GAGGLE OF ELEGANCE GLISTENS IN THE SUN

California sunlight met its match and more in the gleaming bright-work of a gaggle of the nation's most bedazzling autos at Pebble Beach, Calif. the other day. They were gathered together for the 10th Annual Concours d'Élégance, a high-toned fashion show of motordom's elite.

To achieve the high polish the occasion demanded, the elegant owners of the elegant entries used virtually every known cleaning device and potion from toothbrush to glycerin to expunge any lurking dust mote from each gleaming surface. Then the 16 judges seeking smudges or some hint of unauthenticity crawled in, about and over the dazzling array of Rolls Royces, Jaguars, Cords and Bugattis to decide which car was the most impeccable representative of its class.

The best-in-show award went to a 1939 Bugatti 57C owned by Jack Nethercutt of Los Angeles, but the biggest attraction was an antique-model car which packed a different sort of vintage, Jeroboams of champagne. Dilettante Lucius Beebe, one of the judges, summed up Le Concours d'Élégance as "an event whose social implications are second only to those of the San Francisco Opera."

A drapper MG receives a streamlined cleaning from sportily attired worker willing to show that an entrant must literally stoop to conquer in a Concours d'Élégance.

Ogling awe of auto buffs is given Rolls Royce Phantom I, owned by Michael Strater of Berkeley. The Rolls received much buffing of its own before winning its class.

Peering under hood of SS Jaguar 100 is Owner Owen Owens, but nit-picking nattiness went for naught as 1938 beauty failed to take top honors in 17-class contest.

Dabbing at engine block of Bugatti owned by Charles Di Limur brings to it final glow to match coruscating fenders that look much like great gleaming drops of oil.

PHOTO

JACK FIELDS

ATTRACTING MOST ATTENTION AMIDST SLEEK ENTRIES ALIGNED FOR JUDGING ON LAWN OF DEL MONTE LODGE IS FRINGED SURREY CARRYING PUNCH BOWL AND CHAMPAGNE

FOUR PHOTOS

JACK FIELDS