On August 20th, 2017, the 67th annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance celebrated their Best of Show winner, Bruce R. McCaw’s 1929 Mercedes-Benz S Barker Tourer. The vintage Mercedes-Benz came from the restoration shop of Steve Babinsky in Lebanon, New Jersey, to participate in the competition, where it masterfully achieved the top prize. The vehicle was first delivered to a Captain Miller on behalf of Earl Howe, who co-founded the British Racing Drivers’ Club with Dudley Benjafield in 1928.
“We’ve had the car for several years,” said McCaw, of Bellevue, Washington. “The question was whether or not to restore it. I always hate to restore something that doesn’t need it. But we finally found enough pictures that we knew the car needed to be restored.”
Retaining its original Marchal lighting equipment and chrome-plated wheels; the Mercedes-Benz S Barker Tourer features low-cut doors and unconventional torpedo-style running boards storing tools as well as other appurtenant equipment and or supplies. The car’s vibrant blue color is depictive of a dress made out of peacock feathers in the 1850s.
“This Mercedes-Benz S Barker Tourer is a combination of speed, style and power,” said Concours Chairman Sandra Button. “Somehow these three elements—along with those fantastic torpedo running boards—become the very definition of elegance.”
Bruce McCaw and his Mercedes-Benz S Barker Tourer raced in the final circle against his brother John McCaw who, along with his wife Gwen McCaw, contended for the Best of Show with their stunning 1957 Ferrari 315 S Scaglietti Spyder. This year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, set on the 18 fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links, gathered 204 classic car competitors from all corners of the world, 54 of which were newcomers to the event. Within the winners circle, there was even a ravishing 1932 Packard 906 Twin Six Dietrich Convertible Victoria owned by car collector and Hong Kong resident William E. (Chip) Connor.
The 67th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance raised over $1.6 million charitable donations. The hosts of the event as well as the primary charitable partner of the Concours, the Pebble Beach Company Foundation, will pass these charitable funds to provide aid to more than 80 local charities.
Celebrity guest who made an appearance in this vintage automotive celebration included many famous, well-known names such as comedian Jay Leno, media personality and former defensive end for the New York Giants Michael Strahan, former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, actor Jerry Seinfeld, and Chief Creative Officer of Pixar John Lasseter.
Gooding & Company, the official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, realized more than $91.5 million at the annual Pebble Beach Auctions. The highlight of Friday’s auction was a 1970 Porsche 917K, which became the most valuable Porsche ever sold at the auction house with it reaching a price of $14,080,000. Achieving a record-breaking selling price, the 1970 Porsche 917K, surpassed Gooding & Company’s previous Porsche record-holder, a 1982 Porsche 956 that sold for $10,120,000 in 2015. Furthermore, the climax from Saturday’s auction was the 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C, as the car set yet another new world record auction price when it cumulated $14,520,000.
The 68th annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance will be held on Sunday, August 26th of 2018, which will take place on the fourth, instead of the third, Sunday a full seven days later than the standard time the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is usually held.
For more information on the Pebble Beach Concours visit: www.pebblebeachconcours.net
Photo Credit: Copyright © Kimball Studios / Courtesy of Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
