1986 Best of Show Winner
April 14, 2021
1936 Mercedes-Benz 500K Special Roadster shown by Arturo Keller
On its centennial anniversary in 1986, Mercedes-Benz was the featured marque at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and a special display of 500K and 540K models posed on the front lawn of The Lodge. Appropriately, a 500K celebrating its golden anniversary took the show’s top award.
That 1936 Mercedes-Benz 500K Special Roadster is owned by Arturo Keller of Petaluma, California, who is one of the most respected collectors of the marque.
The car previously resided in several private collections and it was in good shape when Mr. Keller acquired it. Nonetheless he had the car restored from the ground up, desiring it to be its very best self.
When the car was judged at the 1986 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, it was indeed deemed to be the best.
What could be better than the best? Mr. Keller went home from Pebble Beach with more than Best of Show. He had actually brought six Mercedes-Benz cars to the 1986 Concours, and he went home with six awards. In addition to the show’s top award, his cars earned a special award for best Mercedes, two First in Class awards, and two Second in Class awards.
