2009 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
The 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance was held Sunday, August 16th at the Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California.
More than 200 cars and motorcycles lined the 18th hole of Pebble Beach Golf Links for the 59th annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
There were 32 classes including four display classes.
The overall winner – Best of Show – was a 1937 Horch 853 Voll & Ruhrbeck Sport Cabriolet, owned by Robert M. Lee of Sparks, Nevada.
Also nominated for Best of Show was the 1953 Siata 208CS Stabilimenti Farina Spyder.
Participants brought cars to Pebble Beach from 30 states and 19 countries (including the U.S.).
Cars traveled from as far away as Hong Kong and Australia; they began shipping well before the summer.
Featured marques Bentley and Bugatti had the largest presence on the show field, with the Concours also celebrating Morgan and Audi centennials, as well as highlighting the styling of Zagato.
Special classes included Ferrari 166 MM Touring Barchetta, Ferrari TR59 and Packard Vee-Windshield Dietrich.
In addition, motorcycles appeared on the Concours show field for the first time.
The first motorcycle class showcased British bikes built through 1959.
The Concours again raised more than $1 million for local charities in 2009, which means the annual event has contributed well over $13 million to philanthropic organizations through the years.
A 1937 Horch 853 Voll & Ruhrbeck Sport Cabriolet, owned by Robert M. Lee of Sparks, Nevada, was named “Best of Show” at the 59th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance held Sunday, August 16th along the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links in California.
After working with Karl Benz for a couple of years, August Horch started producing cars under his own name at August Horche & Cie in 1899. He left the company he began to form Audi in 1909.
Production of Horch models continued without him, and in 1935 the Horch Company introduced a new model with a 5-litre, straight-eight engine called the Horch 850.
The shorter wheelbase 853, which is the model that won Best of Show at Pebble Beach Concours, was very popular among Germany’s rich and famous, offering luxury at a very competitive price.
The last Horch was built in 1958.
This Horch 853 Sport Cabriolet has coachwork by Voll & Ruhrbeck Company of Berlin, one of Germany’s most avant garde coachbuilders, famous for some of the world’s finest roadsters.
Owner Robert M. Lee with Anne Brockinton and Pebble Beach Concours Chairman Sandra Button, in front of the 1937 Horch 853 Voll & Ruhrbeck Sport Cabriolet that won Best of Show at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours.
