The 59th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance had participants from more than 30 states and 19 countries – with cars being shipped from places as far away as Hong Kong and Australia. More than 200 cars and motorcycles competed in 32 classes with the overall winner – Best of Show – being selected from among the judged class winners. A 1937 Horch 853 Voll & Ruhrbeck Sport Cabriolet was named “Best of Show” at this year’s Concours (see the last page of this issue for more on this stunning car).

The Concourse this year hosted some of the rarest, most illustrious Ferraris ever built, including 10 1949 166 MM Touring Barchettas, and the world’s four remaining Ferrari TR 59 race cars. Bentley was another featured marque at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and had one of the largest presences on the show field. The Concours also celebrated Bugatti, Morgan and Audi centennials.

Former Tonight Show host, Jay Leno, brought his 1928 Bugatti Type 37A 2 Seat Sports to Pebble Beach, and was a guest auctioneer. California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, also participated on stage, auctioning his signed bomber jacket, which raised $30,000 (Rs. 15 lakhs) for charity. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld was a Concours participant, collecting second place in the Porsche class with his 1970 Porsche 908/03 Spyder.

With some of the most knowledgeable and influential car aficionados present at Pebble Beach, manufacturers use the Concours as a new-car showcase. Over 20 concept and new cars were featured during the weekend, including vehicles from Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Devon Motor Works, Ferrari, Fisker Automotive, Hyundai, Iconic Motors, Infiniti, Jaguar, Lexus, Lincoln, Lotus, Mercedes-Benz, Morgan, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Spyker, Stile Bertone, and Tramontana.

Enjoy images from the 2009 Concours d’Elegance in the following pages. You may well want to consider a visit to the 60th edition of the show next year to see the most rare and exotic cars ever produced basking in their own glory – not to mention under the California sun.

Bentley was one of the featured marques at the Concours. This is a pristine example of a 3½ liter Drop Head Coupe from California itself – exotics not only show well, but also preserve well under the Californian sun. This is a 1934 model, and was the first new Bentley following the acquisition of W.O. Bentley’s company by Rolls-Royce in 1931.

What you see here is the all-new baby Rolls Royce, which goes into production next year, and is thus far referred to as the 200EX. On the design front, it’s a modern interpretation of styling that’s quintessentially Rolls Royce. It also gets rear-hinged doors like its bigger brother – the Phantom. On the inside, it sticks to the traditional world of fine wood and exquisite leather. The new baby Rolls will be powered by a not-so-baby-like all-new 6.6 liter turbocharged V12, which is expected to produce upwards of 500 horsepower. Nevertheless, it’s also expected to be very efficient courtesy of its new 8-speed transmission.

The red nose you see in the background is that of the new V10 powered Audi R8, which made its North American debut at Pebble Beach. It has a Lamborghini derived direct-injection 5.2 liter V10 petrol heart that produces 525 horsepower, and revs to a stratospheric 8700rpm.

The Phantom II has a massive 7.7 liter straight-six engine, and was the last Rolls to be powered by large six-cylinder engines. This Gurney Nutting-bodied Phantom II has been owned by some of the most discerning motorists in the world. Its first owner was Sir Hugo Cunliffe Owen, a director of British American Tobacco. In 1936 the car was purchased by Bentley racing driver, Jack Dunfee. More recently, it was even part of the collection of Formula 1 supremo, Bernie Ecclestone. This is one of the most desirable examples of the 281 Phantom II Continentals ever built.

This car has led a fascinating life with 21 different owners contributing to its long history. It started life as a Type 51 Grand Prix car driven and owned by the great Louis Chiron. After being raced for several years it passed into the hands of a wealthy French playboy who ordered this stylish coupe body built by legendary French Carroserie Louis Dubos in 1936.

What’s a Hyundai doing at a Concours? Well, this is Hyundai’s new V8 powered luxury flagship with which they aim to take on the likes of the BMW, Mercedes and Lexus. This very luxurious new car comes on the back of the Hyundai Genesis, which itself is targeted at the BMW 5 series and Mercedes E Class, being crowned the North American Car of the Year at the Detroit Auto Show in January this year. Clearly, that was all the impetus Hyundai needed, and they’re not holding back now. However, don’t expect to see it on Indian roads anytime soon!