One of the most prestigious car awards in the world, Best of Show at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, has this year been awarded to an all-original 1937 Bugatti Type 59 Sports.
The first time the award has been presented to a ‘preservation car’, the Type 59 beat out 214 other vehicles from 16 countries.
This winning example was presented by Fritz Burkard, with it kept as part of The Pearl Collection in Zug, Switzerland. One of its previous owners, though, was King Leopold III of Belgium, who was responsible for the livery it still wears proudly.
Screenshot: Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance / YouTube
“I’m so happy for the car, so happy for Bugatti. This car is incredible. It [has] so much history […] and to win with this car means a lot to me,” said Burkard.
“First time a Swiss, first time a European wins, first time a preservation wins. It’s important that preservation also gets recognition, because a car can only be once original. And it drives so beautifully.”
Screenshot: Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance / YouTube
This 2024 Best of Show award marks the tenth time a Bugatti has taken the gong, tying the brand with Mercedes-Benz for the most outright wins.
Other cars in the race for the award this year included a 948 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Saoutchik Fastback Coupé, a 1934 Packard 1108 Twelve LeBaron Sport Phaeton, and most suprisingly a 1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero Bertone Coupe from the featured wedge concepts and prototypes class.
The award has often been dominated by pre-war cars, however, with all winners since 2015 predating World War II and only seven post-war winning vehicles since its inception in 1950.
