Latest Vehicles

Most Popular Vehicles

Latest Features

Latest Topics

Featured Galleries

Photo of the Day

2005 Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance
By: Drew Phillips
Photos by the author and Nathan Leach-Proffer
August 23, 2005

Article Images


Now in its eighth year, the Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance kicked off the annual classic car events in the Monterey peninsula. The drive has not only become one of the favorite events for the owners, but it also gives the public a chance to see the cars in action on the scenic roads of the northern California coast. In fact, this is the main reason that the tour was started - to show people that the cars could actually be driven. While participation in the tour is not mandatory for Concours entrants, cars that complete the route will be given the advantage in the event of a tie during judging on Sunday. This year over 1/4 of the cars entered the tour.

Leading this year's tour in a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing was Sir Stirling Moss, a familiar face at Pebble Beach. This was fitting, since Moss drove a Mercedes-Benz 300SLR to a famous win in the 1955 Mille Miglia fifty years ago. Both Moss and the car could be seen together just a few days later at the Concours.

The route for this year's tour was significantly changed from previous years. Instead of heading up through coastal portions of 17-mile drive and east on Hwy 68 to Laguna Seca, the cars drove more of a southern route. After leaving the grounds of Pebble Beach, the procession of classic cars heads through the eastern section of 17-mile drive, out to inland private roads, and then down a long stretch of Hwy 1 along the coast.

The drive along the Pacific Coast Highway provided perhaps the most scenic of all the tours. The cars winded through the rolling hills lining the coast and along some of the most beautiful portions of the road that spans the entire country. Spectators lined the highway to watch the string of cars drive by, and an especially large crowd gathered to see the cars cross the famous Bixby bridge.

After arriving at the checkpoint at the Pt. Sur Naval Station, the cars headed back up PCH to Carmel for the traditional lunch along Ocean Avenue. The usual crowds gathered along the streets of downtown Carmel, and actually viewing the cars is nearly impossible. After lunch, the cars headed back towards Pebble Beach where the cars were stored until the Concours on Sunday.

Over the last few years, the Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance has been added to the list of premier events during the weekend that attracts as much attention as any of the shows or auctions. The opportunity for everyone to see the cars driven as well as the beautiful scenery along the California coastline makes it a favorite as well. We hope to see more cars participate in future tours as the event develops and grows over the years.