Critical Shifts:
-
Clark Gable’s Former Duesenberg Won Top Honors: A restored 1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster owned by Harry Yeaggy was awarded Best of Show, marking Duesenberg's eighth overall win—the most of any American marque.
-
Charitable Milestone Surpassed: The event raised over $4.3 million this year, pushing its lifetime charitable donations beyond the $50 million mark to benefit local Monterey County youth programs.
-
Global and Historical Homecoming: The winning car returned to its former home in Pebble Beach, where its second owner resided for nearly 12 years, amidst a competitive field of 218 entries from 14 countries.
-
Record-Breaking Auction Performance: Official auction house Gooding Christie’s recorded its highest-grossing sale ever at over $159 million, headlined by a 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe selling for nearly $43 million—the most valuable American car ever sold at auction.
________________________________________________________________________-
A 1935 Duesenberg SSJ with a Hollywood pedigree took home the top honor at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, as the celebrated event marked its 75th anniversary and surpassed $50 million in total charitable giving.
The winning Duesenberg, originally owned by actor Clark Gable, was shown by Cincinnati collector Harry Yeaggy. The Special Speedster is one of only two SSJs built and recently underwent a restoration to its original presentation, including black lacquer paint and a light saddle leather interior.
Yeaggy is no stranger to the Pebble Beach winner’s circle. He previously won Best of Show in 2007 with the 1935 Duesenberg SJ Speedster known as the “Mormon Meteor.”
“People don’t realize how hard it is, how special it is, to win this award,” Yeaggy said after receiving his second Best of Show trophy.
The victory also adds another trophy to Duesenberg’s remarkable Pebble Beach record. The marque now has eight Best of Show wins, more than any other American manufacturer.
The 75th Concours featured 218 cars from 14 countries and 30 U.S. states. Other Best of Show contenders included a 1938 Delahaye 165 Cabriolet, a 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta and a 1954 Ferrari 375 America Cabriolet.
Pebble Beach Tops $50 Million for Charity
The Concours has raised more than $4.3 million for charity this year, pushing its cumulative charitable contributions to $50,154,192.
Through the Pebble Beach Company Foundation, the money supports more than 130 Monterey County nonprofits focused on children's education, health and well-being. More than half of the event's lifetime charitable giving has come during the past decade.
The event's broader collector-car activity also produced major auction results. Gooding Christie’s reported more than $159 million in sales during its 22nd year as the official auction house, with a 94% sell-through rate.
The headline sale was a 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, which brought nearly $43 million and set records as both the most valuable American car ever sold at auction and the highest-priced car sold by Gooding Christie’s.
