A rare one-of-one 1932 Röhr 8 Type F Streamliner claimed Best in Show at the 12th annual Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance, held September 20, 2026 outside Owen Sound, Ontario. The German-built luxury car was one of just under 120 vehicles displayed along the resort’s fairway, each presenting in near-flawless condition for the upscale event.
The Stahls of Chesterfield, Michigan, own the streamliner, which debuted at the 1932 Berlin Motor Show. An American military officer shipped it to the United States after World War II. A European collector bought the car in 1999 and arranged a restoration in Germany before the Stahls acquired it in 2024. That same year, the vehicle placed third in its class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. At Cobble Beach, it won the European Full Classic class.
Design and Engineering Marvel
Ferdinand Porsche, then a young engineer, developed the car’s suspension and driveline. The powertrain features a 75-horsepower 3.3-litre straight-eight engine. The all-aluminum coachwork includes body-hugging bumpers and a deep maroon red finish applied with ground-up fish scales for iridescence, a technique authentic to the era.
The craftsmanship extended beyond the powertrain. The hand-formed aluminum panels required significant expertise to achieve the smooth, flowing lines characteristic of early 1930s automotive design. This attention to detail distinguished the Röhr from many of its contemporaries that used more conventional manufacturing methods.
Other Class Winners
The Outstanding Post-War award went to a 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Superleggera owned by Frederick Fischer of Wildwood, Missouri. Fischer’s father purchased the car in France in 1964. The vehicle underwent an extensive restoration beginning in 2018.
The Outstanding Pre-War prize was awarded to a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Sport Cabriolet bodied by Erdmann & Rossi, owned by Lee Anderson of Nisswa, Minnesota. The supercharged roadster debuted at the Berlin Motor Show before being acquired by German entertainer Gustav Froelich. A German collector bought and restored the car following the war, establishing it as one of the finest examples of the model. This North American debut occurred at Cobble Beach this weekend.
The Mercedes-Benz 540K had been entered in a special marque-specific class, Mercedes-Benz Icons: Celebrating 140 Years of Innovation. The automaker, a principal sponsor, also hosted the Canadian debut of the 2027 S-Class luxury sedan and displayed models like a 2023 Mercedes-AMG One on the show field.
Special Events and Classes
The 2026 Cobble Beach Concours featured 22 classes spanning vehicles from 120 years ago to modern supercars. Owners traveled from across Canada and 12 U.S. states to present their cars for expert scrutiny. Many consider this event Canada’s premier automotive gathering.
A special class honored car designer Peter Brock, who hosted a seminar on the Cobra Daytona Coupe he engineered in 1964 while working at Shelby American. The class included a 1959 Stingray racer from General Motors’ private collection, which Brock sketched. His designs directly influenced the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette.
The 2027 iteration of the Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance is scheduled for the weekend of September 17.
