joe Bortz was honored to receive the prestigious “Spirit of Virgil Exner” trophy for his 1955 Chrysler Ghia Falcon that was designed by Virgil Exner with body built by Ghia of Italy.
1957 Chrysler Super Dart 400 Coupe. The Super Dart was powered by a Chrysler Hemi and an example of how Exner developed Chrysler’s “Forward Look.” This one-off is in original unrestored condition.
This 1966 Duesenberg Model D Prototype was originally planned for production but that venture did not pan out. It was prompted by Augie Duesenberg in 1964 and designed by Exner.
1955 Imperial Eight passenger Limousine. From Rajiv Kehr comes this Ghia built Imperial. In 1955 Chrysler registered Imperial as a separate marque and these limos featured styling cues from the Ghia K series such as the ‘gun sight’ taillights.
Formula 1: 75th Anniversary
1910 FIAT S61 Grand Prix. One of three built and brought to the US to race in the Vanderbilt Cup. From the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.
1935 ERA. This is “Romulus”, chassis R2B, and raced by Prince Bira between 1936 and 1938. It remained in the royal family until 2007. Now owned by Gregory and Michelle Whitten.
1955 Lancia D50. This example was assembled by ex-Lancia Corse engineers, combining a preserved original engine and other period parts with a remade chassis and body.
1958 Vanwall. Perhaps the most famous Vanwall of all, this chassis secured three wins apiece for Moss and Brooks in 1958 and never been restored since a 1959 upgrade. From the Miles Collier Collection.
1960 Scarab Formula 1. Only two were built and this one, chassis GP-2, suffered a crash at Silverstone in 1961. The dispersed parts were recovered and presented in fully restored form in 1997. Now owned by Dana and Patti Mecum.
1961 Cooper T55 Formula 1. Bruce McLaren drove this chassis to third place at Monza in 1961. It went for an extended stay in South Africa and now is owned by Denis Bigioni.
Ferrari and other Classes
1956 Ferrari 410 Superamerica Pinin Farina coupe, owned by Al and Mary Barbout. Exhibited by Chinetti at the New York International Auto Show in 1956, in the color it wears today, a light gold metallic.
1951 Ferrari 340. One of the “big” early Touring bodied barchettas, this one was raced by “Eddie” Hall at Le Mans in 1951 but DNF. Restored in 2023.
1957 Ferrari 250 GT, chassis 0703GT. A MM veteran of 1957, finishing 9th overall driven by Albino Buticchi. Now with Rob Kauffman.
1930 Alfa Romeo 1750. A rare Corsica (of London) bodied 1750,raced by Joseph Patrick at Brooklands and later Goodwood in 1953. Owned by P. Lee.
1925 Amilcar CGS now owned by a young enthusiast, Tom Hale. This was the 1926 New York Auto Show car and eventually went to the Netherlands, but came back to the US via young Hale.
1918 Pierce Arrow. Bill Spear once owned this Pierce and showed it at many events on the East Coast. It was the ultimate in personal luxury transportation when new. Now owned by Dan Haynes.
1953 SIATA 208 CS Balbo. After spending time in Europe, chassis CS 072, one of 9 Balbo bodied cars, returned to the US and is now owned by Jonathan and Wendy Segal.
1916 Stutz HC Bearcat. Delivered new to Melbourne Australia, it remained there until 2015; this car has been restored to its original configuration. Now owned by Wynn McCaw.
This is a one off 1930 Cord L29 designed by Brooks Stevens after being purchased by famed collector D. Cameron Peck circa 1937. Now owned by Brian Cunat.
The 1934 Invicta S Type Carbodies Tourer is NOT owned by Beth & Ross Myers. They own the black & blue Invicta in the background.
DK Engineering contacted me in regard to photographs my father took at the 1951 LeMans. They had seen some images on theoldmotor.com They asked if my dad had taken any pictures of #18 it sounded familiar. I found a somewhat faded 2 1/4 chrome.I sent a copy and they asked if it was a colorized B&W I showed them it was a transparency. They questioned it as they didn’t think the car was ever red. They purchased the image to keep as part of the cars history.The fun thing about the image is my mom is standing next to the Ferrari.
The Vanwall was easily the best looking of the 2.5 liter F1 era.
Sean,
You speaking of your Dad at LeMans ’51 remined me of the film I have of it on an archive area of the site. It was taken by a friend of Fred Wacker’s, who went over with Fred when he drove for Cunningham. There’s a shot of Eddie Hall before the start in #18, as there are shots of a number of the drivers and personalities in the pits. And yes, it is color film too.
http://velocitygroup.net/VGMagazine/Archive.html
Thanks for placing our A22 Invicta A-type photo prominently with the other S-types. There’s a dearth of info on A-types out there, and they were the same build and class as the all the records Invicta made (endurance, round-the-world, etc) with Violette Cordery at the wheel in the late ’20s. They just don’t have the petite, sporty look of the S-types but under the bonnet they have the same DNA.
Ted Delphia