54th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Names 1938 Horch 853A as ‘Best of Show’
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – The 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links® hosted 210 historic vehicles and thousands of spectators Sunday at the 54th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The Concours competition, which included judging in 27 classes, culminated when a 1938 Horch 853A Erdmann & Rossi Sport Cabriolet, owned by Judge Joseph C. Cassini III from West Orange, N.J., was named “Best of Show.” The 1938 Horch 853A, designed by Fritz Fiedler, who later created the BMW 315 and 328, was the most expensive car from Auto Union (the precursor of the German luxury manufacturer Audi). With coachwork by Erdmann and Rossi of Berlin, the Horch 853A featured a 120 horsepower, 5.0-liter straight-eight engine and such modern features as power steering and overdrive in all four gears. Competitors from 30 states and 14 countries, from as far as Japan, Australia and Argentina, were among the participants who brought their prized automotive possessions to the Monterey Peninsula. Among the participants were Tonight Show host Jay Leno (1916 Crane-Simplex Model 5 Holbrook Skiff), who won his class (vintage 1916 – 1924) and The Matrix, Lethal Weapon movie producer Joel Silver (1940 Lincoln Continental Town Car and 1941 Continental Coupe) For photos of this rare Horch and for a complete list of 2004 Concours winners from 27 classes , go to www.pebblebeachconcours.net. First conducted in 1950, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is an international gathering of automotive enthusiasts for “a celebration of the automobile” at The Lodge at Pebble Beach™ on the Monterey Peninsula. The Concours combines a scenic location-the famed 18th hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links® along the Pacific Ocean-with the opportunity to view rarely seen examples of automotive style, performance and history. The annual affair also includes a series of auxiliary activities: including the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance around Pacific Grove and Carmel for Concours entries, and the Pebble Beach Auction conducted by Gooding & Company that showcases classic, vintage and antique cars. |