Preservation Bugatti Wins Best in Show at 2024 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

The winning 1937 Bugatti Type 59 entering the show field for Dawn Patrol at Sunday’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Photo by D. Paul Graham

For the first time in the history of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the Best of Show award was given to a preservation car. Fritz Burkard of the Pearl Collection in Zug, Switzerland will fly home with the top award for the 1937 Bugatti Type 59 Sport. The Bugatti was one of 214 cars from 16 countries and 29 states that competed Sunday on the famed 18^th hole at Pebble Beach.

Concours Chairman Sandra Button noted, “This storied Bugatti, the first Type 59 built, is a rare factory race car that recorded multiple Grand Prix victories at the hands of several important racing greats—and it also has ties to royalty. Perhaps most importantly, it wears all of its history to this day, having been preserved in the livery it was given when redressed by King Leopold III of Belgium.”

Burkard exclaimed, “I’m so happy for the car, so happy for Bugatti. This car is incredible. It’s so much history—one of the most successful Bugattis in history—and to win with this car means a lot to me. First time a Swiss, first time a European win, first time a preservation wins. It’s important that preservation also gets recognition, because a car can only be once original. And it drives so beautifully.”

With this win, Bugatti and Mercedes-Benz are tied for the most Best of Show awards at Pebble Beach with ten wins each.

This year, the Pebble Beach Concours, through the Pebble Beach Company Foundation, has already raised more than $3 million for charity this year, bringing the event’s total charitable donations to over $41 million to date. The funds raised are used to benefit nearly 100 local nonprofits focused on youth education, impacting the lives of more than 10,000 children annually in Monterey County.