utomotive enthusiasts from all over the world travelled near and far to Northern California’s famed Monterey County this past August for Auto Week; and they have been doing so since the inaugural Pebble Beach Road Race started way back in 1950. While that event was short-lived, the Concours that accompanied has grown exponentially over the years and has in fact gone on to become one of the driving forces behind numerous other events - including classic "tours", historic racing, and of course the many automobile auctions. Nearly every activity of auto week has helped it become a true focal point of car culture, and the epitome of a trendsetting event.
The weeklong exhibition holds an incredible amount of influence over much of the industry, and the fact that many high-profile automakers use auto week to showcase their new concepts and upcoming production model provides ample evidence of the significance of this event. Monterey Autoweek also serves enthusiasts by strengthening relationships of the often tight-knit community of automotive faithful, providing unparalleled camaraderie on a larger scale that is absent from smaller, localized car events.
As usual, our team was on hand to not only particpate in some of the events and auctions, but to get a taste for what is on the classic car horizon. As with previous years, the shear volume of both new, as well as classic vehicles on display and in competition is simply astounding; from showcasing some of the rarest and most prized vehicles on the North American content to seeing new automakers showcasde thier experimental concept cars, Monterey auto week kept our team busy, fully engaged, and excited for the future!
We hope you enjoy the photo galleries taken at the various events, as well as the recaps of some of the major auction houses.
The Quail is an event for motorsports enthusiasts and collectors from around the world to enjoy rare collections of fine automobiles and motorcycles in a garden-party setting on the rolling greens of Quail Lodge & Golf Club. This year as the past years, the event combined a concours, which saw a Jaguar D-Type winning the title of “best of show” among all others participants, and an exhibition part that saw debuts from some of the world’s most exclusive car manufacturers.
Czinger debuted the Longtail 21C V Max, Gordan Murray unveiled the T.33 and T.50 Cosworth V12 supercars on American soil, while Rolls-Royce presented its new Phantom Series II. Specialty manufacturers Pagàni, Singer, RUF, Hennessey and Gunther Werks showcased new limited-production ultra-high-performance vehicles.
Bugatti and Maserati revealed the return of a roofless model on their list with the launch of the Bugatti Mistral and the Mc20 Cielo, Lamborghini presented the sportier version of its best seller Urus SUV, the Performante, while McLaren turned a digital car from the videogame Gran Turismo into reality introducing the extreme McLaren SolusGT.
Worthy of note, Koenigsegg, commemorating the 50th birthday of the company’s founder Christian von Koenigsegg, launched a modernized version of the Koenigsegg CC8S launched 20 years ago, the ultra limited edition CC850 featuring many upgrades including the twin-turbocharged 5.0-liter 1,385 hp V8 engine sourced from the Jesko and a new hybrid manual/automatic transmission capable of both shifting with stick and clutch or simply turning full automatic by shifting the lever in “d”.
Beyond the stunning vehicles and debuts, guests were treated to epicurean delights from five gourmet culinary pavilions and award-winning wine and champagne vendors. The Fireside Chat Series resumed with “Legends of the Hypercar Designer Forum,” moderated by Chip Foose featuring Horacio Pagani, John Hennessey, and Professor Gordon Murray, and “Breaking Barriers: Women in Motorsports,” moderated by Shelby Knick featuring Samantha Tan, Renée Brinkerhoff, and Lyn St. James.
While the latest high-performance offerings seemed to draw the majority of attention, the concours component steadily rolled on throughout the day with the field vying for Best of Show and numerous other accolades. Among the latter were three commemorative categories that comprised the 50th Anniversary of the BMW M Division, awarded to a 1981 BMW M1 owned by Benjamin Clymer of New York; 70 Years of Jaguar and Their Wins at Le Mans, won by a 1950 Jaguar XK 120 Alloy belonging to Mark Miller of California; and All Things Mini, with a 1965 Austin Mini Cooper S owned by Eric Breslow of Nevada taking the title. Crowned as top overall car, however, was William Pope’s impeccably restored 1956 Jaguar D-Type.
Every renowned golf venue in the world has its vaunted traditions; Augusta with The Masters, St Andrews and the British Open, but for Pebble Beach, the top-ranked and revered public course in the United States, its legacy is equally tied to a very different game. Near the end of summer each year, among the most avid car collectors and restorers in the world drive for show, positioning themselves on the final fairways as part of the storied Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, an automotive contest that played through beautifully again on August 21.
By day’s end, the confetti fell on a stunning 1932 Duesenberg J Figoni Sports Torpedo, owned by Lee R. Anderson Sr, of Naples, Fla. But a lot transpired prior to that much-anticipated moment. This year, the field comprised more than 200 cars divided into 28 classes that ranged from Antique to American and European Classics to several marque-specific and commemorative categories. The latter featured tributes to the 100th anniversary of Lincoln as well as that of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Yet it wasn’t just the classics that garnered attention. As per usual, the Concept Lawn in front of the lodge was barely visible due to the crush of photographers and admirers trying to get eyes on the latest dream machines.
A 1955 Ferrari 250 Europa GT and a 1969 Lamborghini Miura P400 S were the top results at the Bonhams Quail Lodge auction during Monterey Motoring Week 2022. Two Italian classic cars sold for around $2 million each to lead the results at the Bonhams Quail Lodge 2022 classic car auction during Monterey Motor Week in California, USA. The highest bid in the auction was over $6 million for the 1960 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Competition but it failed to sell. The 1938 Bugatti Type 57C sold for an undisclosed sum after the auction and may have been the top earner in the sale. Mercedes-Benz 300 SLs sold well — as in other Monterey Week auctions — with both a Gullwing and Roadster selling for over a million dollars. The star outperformer in the auction was the 1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Piccadilly that sold for more than double higher estimate.
Bonhams Quail Lodge 2022 earnings: $27.8 million, 137 cars, 88% sell-through rate
Highlights:
A Ferrari 250 Europa GT topped the Bonhams silver anniversary Quail Auction results when it sold for $2,095,000. This 1955 250 Europa GT Coupé was the very last example of the landmark model regarded as the first of the iconic Ferrari GTs. Styled and built by Pininfarina, this car was first exhibited at the 1956 Brussels Motor Show and raced in period at Spa Francorchamps.
A rival Italian, a 1969 Lamborghini P400S Miura, achieved a record price of $1,957,000. The stunning matching-numbers example of the top-of-the-line landmark Miura had been the subject of a superb, factory-correct specialist restoration while retaining its original bodywork.
Other European classics to wow the Californian crowd today included a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupé, which achieved $1,737,500. This superbly restored Gullwing had been kept by one family owner. Originally a daily driver for its first owner, Greek shipping magnate George C. Makris, the SL was latterly stored in a climate-controlled environment and had covered under 22,000 miles from new.
Its convertible sibling, a 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster, also broke the million-dollar barrier, selling for $1,039,000. Offered from 36 years’ single-family ownership, a previous custodian of this SL was renowned racing driver Bob Akin.
Pre-war perfection was offered with two further seven-figure sales. A 1931 Stutz DV-32 Convertible Victoria, with one-off coachwork by LeBaron, sold for $1,435,000. Having been meticulously restored, the Stutz became one of the most awarded American Classics in modern Concours d’Elegance events, including at The Quail.
A 1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Piccadilly doubled its estimate to sell for $1.435 million. Recently subjected to a ground-up restoration, this special Silver Ghost had been returned to its original configuration with the original chassis, engine, and body. Unshown until the Quail Auction, the Rolls-Royce was offered from a major American collection.
A time capsule 1938 Bugatti Type 57C also found a home, selling for a significant figure at an undisclosed sum after the auction. This supercharged art deco masterpiece, designed by Jean Bugatti with coachwork by fabled Swiss/French coachbuilder Gangloff, was the supercar of the golden age, reaching a top speed of 120 mph when most cars aimed for 50 mph.
A 1937 Bugatti Type 57 SC Atalante and a 1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Series I Coupe were the top results at the Gooding Pebble Beach 2022 sale. The top result at the Gooding Pebble Beach 2022 classic car auction was $10,345,000 paid for a 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante — the second most expensive car sold during the Monterey Week 2022 sales. It was followed by the 1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Series I Coupé Aerodinamico, sold for $6,000,000. Good results were also achieved with modern Ferraris including an F50, an Enzo, and a new world record $3,965,000 paid for an F40. The 2007 Porsche RS Spyder Evo, sold for a model record $5,615,000, while the 1969 Porsche 908/02 similarly achieved a world record at $4,185,000. Gooding achieved million-dollar-plus results on 28 cars at the Pebble Beach 2022 classic car auction. The Pebble Beach auction record is $22,000,000 paid for the 1935 Duesenberg SSJ in 2018. It is the most expensive car ever sold by Gooding, the most expensive American car ever, the most expensive pre-war car ever, and of course the Duesenberg marque record holder.
Gooding & Company Pebble Beach classic car auction 2022 earnings: $109million, 135 of 158, 85%, average price of $810,758
Highlights:
The following 10 cars sold for over a million dollars at Gooding's Pebble Beach 2022 classic car auction:
01) 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante $10,345,000
02) 1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Series I Coupe Aerodinamico $6,000,000
03) 2007 Porsche RS Spyder Evo $5,615,000
04) 1995 Ferrari F50 $4,625,000
05) 1969 Porsche 908/02 $4,185,000
06) 2004 Ferrari Enzo $4,130,000
07) 1990 Ferrari F40 $3,965,000
08) 1994 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport $3,167,500
09) 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Sports Cabriolet A $3,085,000
10) 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Lightweight $2,425,000
Broad Arrow Auctions announced that sales from its first ever auction event on August 18th at the Monterey Jet Center totaled $55,256,900 with 88 percent of all 93 lots on offer sold. The Thursday auction was held in conjunction with Hagerty’s reimagined Motorlux event (formerly McCall’s Motorworks Revival) on Wednesday evening, with thousands of guests across the two events viewing the cars on offer. The packed auction room saw bidders joining from around the world, both in person and via telephone, internet, and absentee bids. Auction veteran, Lydia Fenet, commanded the room from the rostrum, making her debut as Principal Auctioneer for Broad Arrow. This was an incredible debut, and we are tremendously grateful for the trust and support of our consignors, bidders, and the collector car community," said, Kenneth Ahn, CEO of Broad Arrow Group & President of Hagerty Marketplace. "This event was not only an important debut for establishing Broad Arrow as one of the premier auction houses in the industry, but it was also our first collaborative event under Hagerty's stewardship. We expected a strong sale given the quality or cars we had on offer, but the sell-through rate and prices achieved on many cars exceeded our expectations. We look forward to hosting a series of world class events and auctions, including at The Amelia, to better serve car collectors and enthusiasts globally."
The top result at the Broad Arrow Auctions inaugural Monterey 2022 sale was $5,500,000 paid for a 1957 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta Scaglietti “Tour de France”. It was followed by a 1995 Ferrari F50 sold for $5,175,000 — one of 14 new world record prices set by Broad Arrow at Monterey. 15 cars sold for over $1 million.
Highlights:
Broad Arrow Auctions sold the following 15 cars for more than a million dollars at the Monterey 2022 sale:
01) 1957 Ferrari 250 GT $5,500,000
02) 1995 Ferrari F50 $5,175,000
03) 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari $3,910,000
04) 1971 Mercedes-Benz 600 LWB Landaulet $2,590,000
05) 1964 Aston Martin DB5 $2,425,000
06) 1990 Ferrari F40 $1,985,000
07) 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder $1,930,000
08) 1987 Porsche 959 $1,875,000
09) 005 Porsche Carrera GT $1,765,000
10) 1969 Lamborghini Miura $1,650,000
A 1958 Ferrari 250 GT ‘Tour De France’ Alloy Berlinetta and a 1936 Duesenberg Model J Rollston Convertible Berline were the top results at the Mecum Monterey 2022 sale. The top results at the Mecum Monterey collector car auction were for a classic 1958 Ferrari 250 GT ‘Tour De France’ Alloy Berlinetta and a prewar 1936 Duesenberg Model J Rollston Convertible Berline. However, Mecum also performed well with modern supercars selling two Ferrari LaFerrai Prototypes and a 2014 Bugatti Veyeron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse Jean-Pierre Wimille Legen Edition. The 2022 Acura NSX Type S VIN001 achieved $1,100,000 as a charity lot. Mecum sold 12 cars for over a million dollars at Monterey 2022 including five for over two million.
The 2022 Mecum Monterey Daytime Auction saw record attendance. Overall sales totals for Mecum’s annual California Car Week auction reached more than $52.1 million as a total of 297 vehicles changed hands.
The following cars sold for more than a million dollars at the Mecum Monterey 2022 collector car auction:
01) 1958 Ferrari 250 GT “Tour de France” Alloy Berlinetta $2,860,000.00
02) 1936 Duesenberg Model J Rollston Convertible Beline $2,695,000.00
03) 2014 Bugatti Veyeron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse Jean-Pierre Wimille Legen Edition $2,640,000.00
04) 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari Prototype PS1 $2,500,000.00
05) 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster $1,705,000.00
06) 2012 Ferrari LaFerrari Prototype MP1 $1,595,000.00
07) 1959 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster $1,485,000.00
08) 1931 Marmon Sixteen Convertible Coupe $1,182,500.00
09) 1971 Plymouth Cuda Convertible $1,100,000.00
10) 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 $1,072,500.00
11) 2022 Acura NSX Type S VIN001 $1,100,000.00
12) 2017 Ford GT Coupe $1,017,500.00
A 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider and a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster were the top results at the RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2022 sale. RM Sotheby’s achieved record results at the three-day Monterey 2022 classic car auction in California, USA. The top result was $22,005,000 for a 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider with exceptional provenance and in-period racing history by amongst others Fangio, Hill, and Shelby. The second most expensive car in the RM Sotheby’s sale was a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster that sold for $9,905,000 — the second most expensive Mercedes-Benz roadgoing car ever. A 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C Tulipwood Torpedo sold for a marque record $9,245,000. In all, 52 cars were sold for over a million dollar.
The Monterey sale is traditionally the most important car auction of the year:
• In 2022, RM Sotheby’s set a new auction total record of $239,258,340 selling 52 cars for over a million dollar and a 95% sell-through rate.
• In 2021, RM Sotheby’s earned $148.5 million at Monterey selling 43 cars for over a million dollar and an impressive 90% sell-through rate.
• RM Sotheby’s earned $30,412,810 from the Shift / Monterey 2020 online-only sale.
• In 2019, RM Sotheby’s earned $107 million, in 2018 $158 million (including $48,405,000 for the most expensive car ever sold at auction, a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, and in 2017 $133 million.
• RM Sotheby’s three-day Monterey 2016 auction remains the highest-grossing classic car auction ever ith $173 million earned and 35 million-dollar cars sold.
The following 10 cars sold for more than a million dollars at the RM Sotheby’s 2022 Monterey classic car auction:
01) 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider $22,005,000
02) 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster $9,905,000
03) 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C Tulipwood Torpedo $9,245,000
04) 1957 Ferrari 500 TRC Spider $7,815,000
05) 1954 Ferrari 375 America Vignale Cabriolet $7,595,000
06) 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C $7,595,000
07) 1953 Ferrari 375 MM Spider $7,485,000
08) 1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS Teardrop Coupe $7,265,000
09) 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series I $6,825,000
10) 1998 Ferrari F300 $6,220,000