As always, the 75th edition of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance featured an unsurpassed selection of automotive beauties and gems. More than 218 cars were judged on the historic golf course in Carmel-by-the-Sea, and the trophy ultimately went to a pre-war icon – the 1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster owned by Harry Yeaggy, who took home the engraved Rolex Perpetual 1908 that comes with the prize. The prominent previous ownership and the car's connection to Pebble Beach likely played a role in the judges' decision. The car once belonged to legendary Hollywood actor Clark Gable and later moved with its second owner to the California coastal town.
In fact, this is the second time the Ohio collector has won the "Best of Show" award for an American pre-war icon. In 2007, another car from his collection, the Duesenberg SJ Speedster from the same production year and nicknamed "Mormon Meteor," was awarded the top honor. "I won once before, 19 years ago, but I appreciate it a lot better now," said Yeaggy. "I appreciate the hard work it took and the time it took to get here. People don't realize how hard it is, how special it is, to win this award. It's amazing."
Duesenberg is traditionally a jury favorite
His car, one of only two Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedsters ever built, prevailed against equally spectacular competitors such as a 1938 Delahaye 165 Figoni et Falaschi Cabriolet, a 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta, and a 1954 Ferrari 375 America Vignale Cabriolet. No other brand has won at Pebble Beach as often as Duesenberg – the pinnacle of the American automobile industry before World War II.
While the collector car market currently tends to favor younger classics from the nineties and 2000s, the magnificent automobiles from Indianapolis were able to shine during Monterey Car Week – RM Sotheby's auctioned off the 1935 Duesenberg Model JN Convertible Coupe, which also once belonged to the "King of Hollywood," for over 9 million dollars. It is probably too early to speak of a "pre-war revival." Together with other strong auction results for classics from the thirties, however, this represents a real glimmer of hope for a category often predicted to decline.
The SSJ Special Speedster played in a league of its own
When you put the Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster into the context of its time, it seems even more spectacular. A supercharger pushed the voluminous eight-cylinder engine in the roadster, which is based on a Model J chassis with a shortened wheelbase, to almost 400 hp – while volume models at the time, such as the Ford V8, did not even have a quarter of this power.
Concours Chairman Sandra Button sums up the significance of the car: "Duesenberg often tops the list of desires for people with a passion for American classics, and the iconic SSJ is the marque's ultimate expression. This Special Speedster, one of just two made, offers both style and performance—and has a fantastic Hollywood backstory."
Photos: Tom O'Neal for Rolex
