Most people think about the Pebble Beach Concours ‘d Elegance and only visualize the wonderful show cars parked on the lawn Sunday morning. But there are a few other events that happen at Pebble Beach before and during the concours, such as RetroAuto and the exhibitions by members of the Automotive Fine Arts Society.
To start with, the Pebble Beach RetroAuto show is akin to a shopping mall of the best artworks, automobilia, clothing and accessories for those happily afflicted with car fever. At the event, held at the Inn at Spanish Bay, you could buy Suixtil Clothing like that worn in period by Stirling Moss and other motorsports stars, a Ferrari Dino-inspired wallet by GTO London, rare automotive books from Horton’s Books, or a Jaguar toolkit from Liverpool Motorworks. Basically, if whatever you are looking for was classic car related, you had a very good chance of finding it at RetroAuto.
The other event, the Automotive Fine Arts Society exhibition, takes place on the show field during Sunday’s concours, making it easy to attend for anyone strolling among the vintage cars. The AFAS show displays some of the finest automotive artwork featuring renowned artists, including such painters as Barry Rowe, Peter Hearsey and Klauss Wagger, and sculptors Richard Piertuska and Bruce Wheeler.
In addition, to being able to view the artworks, the artists are on hand to answer questions or discuss their work. There is no other event I am aware of where you can meet this many great automotive artists in the same place at the same time.
If you somehow missed the big white AFAS tent on the Pebble Beach Concours field, enjoy this small sampling of the show.
Photos by Andy Reid
