The climax of Monterey Car Week – the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance – is regarded by many as the most prestigious show of its type anywhere in the world. It certainly attracts the most expensive motors and the wealthiest people on the planet, and the already ultra-high value of each entry is further increased if they are judged Best of Show. Last year’s winner, for example, is undoubtedly worth an eight-figure sum.
The 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Autobahn Kurier was one of just two made and is the only one to survive. The original Berlin show car, it was entered by Californian wine tycoon and automobile lover extraordinaire Arturo Keller – who was this year named World’s Top Collector by the Classic Car Trust.