1924 Hispano-Suiza
Wins Best Of Show At
2025 Pebble Beach Concours
The 2025
Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
crowned a stunning 1924
Hispano-Suiza H6C Nieuport-Astra Torpedo, owned by Penny and Lee Anderson Sr. of
Naples, Florida, as its Best of Show. The event, a glittering showcase of automotive
artistry, saw 229 cars - 55 international entries from 22 countries and 174
from 31 U.S. states - grace the competition field.
Concours Chairman Sandra Button praised the Hispano-Suiza, noting its technical prowess and exquisite craftsmanship. “This car checks every box,” she remarked, highlighting its advanced engineering and meticulously hand-crafted body. Commissioned by aperitif heir André Dubonnet, the car competed in the Targa Florio and Coppa Florio races. Later modified with pontoon fenders, the Andersons restored it to its original torpedo form, emphasizing its sleek lines.
Nicknamed the “Tulipwood” Torpedo, the car’s body is crafted from carved mahogany strips, secured with 8,500 rivets, resulting in a featherlight 160-pound structure. Lee Anderson, a longtime collector of antique wooden boats, was drawn to the car’s varnished wood. “When I saw it, I thought, this is my kind of car,” he said, referencing his 40-year passion for wood-crafted vehicles.
Penny Anderson admitted the win was unexpected but dreamed of. “We had no
idea, but we hoped!” she exclaimed. Lee added, “Winning Pebble Beach is the
pinnacle of automobile collecting.” This marks the Andersons’ second Best of
Show, following their 2022 victory with a
1932 Duesenberg J. Hispano-Suiza previously claimed the top prize in 1989.
The Best of Show race was fierce, with contenders like the
1939 Maybach SW38 Spohn Sport Zweisitzer
from Dana and Patti Mecum, the 1933 Invicta 4½ Litre S Type Corsica Drophead
Coupé from
SBH of Bahrain, and the
1956 Maserati 200SI Fantuzzi Open Sports Racer
from
Phillip Sarofim. The Concours kicked off with the 27th
Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance, a 70-mile coastal drive, where completing entries gained an edge in tied
class competitions.
Charity remains a cornerstone of the event, with over $4 million raised this
year, pushing the Concours’ lifetime charitable contributions past $45
million. These funds, through the Pebble Beach Company Foundation, support
nearly 100
Monterey County nonprofits, impacting over 10,000 children annually.
|
| 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Competizione - hammered-down at $25,305,000 market-value. Image Credit: Gooding Christie's (2025) |
In a whirlwind of high-stakes bidding at Gooding Christie’s, the official auction house for 21 years, a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Competizione roared to a jaw-dropping $25,305,000, claiming the crown as the most expensive car ever sold by the firm. With a presale estimate soaring “in excess of $20,000,000,” this concours classic was destined to outshine the competition during the blockbuster weekend, which saw Gooding Christie’s gross over $127 million. The California Spider, ticking every box for rarity, history, and craftsmanship, now holds the title of the highest-priced California Spider and most valuable car ever auctioned by the Gooding Christie's firm.
For context, a 2025 Ferrari Daytona SP3 fetched $26,000,000 at RM Sotheby’s,
with proceeds fueling charity, though such altruistic sales don’t fully
reflect an actual market-value.
We would no doubt dub this 1961 Ferrari a "timeless masterpiece, where
heritage meets high-octane bidding frenzy," cementing its place in automotive
auction lore.
In the end, as far as Best Of Show, "Nice Woodie!" It torpedoed all of the
competition parked next to the Pacific Ocean along the 18th fairway of the
Pebble Beach Golf Course in judgement of the 74th edition of the Pebble
Beach Concours d'Elegance.
... notes from
The EDJE
Post Script - Pre-Restoration & Link:
Gerald Albertini, a Standard Oil heir and passionate automobile enthusiast living in London,
acquired the Hispano-Suiza H6C Nieuport-Astra Torpedo and reimagined the restoration,
most notable replacing the cycle-style fenders with meticulously crafted elegant wooden clad
torpedo-style wheel compartments (click image for full history).
 |
| Known original build before "custom" coach modifications - bling didn't really improve the original presentation and hence - Best Of Show Winner. Image Credit: André Dubonnet via RM Sotheby's (2022) |
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TAGS:
Hispano-Suiza, Pebble Beach, Concours d’Elegance, Best Of Show,
Tulipwood, classic cars, car auction, charity, automotive history, The
EDJE
