Wedge Issues Invade The 73rd Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

For the first time in the seventy-three year history, The Wedge. Featured images that were captured through one of the posters - RetroAuto poster - had in the foreground the 1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero Bertone Coupe following a 1979 Aston Martin Bulldog - both prototype one-of cars. Image Credit: RetroAuto Poster Painting - Tim Layzell - Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance (2024)

Wedge Issues Invade The 73rd Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

A modern version of the best car-judging show known throughout the world, the Concours d'Elegance held on the Monterey Peninsula of central California along the 18th fairway at Pebble Beach golf course was riddled with wedge issues through the introduction of a design form as a classification.

The Wedge, once seen, fully understood. Two classes were introduced for the first time highlighting this line of design and innovation - V-1: Wedge-Shaped Concept Cars & Prototypes Early & V-2: Wedge-Shaped Concept Cars & Prototypes Late.

As the RetroAuto Poster description read >>> 73rd Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Poster  - Retro Auto - Nuccio Bertone’s 1970 Lancia Stratos HF Zero has been called “the ultimate wedge” car and it takes prime of place on our RetroAuto poster, which celebrates the bold lines and shapes that transformed automotive design in the 1960s and held sway through much of the ensuing decades. 

Here the Zero is hot on the tail of the 1979 Aston Martin Bulldog, which was said to be the fastest production car of its era. Both of these iconic wedge cars are charging through Del Monte Forest down to the Pebble Beach Concours show field.

On the lawn, this Best-In-Class Lancia Stratos HF Zero wedge is much smaller in stature than one expects just looking at a stand alone non-perspective picture. Image Credit: Albert Wong/Nacho Herrera (2024)

On the lawn, this Best-In-Class Aston Martin Bulldog wedge is full size and longer in stature than one expects just looking at a stand alone non-perspective picture. Image Credit: Albert Wong/Nacho Herrera (2024)

Sunday's surprise had these two cars win Best In Class awards as judged in the showfield. Both cars were owned and shown by Phillip Sarofim, Beverly Hills, California. Wedge issues.

Headlights on this Aston Martin Bulldog are cleanly mounted behind a dropdown flat wedge panel that forms the hood.
Image Credit: Albert Wong/Nacho Herrera (2024)

The diversity and breadth that appeared on the 18th Fairway to be judged was quite surprising since when one says "wedge" one believes that there may not be much room for interpretation. The classes did not have a limitation on year developed and produced so this broadened out these potentials and invigorated the overall 73rd Concours by their inclusion.

Wedges galore on the 18th Fairway - from front to back, 1955 Ghia Streamline X ‘Gilda’ Coupe | 1970 Mercedes-Benz C 111/II Sports Car | 1972 BMW Turbo Concept | 1976 Ferrari Rainbow Bertone Coupe | 1960 Plymouth XNR Ghia Roadster.
Image Credit: Albert Wong/Nacho Herrera (2024)

These two first time classes had 12 cars in the V-1 Class and 9 cars in the V-2 Class on the fairway to be judged.

The most recent car to be judged, and the newest car on the lawn, was this 2023 ItalDesign Asso di Picche In Movimento. "Ace Of Spades In Movement" is a 2+2 electric coupé, 3 doors, without a center pillar, built on a next-generation platform, and based on today’s rationale on car design choices shaped by the concepts of safety and electrification. "Asso di Picche In Movimento" is 4662 mm long, 1230 mm high and 1945 mm wide.

 

"Italdesign Asso di Picche In Movimento" is, in fact, the name chosen for the digital anniversary show-car that translates the original model into the present, conferring a timeless nature, while preserving its essence and the simplicity of its design.
Image Credit: Albert Wong/Nacho Herrera (2024)

Vehicle body in aluminum and windows in polycarbonate combine to form one monolithic and seamless aerodynamic whole, enclosed by a single unbroken outline that unifies the roof, front end and rear end, all the way down to the tail panel, wrapping around the passenger compartment. Image Credit: Albert Wong/Nacho Herrera (2024)

On the rear, together with a reflector and a centrally located extractor, an active spoiler, chosen to contribute to the car’s aerodynamics. Image Credit: Albert Wong/Nacho Herrera (2024)

The top view highlights the visual continuity between the windshield, roof and rear window: a single transparent expanse, a true architectural element that guarantees a bright interior and structural strength. Underneath it, are concealed the cameras that replace side rearview mirrors, which were absent on the first model. Designed to protect passengers from the sun, a part of the roof has been treated like a polarized lens and filters out 100% of UVA rays.

With a designer's note that captures the finned era of the 1950s, this 1960 Plymouth XNR Ghia Roadster grabs all that is imaginative from that time. From the flair accents highlighting the wheel position along the side panels, to the attention-getting chrome and badging displays, set this platform on a different level.

Embedded chrome along the bumper and fin lines as well as the badging serve to pronounce the pedigree of this concept wedge. Image Credit: Albert Wong/Nacho Herrera (2024)

Chrome billet grille, scoop, and dual headlights create quite an entrance. Image Credit: Albert Wong/Nacho Herrera (2024)

Wheel cover design consistent with this finned-era designed platform. Image Credit: Andrew McCredie via Driving (2024)

One of the more brilliant displays in "one-of wedgedom" would probably have to be a car that was first at Pebble Beach in August on the concept lawn in 2017. It is a car valued at over $1.5 Million dollars and built through the design talents of Ken Okuyama, a graduate of ArtCenter College of Design. 

If that name sounds familiar, Okuyama is a career automotive design pro who spent much of his career at Pininfarina. He is credited in helping create vehicles like the original Acura NSX, Ferrari 599 GTB, Ferrari Enzo, Maserati Birdcage 75th Concept, and even the fourth-generation Chevrolet Camaro. Yes, that Camaro. 

The car is the Kode 0 - Debut: 2017 - Engine: 6.5-Liter V12 - Specs: 690 Horsepower / 507 pound-feet.

Scissor style cab forward doors add to the attractive entrance into the cabin of this sculpted metal wedge supercar.
Image Credit: Albert Wong/Nacho Herrera (2024)

The rear styling notes seem to have been copied by Lexus but never as beefy as the original.
Image Credit: Albert Wong/Nacho Herrera (2024)

And what's a wedge show without a 1988 Cizeta-Moroder V16T Prototype.

The Cizeta-Moroder was designed by Marcello Gandini — he of the Miura, Countach, and Lancia Stratos — and incorporates classic wedge design cues, including a nose close to the ground and a rear high up in the air. It debuted at the 1989 Los Angeles and Geneva auto shows, and was owned by Moroder until 2022. Image Credit: Albert Wong/Nacho Herrera (2024)

Cizeta-Moroder Motors srl, which was based in Modena, brought together Giorgio Moroder, financier and California show-business (music), and the technician Claudio Zampolli. The carbonfiber monocoque covers a big 6.9-litre V12 engine with a power output of 690 horsepower.

The last and most tragic wedge issue happened the evening after a day of motor culture celebration was over and in the books. 

The 1979 Ford Probe I Ghia Concept was designed by Ford design chief Don F. Kopka along with Carozzeria Ghia, and was based on a Fox-body Mustang platform with a turbocharged 2.3-litre four-cylinder Cobra engine. With its rear wheel spats, elongated rear deck and large glass greenhouse, the Probe I influenced many future Ford production cars.

A last procession for a unique American prototype. Image Credit: Albert Wong/Nacho Herrera (2024)

Greenhouse cabin sets this wedge concept apart from all on the showfield. Image Credit: Albert Wong/Nacho Herrera (2024)

Funny, no one thinks about the real joy in being a part of this unique event with one-of unique cars and how truly special this is until one is jerked hard toward a reality that nothing lasts forever, especially when the glow of the moment is brought to a halt through the glow of a fire. 

Burnt out framework of the 1979 Ford Probe I Ghia Concept (Sunday, August 18, 2024). Image Credit: Scott Grundfor Co. on Instagram FB/META (2024)

The car is owned by Scott Grundfor Co., an Arroyo Grande, California restoration operation, that has worked on and also owns some 15 other rare Ford prototypes. Drew Grundfor, speaking on behalf of the company, told Motor Trend that the burned-out shell of the car is expected to be displayed in the Scott Grundfor Co. showroom, and that they still have to decide whether they will attempt to restore the car, or leave it as-is.

The estimated value of the car has been rumored to be about $1 Million dollars.

Issues, issues, issues - wedge issues, after which the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance will never be the same.

... notes from The EDJE

TAGS: RetroAuto, Wedge, 73rd Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, BMW, Ford, Cizeta-Moroder, Ken Okuyama, Kode 0, Plymouth, Ghia, Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Lancia Stratos, The EDJE