This year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance was named the Motoring Event of the Year at the International Historic Motoring Awards, held in London on Friday night.

The International Historic Motoring Awards go to “the world’s best motoring event, whether a festival, concours, one-marque gathering, anniversary celebration or other collector car show, ” according to a press release from the Concours d’Elegance.

The awards are offered by Hothouse Media, which publishes Magneto and Octane magazines. The presenting sponsor was Lockton Insurance Brokers.

Concours Chairman Sandra Button accepted the award, recognizing the 1,200 volunteers who make the event possible.

“I’m here to represent the cars,” she added. “We can’t do this without them.”

Fritz Burkard’s 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports was named Car of the Year. The car also won best of show at the Concours, the first preservation car ever to do so. Whereas a restored car can have parts replaced or repaired, a preserved classic car keeps its original components, including the factory paint.

The 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports still has the upholstery originally installed at Bugatti’s factory in Molsheim, France. It also has a missing front grille and paint chips are visible around the car as are a rough scuff on its rear and fender dents.

At the awards ceremony, Button talked about the importance of caring for the cars and maintaining their authenticity — particularly as new technologies arise that can so easily change things: “We have to be fair to the cars, the history, the people. I look at the restorers and I think, ‘Please be careful. Please keep these cars real. Authenticity is all we have.’”

One of the Concours’ Best of Show Nominees, a 1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport Saoutchik Fastback Coupé owned by Robert Kudela of the Czech Republic, was named the Restoration of the Year. And Bruce Meyer, a longtime Concours advisor, was recognized for Personal Achievement.