Pebble Beach Concours
 |
| Delage's timeless styling endures.............L.Marvin Copyright 2005 |
Notice: If your photos do not load in "total" hit the "refresh button" on your web-browzer and what is remaining should finish loading.
This years 2005 Pebble Beach took exhibited 2 vintages of automotive that often are over looked in the modern world. Also look for our additional photo galleries to follow. So lets get started.
Louis Delage established the Delage Automobile Company at 62 Chaptal St., Levallois, France, near Paris. In 1908, Delage grabbed its first racing victory in the 500 km Dieppe Grand Prix at an average speed of 50 mph. Grand prix victories in 1911 at Boulogne, 1913 at Amiens and 1914 at Lyon followed and René Thomas won the 1914 Indianapolis 500. In 1915, Gaston Chevrolet drove a Delage in a 500 mile race at Chicago Speedway, while Barney Oldfield drove for Delage in a 100 mile race at Chicago and a 500 mile race in Minneapolis. Racers were still running in America, before that country entered World War I. But in France, Delage produced vehicles for the Army.
After the War, Delage introduced a series of 6-cylinder 4.5-liter cars, but more popular were the 2-liter 4-cylinder side-valve DE series, of which 3,600 were produced. But as if to show that the company had the capability for all types of cars, Delage produced a 10.5-liter V12 car to compete for the land speed record, as well as 5- and 6-liter sprint and hillclimb cars. Thomas drove the car to a record 143 mph. In 1922, Thomas won the Cours de Cote du Mont Ventoux in a 5-liter car.
In 1923, the DE series received an overhead valve head for the inaugural 24 Hours of Le Mans. The modification resulted in a new series called DI which was produced from 1923 to 1928.
In 1926-27, Delage became the FIA’s first world constructor’s champion with 1.5-liter straight-eight cars that dominated the grand prix series, including a victory in the inaugural British Grand Prix in 1926 by Louis Wagner and Robert Senechal in a 155B along with a 1-2-3 finish in the Spanish Grand Prix at San Sebastian.
Perhaps better known than the racing cars were the Delage D8 series of road cars, with long, swoopy hoods and sloping fender covers.
 |
| This years Alfa's offered examples for everyones taste.............L.Marvin Copyright 2005 |
Yes, Alfa Romero made a this years Pebble Beach an excellent follow up to last years stunning Ferrari presentation. So as we did with last years coverage. There will be a special Alfa Romero gallery released in couple of days. Look for it early next week.
 |
| Another example of the "finger pointing", backed up with Oh's and Ah's.........L.Marvin Copyright 2005 |
The 18 th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links® hosted 221 vintage vehicles and thousands of spectators Sunday at the 55th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The Concours competition, which included judging in 27 classes, culminated when a 1937 Delage owned by Sam and Emily Mann and AlfredoBrener from Englewood, N.J., was named “Best of Show.”
The winning car (officially a ’37 Delage D8-120 S Pourtout Aéro Coupé) was originally commissioned by Louis Delage, who founded the French car company Delage in 1905. The vehicle, with all-aluminum coachwork by Marcel Pourtout, was a prototype car for the 1937 Paris Auto Show and was the first vehicle to be tested in a wind tunnel. Louis Delage enjoyed the vehicle so much, he ultimately used it as his personal car.
 |
| Best Show Delage......Photo By Pebble Beach copyright 2005 |
“I’m shocked that I was able to win against a competitive field that included such incredibly designed Alfa Romeos,” said Sam Mann, who captured his fourth Pebble Beach Concours. “When I originally received this car years ago, it was shipped in crates and was literally in pieces. It took two years to put the car back together and this win is exceptionally gratifying.”
Competitors from 26 states and 15 countries, from as far away as Hong Kong, Australia, Italy and Argentina, were among the participants who brought their prized automotive possessions to the Monterey Peninsula for judging. Among the participants were designer Ralph Lauren, whose 1938 Alfa Romeo Touring Spyder won its class (Alfa Romeo Prewar Race Cars). Tonight Show host Jay Leno, brought his 1927 Duesenberg Sedan.
“The Pebble Beach Concours has truly become ‘the world’s concours, with vintage carowners from around the globe bringing their exotic, historic vehicles here to compete each year,” said Pebble Beach Concours Co-Chairman Glenn Mounger. “For our spectators, the event has become an automotive time capsule, with the finest automotive artistry and design on display from the more than 100 years of the automobile.”
The 2005 event, which had an estimated $300 million worth of classic cars spread along the Monterey coastline, celebrated the 100 th anniversary of French automaker Delage, the 75th anniversary of Italian design house Carrozzeria Pinin Farina. Also specially judged a Hot Rod class sponsored by Ford Motor Company.
Featured marque Alfa Romeo, the 95-year old Italian race car and street car manufacturer. “Today’s showing of 62 classic Alfa Romeos, with 27 vehicles that traveled to Pebble Beach from outside the U.S., including seven cars from the Alfa Romeo Museum in Arese, Italy.
 |
| Yes....there really is a Batmobile, 3 in fact.........L.Marvin Copyright 2005 |
“The first BAT (5) was built in 1953, when most other carmakers had never even imagined tailfins and long before there was a Batmobile on television,” says Mounger.
“The BAT 7, built in 1954, was even more radical in design with huge curved tailfins. And the final BAT – the BAT 9 – was built in 1955 with reduced wings and a design that was closer to a production sports car.
“We’re looking forward to an historic reunion of these incredible cars. The last time they appeared together anywhere in the U.S. was the 1989 Pebble Beach Concours.”
 |
| Mer-Benz style traditions in clear comparison............L.Marvin Copyright 2005 |
First conducted in 1950, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is an international gathering for “a celebration of the automobile” at The Lodge at Pebble Beach™ on the Monterey Peninsula. The Concours combines a scenic location along the Pacific Ocean with the opportunity to view rarely seen examples of automotive style, performance and history.
 |
| Ex-Phil Hill Alfa Romero "Mille Miglia" racer.........L.Marvin Copyright 2005 |
What I find most interesting is the amount of interaction that takes place between the public and these historic treasure of the automotive legacy. For most visitors the reactions are almost knee-jerk excitement. As they have never seen or heard of 90% of the cars that show up every year!
 |
| A great example of MB & a owners trust of the public.........L.Marvin Copyright 2005 |
 |
| Ah...something new has been added...the new Vantage |
The new Aston Martin Vantage was really the only "new" offering that appeared at Pebble Beach this year. Which was strange. If fact the only dissapiontment was the use of "retread" prototype concept cars on the putting green between the Lodge and the Shopping complex. Most years the concept cars are the freshest or first ever public display. That was not the case this year. If some advice could be offered to our friends at Pebble Beach, it would be to require only honestly new concept cars be allowed. Not allowing the factory folks to stock the show with "old news".
 |
| The Blackhawk collection again served up ultra rare "toys"...........L.Marvin Copyright 2005 |
Again this year Monterey was the site of several major auction events. Blackhawk always seems to offer Pebble Beach visitors a wide range of value and taste for most budgets. This year during the Monterey weekend several new records for highest auction prices were set.
 |
| The Caddy V12 Grill....a beauty that never ages.........L.Marvin Copyright 2005 |
 |
| Yes people are almost more fun to watch than the cars..........L.Marvin Copyright 2005 |
 |
| A favorite was this Hiso "Boat Tail"....A rocket in it's day..........L.Marvin Copyright 2005 |
 |
| The Alfa Racers held the public's attention all day........L.Marvin Copyright 2005 |
The Alfa Racer's row was a real hit with the public and if the early morning weather had cooperated a little better the color would have helped reenforced to readers the visual impact each of these cars make on each and every visitor.
Fanagio's championship 159 was also in attendance. The 158/159 racers were only 1500 cc and produced a whooping 420Hp with a 1/12 mpg thrist!! Each of the Alfa Romero's at Pebble was a treasure trove of automotive history.
 |
| Alfa's in every color and all were great..........L.Marvin Copyright 2005 |
© Copyright 2005 by
MotorSportsCenter.com
Top of Page
|
