Monterey Car Week: A Celebration of Automotive Heritage

Each August, the Monterey Peninsula in California becomes a central hub for car lovers worldwide. During this week, collectors, manufacturers, and enthusiasts come together to acknowledge the rich history and bright future of automobiles.

Monterey Car Week isn’t just a simple exhibition; it’s a high-profile event prominently featuring the esteemed Pebble Beach Competition.

This year’s event carried a particularly personal significance for me. I attended with the hope of seeing a remarkable car—the Shelby Cobra, which has a meaningful backstory.

An Array of Events

The week is filled with various gatherings that highlight key aspects of the global automotive landscape.

• Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance: A prestigious gathering that meticulously judges rare and historically significant automobiles.
• Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion: A classic race at Laguna Seca where legendary cars compete.
• Broadway Exotics: An impressive public showcase of modern supercars, transforming the streets into an open-air gallery.
• Motorlux: An event blending high-stakes auctions with an immersive cultural experience.

These events cater to diverse audiences but collectively shape the identity of Monterey Car Week: a mix of automotive history, market dynamics, and innovative celebrations. It truly stands as the largest car week globally.

Setting the Stage with Motorlux

Motorlux kicks off the week with a unique blend of auctions and cultural experiences. This year’s exhibits were organized into four categories:

• 200 mph Club: Featuring models from the Ferrari F40 to the new Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.
• From Stuttgart with Love: A showcase of Porsches, including a unique Penske 963 RSP prototype.
• American Wild Horse: Showcasing the Mustang’s evolution, from early models to the latest 2025 Mustang GTD.
• Mercedes Maestro: Honoring designer Bruno Sacco, with notable cars like the iconic 190E 2.3-16.

The event also emphasized hospitality, featuring Michelin-star chefs and local wines, blending lifestyle with automotive prowess.

Broad Arrow Auctions also made an appearance, featuring a remarkable lineup of collector cars, marking a grand entry into Monterey Car Week.

New Arrivals in the Automotive Scene

Automakers have recognized that Monterey offers a unique blend of prestige, media coverage, and passionate audiences. It’s increasingly becoming a prime location for unveiling new models.

• Acura RSX: Revived as an electric crossover coupe, moving away from its roots as an affordable sports coupe.
• Rolls-Royce Phantom 100th Anniversary: Displayed all eight generations of the Phantom for the first time, celebrating its century-long legacy.
• Mercedes-Benz “Stargaz Theater”: Showcased the US premiere of several concepts, including the AMG GT XX and a special-edition Maybach.
• BMW Heritage Debut: Featuring a limited-run 2026 BMW 8 Series M Heritage Edition and the powerful 2026 M2CS.

These reveal efforts underscore how critical Monterey has become for automakers, rivaling international auto shows.

Auction Highlights: Ferrari Dominates

Auctions serve as live indicators of the collector car market. This year, the total from all auction houses reached approximately $414.2 million, with average sales hitting $515,000 per vehicle.

Ferrari continues to hold the spotlight, with the 2025 Ferrari Daytona SP3 Coupe Charity Lot bringing in $26 million through RM Sotheby, while the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California fetched $25 million at Gooding & Co. Ferrari captured eight of the top ten sales across all auctions.

Highlights from the auctions:

• Mecum: Totaled $45 million, with the top sale being a 1969 Lamborghini Mura P400 S Coupe at $1.98 million.
• Broad Arrow: $49.8 million, highlighted by a 2005 Maserati MC12 Spyder for $5.2 million.
• Bonhams: $44.2 million, with the standout being a 2020 Bugatti Divo Coupe at $8.55 million.
• RM Sotheby’s: Totaled approximately $111 million with notable sales including the Daytona SP3 and other Ferraris.
• Gooding & Co: $163.8 million, with multiple records, including the $25 million Ferrari California Spider.

These results reaffirm two points: Ferraris remain highly sought-after as investments, while modern supercars garner increasing attention, akin to classic models.

Pebble Beach Competition Triumphs

The 74th Pebble Beach Competition showcased a blend of elegance and precision, with the Hispano Suiza H6C Niporto Astra Todedo from 1924 receiving the Best of Show award.

The event featured 229 vehicles, with 55 entries from 22 countries. Judging the 427 Cobra class this year was both a professional and personal highlight for me.

Pebble Beach also played a philanthropic role, raising over $4 million for nearly 100 nonprofit organizations, positively impacting more than 10,000 children in Monterey County.

A Personal Connection: The Shelby Cobra

Amidst all the excitement, one car drew me to Monterey more than any other—the Shelby Cobra CSX2051. This particular model holds a significant place in my own history. It was showcased back in 1993 and had a successful racing stint.

What stands out is that Lauren Fix raced this car while expecting Paul Fix III. Such personal ties to the race and legacy are rare.

After 32 years, reuniting with CSX2051 at Pebble Beach felt momentous—not just a historical reconnection, but a personal journey linking the past and present.

Monterey Car Week once again solidified its place as a pinnacle of the automotive world, where collectors assess the market, manufacturers present new innovations, and enthusiasts celebrate history.

For many, the standout moments included Ferraris and significant showings, but for me, it was the return of the Shelby Cobra CSX2051, representing a bridge between times that auction numbers can’t really encapsulate.

This experience reminded me that, at its core, Monterey Car Week signifies not just cars, but the stories and people intertwined with them.