California, 15 August 2021 – This afternoon’s crowning of the 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Autobahn Kurier as the 2021 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® Best of Show brought to a close this year’s car celebrations in California. Rolex has supported classic automotive events on the West Coast for 24 years through its relationships with the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering. These events pay tribute to those who dedicate their lives to preserving and remembering the past, while continuing to influence the future.

PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE®

The perfectly curated and maintained cars entered into this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® rolled on to the fairway today at dawn. Amid the notorious Californian fog, this morning’s meticulous judging took place to decide the Best in Class winners and the esteemed main award. In homage to its 70th anniversary, the Concours welcomed back several of its previous Best of Show recipients, as well as winners of the original Pebble Beach Road Races. While eight electric cars from the late 19th and early 20th centuries graced the golf greens, emphasizing how technologies of the past continue to be relevant today. Away from the 17th and 18th holes, pioneering cars of tomorrow lined up on the concept lawn, challenging notions of future mobility.

In recognition of the style, authenticity and technical precision of the 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Autobahn Kurier, Rolex awarded a specially engraved Oyster Perpetual Datejust 41 to the car’s owners, Arturo and Deborah Keller. Following the prize-giving ceremony they said:

PEBBLE BEACH TOUR D’ELEGANCE® PRESENTED BY ROLEX

Earlier on in the week, crowds gathered on a mild Thursday to witness the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance® presented by Rolex, the prelude to the Concours. A diverse array of designs, dimensions, colours and vintages lined up on Portola Road for this display of automotive heritage in motion. A revised route this year saw the motorcade travel along sections of the 17-Mile Drive heading into Carmel Valley and then down to Big Sur, before returning to Pebble Beach. The event celebrates the ongoing vigour and performance of these incredible vehicles, set against the stunning Californian backdrop.

ROLEX MONTEREY MOTORSPORTS REUNION

From Thursday to Sunday, close to 400 racing cars competed at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca during the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Cars spanning 106 years of automotive history took on this legendary 3.602-km (2.238-mile) circuit, showcasing the evolution of materials, engines and downforce levels – from the wood and steel of the early 20th century Ragtime Racers, through to the turbocharged Indy Cars of the 1960s and 1970s, and the ground effect aerodynamics and carbon fibre of 1980s Formula 1® machines. For the drivers, it’s a chance to live out their childhood dreams, racing wheel-to-wheel in the cars their heroes once drove.

In 2021, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion honoured Ford in Trans-Am and the 55th anniversary of the Pony Car Wars. The four-day event celebrated Ford’s influence on the series and the era-defining, championship-winning Mustangs. Throughout the Reunion, spectators of all ages soaked up the atmosphere in the infield and grandstands, appreciating the workmanship and racing pedigree of these vintage cars.

THE QUAIL, A MOTORSPORTS GATHERING

On Friday, the Quail Lodge & Golf Club welcomed some of the finest classic and modern vehicles in the world for The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering. 5,000 guests enjoyed this exclusive garden party, revelling in the automotive unveilings – including the much-anticipated Lamborghini Countach – and the breadth of motorized heritage on display. Rolex has partnered with the event since 2005, supporting The Quail’s commitment to the people behind the restoration of these vehicles. A 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K was also the proud recipient of the peer-judged Rolex Best of Show this year, with a Special Roadster edition taking the honours. In the Rolex Circle of Champions following their victory, owner K. Heinz Keller and preserver Alfredo Garcia said:

The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering form an unrivalled collection of motoring events, bringing together passionate car custodians. Rolex supports their ongoing desire to share these automotive masterpieces with the world, and in doing so keeping the past alive and helping drive future innovations and technologies.