A 1929 Mercedes-Benz S Barker Tourer belonging to US collector Bruce McCaw has won Best of Show at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, beating stiff competition from a 1957 Ferrari 315 S Scaglietti Spyder belonging to McCaw’s brother, John.
The stunning pre-war tourer emerged from restoration just a week before the show, finished in a rich blue said to be inspired by a dress from the 1850s made from peacock feathers. The Mercedes retained its original Marchal lighting equipment and chrome-plated wheels, as well as a raft of tools housed within unusual torpedo-style running boards.
“We’ve had the car for several years,” said McCaw. “The question was whether or not to restore it. I always hate to restore something that doesn’t need it. But we finally found enough pictures that we knew the car needed to be restored.”
Concours Chairman Sandra Button said: “This Mercedes-Benz S Barker Tourer is a combination of speed, style and power. Somehow these three elements – along with those fantastic torpedo running boards – become the very definition of elegance.”
In an interesting case of sibling rivalry, Bruce McCaw’s Mercedes went head-to-head with a 1957 Ferrari 315 S Scaglietti Spyder owned by his brother John McCaw, and John’s wife Gwen. The 315 scooped the top gong in the Ferrari Major Race Winners category, edging the 1950 166MM Touring Barchetta of Jack and Kingsley Croul – which was awarded the Enzo Ferrari Trophy – and the 312 T F1 racer of Richard Griot.
The trio of Best of Show nominees was completed by William Connor’s 1932 Packard 906 Twin Six Dietrich Convertible Victoria, which won the Gwenn Graham Most Elegant Convertible award as well as coming out on top in the Packard class ahead of a 1932 904 Deluxe Eight Dietrich Sport Phaeton and a 1703 Super-8 Darrin Convertible Victoria.
