For 69 years the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance has been the main event for Gentlemen Drivers and collectible car lovers from all over the world. It's an event focused on celebrating the beauty and elegance of cars from the past: in Pebble Beach people have always gathered to admire the automobile in its most beautiful and fascinating forms. This has always been the most important event of the Monterey Car Week: this year 216 cars from 17 countries have been judged for their history and elegance.
Let's not make a mystery out of it: Gentlemen Drivers love to celebrate anniversaries, especially during the most important events. After all, is there a better excuse to celebrate important recurrences in style?
By all means Pebble Beach's 2019 edition was the event of centenaries: Bentley and Zagato, both with reserved classes, were an integral part of the attending cars. Great importance was also given to other special classes in order to celebrate models such as the Lamborghini Miura, racing Bugattis, the Thomas Flyers', the Hot Rods and the Ballots.
During Sunday parade, the most important part of the event when the winners are announced, spectators were able to admire cars rarely seen elsewhere: starting from the four Bugatti Type 59 Grand Prix, to the oldest existing Bentley as well as the sumptuous Packards Twelve and classic Zagatos, the show brought the world's finest together among huge celebrations.
The jury consisting of some of the most influential designers and classic car experts in the world selected the winners with care, awarding not only best in class cars but also particularly notable ones. In fine Pebble Beach tradition, truly remarkable cars are always awarded for representing a peculiar context. Perhaps one of the most notorious and highly prized is the Lucious Beebe award, given to the most elegant Rolls Royce of the Concours, this year awarded to the gorgeous Phantom III Inskip Special Henley Coupé. Other important awards were the Strother McMinn award for the most elegant sportscar, which went to the Ferrari 250 GT Zagato of David Sydorick, and the Center for Automotive Research at Stanford (CARS) for the most technologically advance in-period car went to the Bentley 3 Litre Harrison Open Sports Tourer.
Lastly the most important prize: the Best of Show went to the wonderful Bentley 8 Litre Gurney Nutting Sports Tourer, belonging to Sir Michael Kadoorie from Hong Kong. Selected by the Jury among four other nominees, the 8 litre has represented the spirit of the centenary of this great British brand.
The collectible tie we created for the 2019 edition of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is actually inspired by another extremely rare Bentley model: the 8 Litre Vanden Plas Tourer from 1931. It is one of Bentley's real masterpieces, capable of revolutionizing mechanics, design and the driving experience all at the same time. A true symbol of style and performance.
A heritage of excellence which is echoed in the equally excellent centuries-old Italian tradition which has produced these exquisite The Outlierman ties: a tradition of good taste, immediately recognizable in the elegant but expressive design which sums up the Bentley identity, and a tradition of master craftsmanship that is perpetuated via the hands of the Como tailors, among the most skilled and renowned in Italy and throughout the world. The precise and authentic sense of a prestigious label like “100% Made in Italy”, that all the The Outlierman products can carry.
Words: Jacopo Villa, contributor
Photos: Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®
