Autophiles, start your engines. Monterey Car Week has commenced with hundreds of exotic cars and vintage vehicles descending upon the Central Coast. The annual event, which takes place August 18–26, is one of the premier auto festivals in the world. Festivities include high-ticket auctions, races, galas, exhibitions, and more—all culminating in the marquee competition, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The auto-action takes place along the breathtaking Monterey Peninsula, making the event week all the more memorable. With a bumper-to-bumper lineup to choose from, here are just a few of the highlights.
Stunning shows
All week
A number of smaller shows are held daily, leading up to the climactic Concours. Highlights include Wednesday’s all-women’s Prancing Ponies Show and Motorworks Revival, a red carpet experience featuring gourmet food, wine, cars, aircraft, and motorcycles. On Friday, experience the intricacies of German engineering at Legends of the Autobahn, or delight in classic sports cars and tasty barbecue at the Pacific Grove Rotary Concours Rally. Saturday plays host to Concorso Italiano (where hundreds of Italian cars are paired with food and music) and the cheeky Concours d’LeMons, honoring “hoopties and janky creations.”
Jaw-dropping auctions
August 22–26
Watch savvy car collectors do their bidding—or drop a few million yourself—at one of Monterey Car Week’s many auctions. With a beautiful coastal backdrop, Worldwide Auctioneers Auction marks the kickoff bid at Pacific Grove Golf Links on Thursday. On the docket this year: everything from a 1916 Locomobile Model 38 Collapsible Cabriolet to a 2006 Bentley Continental GT. The Mecum Auction and Russell and Steele, both featuring muscle cars, are held Thursday through Saturday. The record-setting Pebble Beach Auctions (Friday and Saturday) are where the biggest spenders go to make bids upwards of nine-figures.
Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
August 23–26
Watch classic racing during this one-of-a-kind experience where cars dating back as early as the 1920s grind it out on the track. For those who’d like immediate access to all three days of fun at WeatherTech Raceway, the Laguna Seca Recreation Area offers camping for both tents and recreational vehicles.
Tour d’Elegance
August 23
In advance of Sunday’s show, many of the competing cars will take part in the Tour d’Elegance held on Thursday. This free event offers a chance for the public to see beauty in motion as the vehicles drive along historic Highway 1.
Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
August 26
For nearly 70 years, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance has welcomed the 200 incredibly exclusive vehicles to the 18th fairway of one of the country’s most beloved greens. Consider this the grand finale of Car Week. Auto collectors compete in a game of style where their cars are judged on preservation and grandeur. Classes include Vintage-Era Sporting Cars, Motor Cars of the Rag, and Postwar Custom Citroën.
Whether you want to spend big or simply watch others cruise by, Monterey Car Week has something to appeal to auto-buffs of every level. Find more information on these events and much more from See Monterey—and drive safely, of course.
