Customs Pebble Beach Mercury Custom class winners

Just watching the Motor Trend coverage of Pebble Beach awards

1st Bob Hirohata '51 Mercury
2nd Sam Barris '49 Mercury
3rd Wally Welch '50 Mercury

 

Thanks for the update Jimmy

 

Thanks Jimmy, Hope the Pebble Beach photos start rolling in. HAMB coverage is always the best. Bob

 

Eric, I couldn't disagree more, 2 of those cars were restored largely by the owners, the only car totally done by a high end shop was the Sam Barris Merc. Are they better than the early 50s? Yes but cars are always restored to the standards of the time of restoration. Those three cars are the best, most elegant.

 

I was going to go, but figured the $150.00 it costs to get in would be better spent on strippers.

 

Amen

 

They are similar, both take your money but you can't touch........ though $150 you will likely get a private show with the stripper.

 

Those were near new cars when first customized. When I saw the Hirohata after the owner's restoration it was not over restored but looked like a new car that was customized. I don't know if the Hirohata has been restored again but what I saw was a very, very honest car.

 

I would guess the owners reasons for showing these cars at Pebble Beach doesn't have a lot to do with the judging but more about exposing them to a group of people who wouldn't ordinarily know and or care about this piece of automotive history. They all seem to genuinely like to make these cars available for people to see and enjoy the great history they represent.

 

It is about showcasing and honouring what are deemed to be the best & most significant of that chosen field. By being selected is a win in itself each car in the class is given an award. Each class may have 20+ cars vying for selection in a field of 9, 10 cars.

 

Having the cars together is great. Having them judged is stupid.

Laguna Seca was a better use of time in my opinion.

 

Yes .... but having them shown "with" strippers ....... is GENIUS !!!!!

 

You have a point!

 

It's a high honor just to be invited to show your car of any kind at Pebble Beach let alone a custom. The three cars are a great representation of the custom car world and of getting it right. That is why they have stood the test of time for the past 60 years and we don't get tired of looking at them or trying to capture the essence of the look they present.

You have to remember that the show at Pebble Beach is as much about the trophies and awards as it is about the cars themselves. For the Classic car brigade and the exotic sporty car or racing sporty car bunch winning at that show is as high a show honor as you can get and the bragging rights stay with the car even through successive owners. That said I doubt it was that important or important at all who placed first, second or third to the folks who owned those cars.

 

Actually ...

GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS
General Admission tickets to the 2015 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, August 16, are $300 in advance or $350 on day of show.

General Admission tickets include:
• Admission to Concours on Sunday, August 16
• Parking
• Shuttle Service
• Concours Event Program

 

It is still on my "Bucket List" and I'll most likely be happy paying twice that when we finally get there. Bob

 

Pebble Beach.....it sounds better than calling it swamp beach.

 

@HEMI32 wow! It has doubled in the 5 years since I was there, 2010 it was $175.

 

Here's a few of Terri (@Born a HotRodGal) Brizio Hollenbeck's snapshots of the Sam Barris Merc today at Pebble:

Left to Right: Darryl Hollenbeck (@hollenbeck32), Roy Brizio, John Mumford, & Billy Ganahl (@slixauto )​

 

definitely not my world but, enjoy seeing pictures of the custom & hot rods cars in most any setting. so many of those that are at those "shows" are amazing designs & execution

 

Dang, $350 and line at the porta potty.

 

Beside's the gal in the hat in the last pic- anyone under 65+ there? Three fiddy goes A LONG ways for parts.........Just Sayin........DAMN!

 

Watch the Mercurys getting their trophies here (jump to 2hrs 36mins 18secs)

 

Thanks for posting the video. Very Kool!

 

Jimmy, thanks for posting...I think it is great that what was once a high-end show for the very rich has opened up to hot rods and customs in the past few years....I watched the Hirohata Merc restored in R&C years ago, I don't think it was over-restored. In fact, the restoration corrected some of the mistakes in the original, including bubble gum welds on the rear casters, and bad repair to a fender well...the restoration was meticulous but true to the time of the car's custom creation....same for the Barris car.

 

Do you really think Darryl looks that old, It took me a while to,find the girl with a hat.

 

Beautiful mercs... I see it as a positive that hotrods and customs are invited to this prestigious show. I was there in '12 as media [photographer's assistant for my brother] and one of the theme's was post war homebuilt and low production sports rods.I totally loved that show and I was able to cross another thing off my bucket list. I'd be very honored if any car of mine was invited the the concours.

 

Jenkkauto, Thank you for posting the video, next best thing to being there. Bob

 

Its the best car show in the world, every one of the cars there is pretty much a 1 off, custom built creation.

Yes, $350 is a lot, but maybe, just once, you need to go to a show & see it....
Pebble Beach 2015 by Dave, on Flickr