Imagine the Super Bowl and World Cup take place on the same weekend in front of the festival crowds of Coachella and Glastonbury. One could liken it to an endurance race, but even the 24 Hours of Le Mans only lasts a day. Monterey Car Week however, is the rare event that surpasses all superlatives, living up to its reputation as a mecca for all automotive enthusiasts.
Why do worldwide collectors migrate to Monterey every year? In part, the climate of California’s central coast, with mist-filled mornings and clear afternoon skies, is responsible. Winding roads, cutting through tide pools and the Cypress groves of the Del Monte Forest, allow vintage sports cars an ideal atmosphere for exercise. A quick jaunt on the famous 17-Mile Drive is certain to reveal sporting examples from every era enjoying their natural habitats.
Yellow Bugatti sports cars, Rosso Corsa Ferrari racers, and multi-colored Lamborghini supercars are all seen equally on these streets. Whatever the marque or make, all cars tend to converge in front of the Portola Hotel and Spa’s porte coachère. Enclosed in front of the Monterey Convention Center, once per year in advance of RM Sotheby’s auction, this area becomes the world’s greatest car lot, the territory of dreams for any automotive aficionado.
Collectors of car culture are all, by definition, participants in the automotive market. And there is perhaps no place better to take the temperature of the classic car market than the auctions of Monterey. Certain prized cars which would otherwise remain hidden in collections inevitably come up for sale during Car Week. The reason for this comes down to the audience; many auctioneers report the crowds in Monterey are the most spirited of any sale during the year. History is made at these auctions, a fact that those in attendance all appreciate.
Inside, the auctioneering is always intense; last year, Sotheby’s EVP and Principal Auctioneer Oliver Barker, who presided previously over the largest single-artist sale for Damien Hirst as well as landmark sales for Banksy and David Bowie, commanded the crowd on the rostrum. Guest stars ranging from race drivers to Hollywood celebrities have been known to appear, lending an air of entertainment to the proceedings. To promote their latest model as well as an enduring partnership, Porsche and Pixar collaborated on a one-of-one build: the famous character from Cars, Sally Carrera, brought to life. With bidding benefiting two charities, and the lot introduced by actress Bonnie Hunt and Creative Director of Franchise at Pixar Animation Studios Jay Ward, the Monterey Conference Center was positively electric. The 2022 Porsche 911 ‘Sally Special’ bid to $3.6m, a new record for a late-model Porsche at auction, and one which will likely not be surpassed anytime soon.
For many in attendance, the cars themselves were the stars. From the pre-war coachbuilt classics of the Masterworks of Design Collection to the era-defining sports cars of the Oscar Davis Collection, a common refrain among attendees was that they had never seen such a variety of truly special cars. But there could be only one headliner: The 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider by Scaglietti, a highly significant V-12 racer for the Scuderia that had been helmed by Juan Manuel Fangio, Phil Hill, Richie Ginther, and, most significantly, Carroll Shelby, who inscribed its gas tank with, “Mr. Ferrari told me that this was the best Ferrari he ever built.” A genuine piece of motorsport history, this Ferrari achieved an impressive $22,005,000 USD, the highest sale of any example during Monterey Car Week 2022. Overall, RM Sotheby’s 25th annual Monterey auction achieved $239.2M, becoming the highest-grossing automotive auction of all time.
Selling alongside this stellar lineup was what many consider to be the cornerstone of the next generation of collecting, a 1998 McLaren F1, offered through a new format named Sotheby’s Sealed. Extending ultimate privacy to both bidders and sellers, this bespoke auction platform made its debut in 2022 and underwent its ultimate test in Monterey. After spirited bidding, F1 chassis no. 059 sold for an exceptional amount which shall remain undisclosed, an intriguing option for sellers who wish for unparalleled privacy.
But the weekend was not yet over—the following day held the main event for many in Monterey. The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, perhaps the most prestigious event of its kind on the planet, presented a celebration of the motor car unlike any other. Against strong competition in the Duesenberg class, the in-house experts at RM Auto Restoration followed up their stunning set of wins with a record seventh Best of Show award. The worthy recipient was a 1932 Duesenberg Model J Figoni Sports Torpedo owned by Penny and Lee R. Anderson Sr., known as “The French Duesenberg.” Having set the record the previous night for the most successful public automotive auction in history, the RM Sotheby’s and RM Auto Restoration teams united on stage in celebration—a welcome recognition of the team’s hard work.
A guiding force behind this groundbreaking win, Gord Duff, RM Sotheby’s Global Head of Auctions, summarized the weekend: “Our teams both went above and beyond during Monterey Car Week, and the results speak for themselves. I speak for everyone involved when I say this is more than just a business to us. Thanks to the Andersons and all our clients for trusting us with their prized automobiles—we look forward to maintaining this success in years to come.”
A rare event that lives up to the hype, Monterey Car Week is a beloved tradition for good reason. Consigning your car to this one-of-a-kind gathering puts you in the company of true connoisseurs. Elite collectors across the world pay attention to Monterey; many strive to attend in-person. Join us in Monterey and be part of an unmatched legacy.
