Quick Answer: The 1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster, owned by Cincinnati collector Harry Yeaggy, has won Best of Show at the 75th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on 16 August 2026, beating 200 cars across two dozen classes on the 18th fairway at Pebble Beach.
New Delhi: The world’s most prestigious classic car show has crowned its 2026 champion, and it is one of the rarest American automobiles ever built. The 1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster of collector Harry Yeaggy has taken home the Best of Show trophy at the 75th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the grand finale of Monterey Car Week, held on the 18th green overlooking Carmel Bay.
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Why This Duesenberg Win Matters
Duesenberg built only two SSJ Special Speedsters, and remarkably, both were present on the Pebble Beach lawn this year, competing head-to-head in the Duesenberg class. The Model J was Duesenberg’s flagship offering from 1928 until the company folded in 1937 amid the Great Depression, and it is widely regarded as one of the finest American automobiles ever produced. The SSJ variant took things further with a shorter wheelbase and a centrifugal supercharger on its 420-cubic-inch straight-eight engine, making it the most powerful and lightest Duesenberg road car of its era.
This isn’t the first time an SSJ has made headlines at Pebble Beach. A sister car set the American auction record at $22 million when Gooding & Company sold it at Pebble Beach in 2018, underlining just how significant these two surviving speedsters are to collectors worldwide.
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A Landmark Year: 200 Cars, 75th Edition
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Edition | 75th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance |
| Winning Car | 1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster |
| Owner | Harry Yeaggy, Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Field Size | 200 cars across roughly two dozen classes |
| Notable Classes | Vignale-bodied Ferraris, Japanese motorsport icons, cars of Royal India |
| Prize | Engraved Rolex Perpetual 1908, plus Best of Show honours |
This year’s show also marked the end of an era off the lawn. Longtime Pebble Beach Concours chairwoman Sandra Button presented her final Best of Show award after a remarkable 40-year run leading the event, handing the reins to incoming president Vince Finaldi. “They can’t speak for themselves, and it’s up to us to take care of them for the future,” Button said of the cars while closing out her tenure.
AutoAkhbar Verdict
For Indian classic car enthusiasts who follow Pebble Beach from afar, this year’s result is a reminder of why Duesenberg remains the gold standard of American pre-war engineering. With coachbuilt bodywork, supercharged performance for its era, and a rarity of just two examples ever made, the SSJ’s win is less an upset and more a coronation. Expect this Duesenberg’s profile to rise further at upcoming Monterey Car Week auctions, where pre-war American classics continue to command eight-figure sums.
Source Name : Hagerty Media / Car and Driver
FAQ
What car won Best of Show at Pebble Beach 2026?
A 1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster, owned by collector Harry Yeaggy of Cincinnati, Ohio, won Best of Show at the 75th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2026.
How many Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedsters were built?
Duesenberg built only two SSJ Special Speedsters, and both were present competing in the same class at Pebble Beach 2026.
What is the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance?
It is widely regarded as the world’s premier classic car show, held annually on the 18th fairway at Pebble Beach Golf Links, California, as the finale of Monterey Car Week.
Who chaired the Pebble Beach Concours before 2026?
Sandra Button chaired the event for 40 years before handing the role to incoming president Vince Finaldi in 2026.
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