The 66th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance hosted 228 cars from 16 countries and 30 states to the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links, and concluded with first-time entrant Richard Mattei claiming Best of Show honors for his 1936 Lancia Astura Pinin Farina Cabriolet.
“I was just happy to be an entrant at Pebble Beach,” noted the surprised Mattei, “and now to get an award, and not just one, but three!” 
His Lancia, which was once owned by guitarist Eric Clapton, won its class before competing for Best of Show, and was also named the Gwenn Graham Most Elegant Convertible. Mattei purchased the Lancia in 2009 and spent the past six years restoring it.
The other final nominees for Best of Show honors included a 1938 Delahaye 165 Figoni & Falaschi Cabriolet owned by the Robert M. Lee Automobile Collection and shown by Anne Brockinton Lee of Sparks, Nevada; and a 1931 Stutz DV-32 LeBaron Convertible Victoria owned by Joseph and Margie Cassini III of West Orange, New Jersey.
This year’s Pebble Beach Concours, which also celebrated the 50th anniversary of Ford’s initial victory at Le Mans, the centennial of BMW and the cars of Giotto Bizzarrini, raised more than $1.75 million for charity. Through the Pebble Beach Company Foundation, the primary charitable partner of the Concours, these funds benefit more than 80 local charities.
The 67th Pebble Beach Concours will take place on Sunday, August 20, 2017, featuring Isotta Fraschini, Lincoln Centennial, and American Dream Cars of the 1960s. The 68th Pebble Beach Concours will be held on Sunday, August 26, 2018, and will include a special class for Significant Cars of India.
For a list of all of this year’s category winners, please visit sportscardigest.com/lancia-tops-pebble-beach-concours/
