April 19 , 1953 – Pebble Beach breaks 100 entries

Concours d’Elegance. Just saying it sounds fancy. Visitors to the opening of the annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on this day in 1953 were the first to see a Concours featuring more than 100 vehicle entries. The first Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance was held in 1950, in conjunction of the first Pebble Beach Road Race. The show then, as it is now, is reserved for the best of the best, drawing vehicles and people from all over the world. It is said to be the most enthralling collection of automobiles at any one place at one time. 

The Best of Show winner of the inaugural show was Sterling Edwards and his custom built 1950 Edwards R-26 Special Sport Roadster. The winner of the 1953 show, which started today and drew for the first time more than 100 entries, was Peter Clowes in his 1953 Austin Healey 100.