Kings of The Road
Ferraris Take Center Stage at Pebble Beach 's Concours d'Elegance
Story and Photographs By Winston Goodfellow

Now I know what it is like to play in the Super Bowl. Just as that ultimate game and Kentucky Derby are recognized as the pinnacle in their respective fields, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is the undisputed greatest show in the collector car world.

On the third Sunday in August every year, participants and spectators from around the world descend upon California 's picture-postcard-perfect Monterey peninsula to see the big boys battle it out for the coveted “Best of Show” prize and other trophies.

What makes the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance so special is the cars can only be shown once every 10 years, thus guaranteeing the “best of the best” field each time out.

Millionaire's insider look began several weeks earlier when we were contacted by Ferrari aficionado Brandon Wang. He had recently purchased a 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC Speciale that was designed and built for Belgium 's Princess Lilian de Rethy in 1967. The Princess had owned the car up to her passing, making Wang the car's second owner.

“I have just been invited to show the car at Pebble Beach ,” he said, “and I want you to display it for me. Would you be interested?” No other coercion was needed, for the Concours d'Elegance is by invitation only and the event was billed to be the best in its 54-year-old history. Approximately 200 entries filled the 18 th green at the fabled Pebble Beach golf course, and this year's show would see cars exhibited from 30 different countries. Headliners included Rolls-Royce, which was celebrating its 100 th anniversary, and the 50 th anniversary of Mercedes' immortal 300SL “Gullwing.”

But it was the gathering of Ferraris that had everyone talking prior to the event. The famed Italian firm possesses a mystique like no other, and with good reason. An enigmatic man — Enzo Ferrari — created the cars and company, and the sheer force of his will was the impetus to the small Italian concern gaining worldwide fame with an incredible string of successful endurance and Formula 1 race cars. And from the same hallowed walls of that factory, a never-ending flow of bewitching street machines has captivated the world since 1947.

There would be 40 Ferraris on display in what was being billed as the “greatest collection of significant Ferraris ever assembled.” From the numerous entries received, the selection committee handpicked each Ferrari because of its rarity, condition, and history. Acceptance notices were then sent to collectors such as Wang, leaving many proud owners disappointed that their prized Ferrari would not be shown in this special year.

Amazingly, once those 40 Ferraris lined up on Sunday, it seemed that “greatest collection” declaration may have actually understated the case. For instance, the class of “Major Race Winners” had 10 on exhibit, and only Ferraris that had won races such as the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans in France or Italy 's Mille Miglia, a grueling 1,000-mile enduro that was discontinued in 1957, could be shown. The value of these irreplaceable machines likely exceeded $90 million to $100 million.

But they were not the only racing Ferraris on display. The standard “Ferrari Competition” class had one of the two surviving (of three made) 1954 340/375 MM Berlinettas, not one but two 250 GTOs (value approximately $7 million-$9 million each ), and an incredible low and slinky 275 GTB/C that placed second overall at Le Mans in 1965. Another class had Ferrari Formula 1 cars, the first being from 1952, the most recent from Ferrari's world championship-winning season last year.

Princess Lilian's 330 Speciale was entered in the “Ferrari Speciale Closed,” one of the two classes devoted to the road cars. The other class, “Ferrari Open,” included a 1947 Spyder Corsa, the fourth Ferrari made, two extremely collectable 250 Spyder Californias from the early 1960s, and a 1973 Daytona Spyder, one of just 125 built.

The Princess Lilian 330 Speciale was one of 10 cars in the “Ferrari Speciale Closed” class. Because this Ferrari had only 16,000 original miles on it, Wang wanted to preserve its outstanding original condition; thus, any type of restoration was unnecessary. A quick detail was done, and we picked the car up at 6:30 Sunday morning and drove it on to the field. In the slow-moving procession we were sandwiched between a spectacular pre-World War II Rolls-Royce and a 1957 Ferrari 250 Series I Cabriolet. Television star, collector, and Pebble Beach participant Jay Leno was on hand, walking the row of cars and saying hi to all as we waited to be escorted onto the field. Later in the day, Leno would win his class and then quip, “ Pebble Beach is great because ordinary millionaires can compete with billionaires and win!”

Once we were situated on the field, it was clear our class would be incredibly tough. Imagine lining up against the San Francisco 49ers during their dynasty years or the Chicago Bulls during the Michael Jordan era, and you get an idea of the playing field. A couple of cars caught my immediate attention — a 1955 250 Europa from Germany that was the only one manufactured, and a 375 MM from the same year with an equally spectacular body style. Both had obviously been subjected to “open checkbook” meticulous restorations. A 1957 250 with Zagato coachwork was just one of two made and it also had an immaculate restoration, while Luigi Chinetti, Jr., the son of America's former Ferrari importer, was there with his 1966 365 P, just one of two made. Chinetti's car had a swoopy body that featured central steering.

At mid-morning a group of four judges approached, ready to scrutinize the Princess Lilian Ferrari. As a chief class judge at Pebble Beach , I was fairly relaxed, especially since Brandon Wang wanted to show the car “for fun” rather than serious competition. Before letting them loose on their judging duties, I pointed out the car was totally original and had only been serviced by Belgium 's Ferrari importer at the Royal Palace . “They never sent the Royal Family an invoice,” I mentioned. “Thus, I can't show you the service history.” I then produced documents such as customs papers that authenticated the Princess' ownership.

Because Pebble Beach judges don't touch the car, I opened the hood so they could inspect the engine compartment, the trunk, and the doors. Items such as the spare wheel were closely scrutinized, as was the condition of the interior. All lights, gauges, and windows were checked, and the Ferrari was started and run for a period of time so the judges could look for leaking fluids. While the luscious V12 idled, the fuel filter showed signs of seepage that later turned out to be a worn gasket, which along with a clock that wasn't functioning properly, were two areas where points would undoubtedly be deducted.

Approximately 20 minutes later, the judging was completed. I kept my cell phone within arm's reach, clutching it like a bar of gold. For those three hours waiting for the results, I sat on pins and needles, hoping that we might somehow beat the substantial odds and place third. Alas, it was not to be. In the end, though, it did not matter because we had the thrill of competing, the judges and spectators loved the originality of the car, and just to be a part of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance was like scoring a touchdown in the collector car world's Super Bowl.

( Next year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance will take place August 21, and will feature Alfa Romeo. For further information, visit www.pebblebeachconcours.net .)