View our Most Recent Special Award Winners
Our Special Awards, including Elegance Awards, are selected by special committees of Honorary Judges. While most Special Award Trophies are perpetual and are maintained at Pebble Beach, winners are generally presented with a suitable trophy — often based on the Pebble Beach Concours Trophy.
Alec Ulmann Trophy
Established in 2012, is awarded to the car that best embodies the combination of excellence in performance and elegance in design.
Ansel Adams Award
Established in 1984, goes to the most desirable touring car in its era. The well-known photographer served often as an Honorary Judge at this Concours.
Art Center College of Design Award
Established in 2002, goes to the car that showed the best use of new technology in its era, had groundbreaking style and engineering, and has had the greatest impact on car design today.
Briggs Cunningham Trophy
Donated in 1978 by Briggs Cunningham himself, is awarded to the most exciting open car present. Cunningham was a great American sportsman and automobile creator and collector.
CARS at Stanford Award
Established in 2013, is presented to the most technologically advanced automobile of its time on our show field, as determined by students and professors from CARS: The Center of Automotive Research at Stanford.
Classic Car Club of America Trophy
Instituted in 2000, is awarded to the most significant classic car present.
Chairman’s Trophy
Established in 1983, is awarded to the most deserving car present as selected by the Chairman.
Charles A. Chayne Trophy
Established in 1978, is awarded to the car with the most advanced engineering of its era. Chayne, a former General Motors Vice President of Engineering, was a great supporter of this Concours.
Dean Batchelor Trophy
Donated by Ford Motor Company in 1977, is awarded to the most significant car related to our Hot Rod heritage. Batchelor was a noted auto writer and historian.
Elegance in Motion Trophy
Established in 1988, is awarded to the car deemed to be most elegant in motion. To qualify for this award, a car must have successfully completed the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance.
Enzo Ferrari Trophy
Named for the Maestro himself, is awarded to the best Ferrari present. This trophy was preceded by the Hans Tanner Trophy from 1974 to 1995, and the Luigi Chinetti Trophy from 1996 to 2004.
FIVA Awards
First presented in 1999, go to the best preserved and regularly driven cars as determined by a special committee guided by FIVA regulations.
Gran Turismo Trophy
Established in 2008, is awarded to the most significant car balancing both artistic beauty and performance at the highest level and most desired for inclusion in the Gran Turismo game series.
Lincoln Trophy
This award goes to the most significant Lincoln.
Lorin Tryon Trophy
Established in 1999, recognizes an automotive enthusiast who has contributed significantly to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and the car collector world. Tryon served as this event’s Co-Chairman for nearly three decades; his passion and expertise drew the most elegant cars to Pebble Beach.
Lucius Beebe Trophy
The Lucius Beebe Trophy is the first perpetual trophy to be established at the Concours, was first awarded in 1966. It goes to the Rolls-Royce considered most in tradition of Lucius Beebe, a bon vivant who served among our early judges.
Mercedes-Benz Star of Excellence Award
Donated in 1987 by Mercedes-Benz as the company embarked on its second century of existence, is presented to the most significant Mercedes-Benz.
Montagu of Beaulieu Trophy
Donated by Lord Montagu in 1982, is awarded to the most significant car of Britessentially ish origin.
Road & Track Trophy
Donated by Road & Track in 1989, is awarded to the car that the editors of that magazine would most like to drive.
The French Cup
Established in the mid-1980’s, is awarded to the most significant car of French origin.
The Phil Hill Cup
This award has a proud and lengthy history; it began as The Pebble Beach Cup and was awarded initially to the winner of the Pebble Beach Road Races. After the races concluded, it reemerged as Concours award for the most significant race car. In 2005, it was renamed for Hill, a World Driver’s Champion who had not only won three of the seven early Pebble Beach Road Races, but also won Best of Show twice at the Concours and was a longtime judge here.
Tony Hulman Trophy
Donated in 1993 by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation, is awarded to the most significant open wheel race car. Hulman owned the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for decades, and the Indianapolis 500 often started with his command, “Gentlemen, Start Your Engines.”
Elegance Awards
J.B. & Dorothy Nethercutt Most Elegant Closed Car
J.B. & Dorothy Nethercutt Most Elegant Closed Car is awarded to the most elegant closed car present. The Nethercutts won our top award, Best of Show, a record-setting six times, establishing the standards of authenticity and quality to which all Concours entrants now aspire.
Gwenn Graham Most Elegant Convertible
Gwenn Graham Most Elegant Convertible is awarded to the most elegant convertible present. Graham was involved in founding the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
Jules Heumann Most Elegant Open Car
Jules Heumann Most Elegant Open Car is awarded to the most elegant open car present. An open car has no side windows, though it may have side curtains, as compared to a convertible car, which generally has roll-up windows.
Strother MacMinn Most Elegant Sports Car
Strother MacMinn Most Elegant Sports Car is awarded to the most elegant sports car present. MacMinn was a respected automotive designer, instructor and historian who served for years as Chief Honorary Judge of this Concours.
“This event, the world’s premier classic car show… assembles the most discriminatingly curated selection of vintage vehicles anyone will ever see.”