VINTAGE: Mercedes-Benz Torpedo Awarded Best Of Show At Pebble Beach

A 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S Saoutchik Torpedo owned by Paul and Judy Andrews of White Settlement, Texas, was named Best of Show at the 62nd Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, held Sunday on the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links. The event showcased 220 cars from 33 states and 15 countries and raised $1,077,220 for charity.

"This car really has everything," said Concours Chairman Sandra Button. "It has fantastic German engineering, elegant French styling, and a wonderful restoration by Paul Russell. It's a car you can imagine racing as well as touring. It's just a marvelous embodiment of everything that is Mercedes-Benz."

Jacques Saoutchik made seven avant-garde Torpedo bodies for the Mercedes-Benz 680S chassis, each differing in their details. The combination of chrome accents and low windshield make this car, shown first at the 1928 New York Auto Show, both a sports car and a luxury touring car.

This year’s Pebble Beach Concours featured cars with Saoutchik coachwork as a special class, along with special classes for Maharaja Cars, Mercer, Fiat, Mercedes SLs, Sport Customs and German Motorcycles.

"I'm not sure I can put into words how I feel," said Paul Andrews, founder and CEO of TTI, who owns the Mercedes-Benz Saoutchik Torpedo. "It's probably the most wonderful feeling I've had in my life. It's the culmination of a lot of hard work by a lot of people.”

The judging process at the Pebble Beach Concours is two-fold: Class Judges focus primarily on originality and authenticity, while Honorary Judges direct their attention to design, styling and elegance. To be eligible to win Best of Show, a car must first win its class.

Other nominees for Best of Show included a 1935 Duesenberg J Gurney-Nutting Speedster, a 1931 Duesenberg J Derham Tourster, and a 1933 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Figoni Coupé.

Tonight Show host Jay Leno made a guest appearance at the event, offering tickets to his show and tours of his Big Dog Garage, raising more than $50,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County. Also in attendance were Steve Carrell, George Lucas, Adrien Brody and Adam Carolla.

The 63rd Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance will take place August 18, 2013.

Source: Speed TV