Unveiling Automotive Masterpieces: Five Standout Vehicles at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
The 2025 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, a preeminent event in the world of classic automobiles, once again served as a magnificent stage for an array of historically significant vehicles. This year's exhibition underscored the profound influence and enduring legacy of remarkable engineering and design. The selected five vehicles, each with its own compelling narrative, collectively illustrate the diverse tapestry of automotive innovation, from boundary-pushing artistic expressions to pioneering mechanical achievements and visionary design philosophies. These automotive treasures not only represent pinnacles of their respective eras but also offer a glimpse into the evolving landscape of vehicular artistry and performance over the past century.
Among the dazzling collection, the 1979 BMW Art Car No. 4, adorned by the iconic artist Andy Warhol, commanded significant attention. This BMW M1 Group 4 race car, featuring a mid-mounted 470-horsepower 3.5-liter inline six-cylinder engine, is notable for Warhol's direct involvement in its painting process. Unlike other artists who provided designs for BMW painters to execute, Warhol personally applied his vision to the vehicle in a mere 28 minutes, aiming to capture the essence of speed through blurred lines and colors. This unique approach, adding a mere 13 pounds of paint, allowed the car to retain its racing prowess, evidenced by its second-place finish in its class at the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans. The car's immense value is further underscored by the astronomical prices commanded by Warhol's other works, making it arguably the most valuable piece on display.
Another vehicle of immense historical interest was the 1966 Duesenberg Model D Prototype, a brainchild of Virgil Exner, then Vice-President of Design at Chrysler Corporation. This car was conceived for a planned revival of the Duesenberg marque, spearheaded by Fred Duesenberg, son of the original co-founder. Exner's design ingeniously blended contemporary and classical elements, setting it apart from its contemporaries. The interior boasted opulent features, including European mahogany, cashmere broadcloth, leather upholstery, and even an optional television and minibar, alongside comprehensive instrumentation, a luxury not common at the time. Built on a stretched Chrysler Imperial chassis, the colossal 244-inch vehicle housed a 7.2-liter V-8 engine from the 1966 Chrysler Imperial, producing 425 horsepower. Despite its innovative design and luxurious appointments, financial challenges ultimately thwarted the Duesenberg revival. Nevertheless, Exner's neo-classicist vision profoundly influenced American automotive design for decades, paving the way for iconic models like the Lincoln Town Car and Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham.
The 1939 Chrysler Custom Imperial C-24 Derham Touring Phaeton, originally crafted for the 1939 New York World’s Fair, also captivated audiences. Constructed by the Derham Body Company on a substantial 144-inch wheelbase, this particular vehicle was a unique parade phaeton among the limited production of 307 Custom Imperial C-24s. Its distinctive features included dual side-mounts, elongated wind-wings, and bulletproof glass, specifically installed for the protection of its esteemed passengers, King George VI and Queen Mary of England. Powered by an L-head inline eight-cylinder engine delivering 138 horsepower, the car utilized Chrysler's three-speed Fluid Drive semi-automatic transmission and was equipped with four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes and independent front suspension. After its public debut, this Imperial served in Chrysler's executive fleet and later played a covert role in 1942, transporting President Franklin D. Roosevelt and other dignitaries on a secret tour of defense plants during wartime. The Derham Body Company, the coachbuilder behind this magnificent machine, continued its operations until 1971, notably specializing in armored vehicles for various international leaders.
The 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C Nieuport-Astra Torpedo, crowned "Best-in-Show" at this year's Concours, is a testament to extraordinary craftsmanship and aviation-inspired design. Commissioned by Andre Dubonnet, a prominent figure in the aperitif industry, this vehicle was fabricated by the aircraft manufacturer Nieuport-Astra. Its distinctive torpedo-shaped body was meticulously constructed from 1/8-inch mahogany strips bonded over 3/4-inch inner ribs using cadmium, reminiscent of violin construction, and secured with aluminum rivets, then varnished. Weighing a mere 160 pounds for the body alone, significantly lighter than steel alternatives of its era, the car was powered by an 8.0-liter single-overhead-cam inline six-cylinder engine paired with a 3-speed automatic transmission, yielding 45 horsepower. Dubonnet personally raced this vehicle in the 1924 Targa Florio and Coppa Florio, achieving respectable finishes before converting it for daily use by adding a windshield, fenders, and headlights. This Hispano-Suiza, a product of Spanish-Swiss collaboration, is widely regarded as one of the finest vehicles produced by the company.
Finally, the 1931 Ruxton Sedan, a remarkably rare front-wheel-drive automobile, offered a fascinating, albeit litigious, slice of automotive history. With only 96 units ever produced and a mere 18 surviving today, the Ruxton was the brainchild of William Muller, who developed a front-wheel-drive prototype that piqued the interest of Archie Andrews, a board member at the Edward G. Budd Company. Despite William V.C. Ruxton's financial backing, his name was used against his wishes, leading to a lawsuit. The car, featuring a 100-horsepower Continental 4.4-liter straight-eight engine, entered production with the Moon Motor Company. However, Andrews' attempts to gain control of Moon and subsequently the Kissel Motor Car Company, which supplied transmissions for the Ruxtons, led to a cascade of bankruptcies and legal battles. The protracted legal aftermath of the Ruxton saga, which concluded 34 years after Moon's bankruptcy, ultimately overshadowed the car's innovative engineering. Despite its troubled past, the Ruxton remains a significant, albeit obscure, chapter in the history of automotive front-wheel-drive development.
The 2025 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance provided an exceptional platform to appreciate these and many other outstanding vehicles. From the artistic statement of Warhol's BMW to the design foresight of the Duesenberg, the royal connections of the Chrysler Imperial, the aeronautical elegance of the Hispano-Suiza, and the pioneering yet tumultuous journey of the Ruxton, each car contributed to a deeper understanding of automotive heritage. These machines are more than just modes of transportation; they are moving sculptures that embody the creative spirit and engineering prowess of their respective eras, leaving an indelible mark on the narrative of the automobile.