First Bentley Since 1965 to Win Pebble Beach Best of Show

The Best of Show title at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance this year belongs to a 1931 Bentley 8 Litre Gurney Nutting Sports Tourer. It won the title after beating its competitors at the 69th automobile event that took place on August 18 as the ultimate finale of Monterey Car Week.

That wasn’t an easy win for the Bentley though, since there were other strong nominees like a 1938 Talbot-Lago T150C-SS Figoni & Falaschi Teardrop Cabriolet owned by Richard and Melanie Lundquist, a 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Erdmann & Rossi Special Cabriolet owned by The Keller Collection at the Pyramids, and a 1962 Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato Coupé owned by David F. MacNeil.

This is the first time a Bentley has won the Best of Show award at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance since 1965. Coincidentally, this happens in 2019 when Bentley is celebrating its centenary. The Sports Tourer that conquered the competition is owned by billionaire Hong Kong businessman Sir Michael David Kadoorie.

According to Kadoorie, the 8 Litre Gurney Nutting Sports Tourer “is the ultimate W. O. Bentley–era automobile” that “represents” the British brand at its best. He feels “very fortunate to have a car that has this elegance and finish, and that the Pebble Beach Concours feels is worthy.”

Meanwhile, winners in Elegance Award category include a 1938 Talbot-Lago T150C-SS Figoni & Falaschi Teardrop Cabriolet as the Most Elegant Convertible, a 1950 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Ghia Supergioiello Coupé as the Most Elegant Closed Car, a 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Brewster York Roadster as the Most Elegant Open Car, and a 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Zagato Berlinetta Speciale as the Most Elegant Sports Car.