Bugatti's in every flavor, breathtaking.....L.Marvin 2000

It's very early before sunrise on the Monterey Coast in California. I am rushing through the fog to Pebble Beach for the 50th anniversary of the Concours D'Elgance. It's a long walk down the hill as I weave through a fleet of transporters unloading extinct and rare beasts and beauties from the first century of the automotive age.

The quality of light means everything......L.Marvin 2000

It's just now 7:00 am and the lawn is buzzing as this stream of past champions and new visitors are being positioned for this years display. Every car seems to have a distinct glimmer as the sunlight starts to paint color and form across the lawn.

Oscca a true pockect rocket .............L.Marvin 2000

 The rush is on. Getting this many cars into position takes a large staff. People are running up and down the lawn, in a race against the clock. The Pebble Beach staff are mostly locals that work long hours every year and then melt into the background, as the public descends and the show begins. Each vintage auto on display this morning has slipped free from the bondage of time, in the time machine of Pebble Beach.

Bugatti at first light................L.Marvin 2000

I walk the lawn searching for a first image. My focus sharpens and I begin shooting. As the camera fires each frame of film, a growing realization sweeps over me. Pebble Beach is, after 50 years, the first true "Icon" of automotive culture. As original as California, it's a love affair of the automotive art form and the freedom of the open highway. Pebble Beach has grown over fifty years to become the standard by which all other councours events are judged.

50 years of Champions.............L.Marvin 2000

In California very few cultural events ever survived 50 years. Stepping back, I see the changes that have allowed Pebble Beach to grow and develop. Craving it's own niche in the international arena of automotive world. Always delivering the very best in collectable and historical automotive art form. Defining it's own level of excellence every year for fifty years is truly a superior accomplishment.

Standing on the lawn, I witness more legendary cars roll into assigned positions. I see so many cars that are classics. This year's featured marque is Maserati.

Maserati A6...............L.Marvin 2000

Maserati was the featured marque.........L.Marvin 2000

Most of it's road models on display this year did not exist when Pebble Beach was born in 1950. To make this point even clearer, a Maserati driven by Sterling Moss at Monza was still almost six years in the future at that time. Now it is an almost ancient relic of formula one racing. It sits this morning in 2000, ready to run as new. Only at Pebble Beach can this type of compression of history be seen in a single sweeping view.

Still amazing and exciting...........L.Marvin

Ghosts of Maserati's Grand Prix racing.......L.Marvin

Out of the corner of my eye I see Sterling Moss strolling between 3 Maserati GP race cars that span over 60 years history and yet were running at Laguna Seca in the Monterey Historic Races yesterday, as was Moss and many other legends. Pebble Beach is way more than just cars.

Maserati's Birds...................L.Marvin 2000

The Eldorado

So many automotive icons, now prized by modern day collectors, are not just post war but post Korean war production and many post Vietnam vintage. Ferrari, Porsche, Maserati, Jaguar, Aston Martin, Shelby and many other jewels were only recently realized to be so close to extinction.

Shah's Bugatti...................L.Marvin

 When the automotive world woke up and realized the numbers of these examples of automotive high art which were endangered, the restoration craze exploded. Pebble Beach is directly responsible for that awareness. At Pebble Beach no single age class has primary importance. Golden age and exotic Pre-War coach works are always represented well, as they should be.

Classic Style returned to it's orignal glory......L.Marvin 2000

Many of these invited cars are single examples of a type, model or coach work style. Many only make public appearance here at Pebble Beach. Yet as I move across the lawn and see new, never before seen examples, I know that I have witnessed greatness that will again make this years event fresh and exciting. Every person who attends this 50th Councours D' Elegance, shares the one time experience of walking through the time tunnel of 50 years of returning champions of best in show.

Where else but Pebble Beach?.........L.Marvin 2000

The most radical design at the show....L.Marvin 2000

All have returned. This year's most dramatic example of flamboyant coach work is the Dubonnet Hispano-Suzia H6C, with it's futuristic cantilevered doors, today seen on every mini-van in America.

Can you say Low Drag................L.Marvin 2000

This is truly a rare example, looking as if it escaped from a "Sci-Fi" movie, being a vintage expression of what the future of coach work would be.

Ferrari 166 cockpit...........L.Marvin 2000

Stalking Ferraris from the 1950's and 1960's, when each was defined at the newest example of Ferrari's cutting edge of the moment.

Yes it's a Ferrari 166...............L.Marvin 2000

 I find that this year's list of examples includes a 1950 Farina-bodied type 166, 1962 GTO 250 ( 3 time Pebble Beach winner), a original Testa Rosa, 212 Cabriolet, 410 Super-America, and not to be missed the black 1957 California Spyder ( ex-Paris Show car 1957). 

Original Paris Show car.............L.Marvin

The fog is lifting and sun and sky now add to the impact of these stunning and lasting tributes of Enzio Ferrari's life's work. We who were lucky enough to be born in the last part of the 20th century, enjoyed watching the future and past become one experience. As effortless style and horsepower blended into the Italian national anthem.

Last mintue cleaning for the Judges......L.Marvin 2000

At Monterey, the vintage of 50 years has become the fine result of it's own efforts. A taste of present, past and future are uncorked, enjoyed by every one in attendance on this one very special day. For any automotive enthusiast, the procession of legendary marques and exclusive coach works this morning is almost mind numbing at 8am. Photographers are compelled to capture not just the beauty of these cars, but also all points of perspective on the 50th anniversary experience. As the sun rises the colors of the lawn, sky, cars, and ocean create lush and powerful images. Hopefully captured by the camera on the richness of Kodachrome 25.

Two legends ......................L.Marvin 2000

The deeper colors of the pre-war Bugatti's and Alfa's begin to have clear intensity that equals the designers vision. I shoot even faster, as the sun moves to where shapes of the cars character features are lost. I rush to maintain a balance against a flood of pure color, without which the cars would become shapeless blobs. The sun is rising to fast, I move and keep shooting. It's now almost 9am and my time is almost gone.

Just one guy with the car he loves......L.Marvin 2000

In the early years, Pebble Beach was a display of the race cars that had managed to make it to the finish of the Pebble Beach Road race. Last run in 1956, Pebble Beach has a special mood that can best be defined as a family reunion. While the mood is informal, everyone is smartly dressed, and a few over dressed. Owners of these exclusive objects of desire are mostly down to earth and engaging people. Yes there are many rich and famous. There are a few celebrities who hide out in private places.

Alfa's famous Grand Touring legend......L.Marvin 2000

The great tradition of pebble beach is the judging, and the emphasis of focus on true originality. It was refreshing to over hear a judge explaining to a European journalist that, "it's all about originality and authenticity". People do not know how committed the judges are to actually marking down for over restoration. Judging at Pebble Beach always includes guest judges, in attendance this year were Phil Hill, Claude Figoni and Sir Sterling Moss. As the last cars are positioned, I noticed that I am trying to slice my way through an ocean of faithful worshipers as they swoon and gush in sensory over load by these diverse beauties. The Fagoni-Falaschi coach work was in such attendance, as to almost seem ordinary. Moving through the field of display cars several times, I never got all the images we wanted of any car.

The Lawn is now not even visible through the mass of blazers and large hats. It's 10am and I am out of film. Now it's time to talk with friends and grab a glass of ice cold water and actually enjoy the moment before it's gone. The future is always waiting to appear, and again this year was no different. Above the lodge there is another display of future classics, all will soon be in production. Ford's new Thunderbird, Bugatti's newest sedan, Dodge's new Viper-R, Jaguar's next concept model. All squeezed on to a what looks like a putting green. Above the Lodge shopping area is yet another display area and walking up the hill I spot the new Saleen project.

Famous Bugatti of Shah of Iran.......L.Marvin 2000

Just above this is the Blackhawk Collection. Outside on that lawn is another serious treat of important historic cars. This year's display is of important 1950's Chrysler's and Plymouth's in Ghia bodies, new to me. There are also several important golden age classics. I shot these cars earlier in the week, before the long exposure of dust wiped out the pristine display created for the public. While walking to the press parking area, I look at the many rolls of film and realize I am holding a thin slice of a captured moment of excitement to be shared with our readers.