Elegance at Pebble Beach

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【Summary】A 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster won Best of Show at the 2023 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The car is a rare vehicle with only three Long-Tail Special Roadsters with a covered spare that still exist worldwide. It was purchased by collector Jim Patterson in 2022 and was in almost original condition with only 13,000 miles on it. The car represents the iconic engineering and Streamline Moderne styling of the Classic era.

FutureCar Staff Aug 23, 2023 6:38 AM PT

2023's Monterey Car Week and the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance concluded with a stunning victory for a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster. The car, one of only three Long-Tail Special Roadsters with a covered spare that still exist worldwide, won the prestigious Best of Show award on Sunday afternoon, August 20.

The proud owner of the winning car is Jim Patterson, a well-known collector and concours winner from Louisville, Kentucky, and Palm Beach, Florida. Patterson expressed his excitement, stating, "We recognized and bought this car because it was a rare vehicle. Its condition was almost virginal. It had never been separated from its drivetrain, never restored, and had only 13,000 miles on it."

The 1937 Mercedes-Benz Special Roadster is not only a rare find but also a remarkable example of engineering and design. With its advanced, high-power supercharged straight-eight engine and Streamline Moderne styling, the car embodies the pinnacle of the Classic era between the World Wars.

Patterson acquired the car in early 2022 through an RM Sotheby's auction. Although the car was complete, Patterson's team still dedicated efforts to perfecting it. "We redid everything about it," Patterson revealed. "But we didn't have to order or make any parts."

The victory of this vehicle at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance showcases the continued appreciation for uniquely designed, coachbuilt cars from the pre-World War II era. Ken Gross, a veteran Pebble Beach judge and automotive author, expressed his admiration, stating, "Historic elegance prevails. People think the concours should be rapidly moving toward awarding postwar cars, but even in a year of incredibly tight competition, this was a breathtaking example."

Regardless of the reasoning behind the car's win, the passion and enthusiasm for these remarkable pieces of automotive history never fail to captivate audiences at Pebble Beach. Whether it be a 1937 Mercedes-Benz or a more contemporary vehicle, the celebration of rolling sculpture continues to draw crowds and inspire awe.