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The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance celebrated its 75th Anniversary in August 2026 and also reached a major milestone, surpassing US$50 million in total charitable donations.

In this anniversary year, 218 cars that included 33 international entries from 14 countries and 185 US entries from 30 states rolled onto the competition field.

One of the collector car world’s top prizes, Best of Show at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, was awarded to a 1935 Duesenberg SSJ that was originally owned by Clark Gable and was shown by Harry Yeaggy of Cincinnati, Ohio.

“Duesenberg often tops the list of desires for people with a passion for American classics and the iconic SSJ is the marque’s ultimate expression,” said Concours chairman Sandra Button. 

“This Special Speedster, one of just two made, offers both style and performance, and has a fantastic Hollywood backstory.”

The SSJ embodies the dramatic styling of the era, with its sweeping hood line and rakish, aerodynamic windshield. It has been recently restored to its original presentation, with a black lacquer finish and a light saddle-leather interior. 

Harry Yeaggy is no stranger to the Pebble Beach winner’s circle, having won Best of Show with a 1935 Duesenberg SJ Speedster, known as the ‘Mormon Meteor’, back in 2007.

“I won once before, 19 years ago, but I appreciate it a lot better now,” said Yeaggy. “I appreciate the hard work it took and the time it took to get here. 

“People don’t realise how hard it is; how special it is; to win this award.

“It’s amazing.”

Duesenberg retains its status as the Pebble Beach Concours’ most rewarded American marque, now having earned a total of eight Best of Show trophies.

The win was also a homecoming of sorts: “I found out recently,” said Yeaggy, “that the second owner lived right here on the point in Pebble Beach. 

“He owned the car for almost 12 years, so this car has come back home today.”

This year’s race for Best of Show featured several strong contenders, including a 1938 Delahaye 165 Figoni et Falaschi Cabriolet shown by The Pearl Collection of Baar, Switzerland; a 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta shown by the Heinecke Family Collection of Bangkok, Thailand; and a 1954 Ferrari 375 America Vignale Cabriolet shown by RQ Collections of The Woodlands, Texas.

The Pebble Beach Concours raised more than US$4.3 million for charity this year, bringing the event’s total charitable donations to just over US$50 million. More than half of that total has been raised in the past decade. Via the Pebble Beach Company Foundation, the primary charitable partner of the Concours, these funds will benefit more than 130 local nonprofits dedicated to improving the education, health and well-being of children throughout Monterey County.

Gooding Christie’s, the official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance for the 22nd year, concluded its highest grossing sale since the company’s inception. The auction house realised more than US$159 million in sales.

The top lot of this year’s car week, a 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe set a record as the most valuable American car ever sold at auction, as well as the most valuable car ever sold by Gooding Christie’s at auction, achieving nearly US$43 million.

The 76th Celebration of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, to be held at The Lodge at Pebble Beach on August 15, 2027, will celebrate the centennial of Delage’s Grand Prix–winning season, with a selection of cars from that marque. Pre-war Open-Front Town Cars; 40 Years of the Ferrari F40; and an exceptional collection of Delahayes will also be featured.

The 2026 Best of Show Nominees were:

1938 Delahaye 165 Figoni et Falaschi Cabriolet, The Pearl Collection, Baar, Switzerland.

1955 Ferrari 375 MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta, Heinecke Family Collection, Bangkok, Thailand.

1954 Ferrari 375 America Vignale Cabriolet, RQ Collections, The Woodlands, Texas. 

In addition to the above awards there were an additional 102 winners and 1st-3rd place getters, in different categories. 

For more information on the 2026 Pebble Beach event visit pebblebeachconcours.net.

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