The 2025 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance crowned a stunning 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C Nieuport-Astra Torpedo, owned by Penny and Lee Anderson Sr. of Naples, Florida, as its Best of Show. The event, a glittering showcase of automotive artistry, saw 229 cars - 55 international entries from 22 countries and 174 from 31 U.S. states - grace the competition field.
Concours Chairman Sandra Button praised the Hispano-Suiza, noting its technical prowess and exquisite craftsmanship. “This car checks every box,” she remarked, highlighting its advanced engineering and meticulously hand-crafted body. Commissioned by aperitif heir André Dubonnet, the car competed in the Targa Florio and Coppa Florio races. Later modified with pontoon fenders, the Andersons restored it to its original torpedo form, emphasizing its sleek lines.
Nicknamed the “Tulipwood” Torpedo, the car’s body is crafted from carved mahogany strips, secured with 8,500 rivets, resulting in a featherlight 160-pound structure. Lee Anderson, a longtime collector of antique wooden boats, was drawn to the car’s varnished wood. “When I saw it, I thought, this is my kind of car,” he said, referencing his 40-year passion for wood-crafted vehicles.
Penny Anderson admitted the win was unexpected but dreamed of. “We had no idea, but we hoped!” she exclaimed. Lee added, “Winning Pebble Beach is the pinnacle of automobile collecting.” This marks the Andersons’ second Best of Show, following their 2022 victory with a 1932 Duesenberg J. Hispano-Suiza previously claimed the top prize in 1989.
Charity remains a cornerstone of the event, with over $4 million raised this year, pushing the Concours’ lifetime charitable contributions past $45 million. These funds, through the Pebble Beach Company Foundation, support nearly 100 Monterey County nonprofits, impacting over 10,000 children annually.
In a whirlwind of high-stakes bidding at Gooding Christie’s, the official auction house for 21 years, a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Competizione roared to a jaw-dropping $25,305,000, claiming the crown as the most expensive car ever sold by the firm. With a presale estimate soaring “in excess of $20,000,000,” this concours classic was destined to outshine the competition during the blockbuster weekend, which saw Gooding Christie’s gross over $127 million. The California Spider, ticking every box for rarity, history, and craftsmanship, now holds the title of the highest-priced California Spider and most valuable car ever auctioned by the Gooding Christie's firm.
For context, a 2025 Ferrari Daytona SP3 fetched $26,000,000 at RM Sotheby’s, with proceeds fueling charity, though such altruistic sales don’t fully reflect an actual market-value.
We would no doubt dub this 1961 Ferrari a "timeless masterpiece, where heritage meets high-octane bidding frenzy," cementing its place in automotive auction lore.
In the end as far as Best Of Show, "Nice Woodie!" It torpedoed all of the competition parked next to the Pacific Ocean along the 18th fairway of the Pebble Beach Golf Course in judgement of the 74th edition of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
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