Monterey Car Week 2022
The Monterey Peninsula once again became the epicenter for the world’s greatest gathering of elite automobiles during the annual Pebbles Beach Concours d’Elegance. And while the Concours itself is the final event of a weeklong celebration of automobile royalty, there are numerous auctions, parties, and driving excursions leading up to the big day. The multi-day festival is an opportunity to see rare, museum-quality vehicles that could be the centerpiece for even the most discriminating collectors.
Now in its 71st year, the Concours started when the Sports Car Club of America began racing on a private road through the Monterey Peninsula. The race soon attracted a racing entourage that brought some of the finest production cars of the day. Then in 1950, the first car show was held, featuring these production cars. Initially, there was only a field of 30 vehicles, but over the years, this little car show has become one of the most prestigious car events of the year – the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
This year, the featured automotive classes included 24 Hours of Le Mans Centennial, 1932 Ford Historic Hot Rods, Lincoln V8, Lincoln V12, Graber Coachwork, and McFarlan, as well as classes for Ferrari, Duesenberg, Packard, and Rolls-Royce. Here’s a recap of Monterey Car Week, beginning with the Pebble Beach Concours, and ending with the action-packed car auctions.
Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
Best of Show
Thousands of spectators reveled in the beauty and elegance of their surroundings at the Pebble Beach Golf Links. Here, 220 elite classic vehicles were judged for their style and technical merit, as well as their history, their originality, and the accuracy of their preservation or restoration. Although the show field was full of winners, only one car in this premier field of rolling art could be crowned Best of Show. This year, it was a 1932 Duesenberg J Figoni Sports Torpedo, owned by Lee & Penny Anderson of Minneapolis, MN. Upon winning Best of Show, Lee said “We’ve been doing this for years, and we’ve come close in the past, but we’ve never won actually. It’s overwhelming. All the preparation—the story behind this car is just amazing. There’s only one Figoni Duesenberg, ever, and it’s this one right here.”
Best of Show Nominees
To be eligible to win Best of Show, a car must first win its Class – an honor in itself. The judges then have the difficult task of picking an overall show-winning car. This year the judges narrowed the field to four Best of Show Nominees, who were invited to line up at the stage entrance. The car which would ultimately be chosen as the winner, the 1932 Duesenberg, is on the far left. The other nominees were:
- 1937 Talbot-Lago T150C-SS Figoni & Falaschi Teardrop Coupé, owned by Fritz Burkard
- 1930 Duesenberg J Graber Cabriolet, owned by Sam and Emily Mann
- 1951 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport, owned by Peter Mullin
Select Class Winners
Here are more class winners and sights around the show field.
Concept Cars and Exotics
Today’s car companies, recognizing the excitement generated by Pebble Beach auto week, use this opportunity to debut their latest creations. This year’s display of concept and supercars included Bugatti’s final model with a W16 engine, as well as concept cars from Lincoln, DeLorean, and more.
Tour d’Elegance
The Tour d’Elegance started in 1998 to showcase the elegance of the automobile in motion. This annual picturesque trip around the Monterey Peninsula starts at Portola Road, turning south on 17-Mile Drive to pass by the famed Lone Cypress before parading in front of The Lodge at Pebble Beach and then heading south toward Carmel-by-the-Sea. The Tour joins scenic Highway One along the Pacific Ocean — a classic stretch of California highway that winds through a landscape dotted with rocky cliffs and sandy beaches before returning back to Pebble Beach.
Car Auctions
The auctions leading up to the Pebble Beach Concours are major attractions during Monterey Car Week. Some of the rarest and most coveted vehicles cross the auction block in and around Monterey, with bidding starting in the millions of dollars. This year’s auctions resulted in several world sales records being broken and one particularly significant auction house milestone being achieved.
A 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider, which sold for $22 million, was the week’s highest sale. This car was one of only two built and was raced by Carroll Shelby, who won more competitions behind its wheel than in any other car.
Here are highlights from five of the top auction houses at this year’s Monterey Car Week.
All prices include the buyer’s sales commission.
RM Sotheby’s
RM Sotheby’s broke a big record during Monterey Auction Week by being the highest-grossing automotive auction of all time. Selling more than all other auction companies combined, they brought in an astounding $239,258,340 in sales. The top ten sales were:
- 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider by Scaglietti, Sold for $22,005,000
- 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster, Sold for $9,905,000
- 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C “Tulipwood” Torpedo, Sold for $9,245,000
- 1957 Ferrari 500 TRC Spider by Scaglietti, Sold for $7,815,000
- 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C by Scaglietti, Sold for $7,595,000
- 1954 Ferrari 375 America Vignale Cabriolet, Sold for $7,595,000
- 1953 Ferrari 375 MM Spider, Sold for $7,485,000
- 1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS Teardrop Coupe, Sold for $7,265,000
- 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series I, Sold for $6,825,000
- 1998 Ferrari F300, Sold for $6,220,000
Gooding and Company
The official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Goodings & Co. concluded its 18th annual Pebble Beach Auctions this weekend, bringing in over $109 million in sales. Five world records* were set, including the second highest sale of Auction Week – $10,345,000 – for a 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante. The top ten sales were:
- 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante, Sold for $10,345,000
- 1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Series I Coupé Aerodinamico, Sold for $6,000,000
- 2007 Porsche RS Spyder Evo, Sold for $5,615,000*
- 1995 Ferrari F50, Sold for $4,625,000
- 1969 Porsche 908/02, Sold for $4,185,000*
- 2004 Ferrari Enzo, Sold for $4,130,000
- 1990 Ferrari F40, Sold for $3,965,000*
- 1994 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport, Sold for $3,167,500*
- 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Sport Cabriolet A, Sold for $3,085,000
- 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Lightweight, Sold for $2,425,000*
Bonhams
Bonhams realized $27.8 million in total sales. Here are the top ten sellers:
- 1955 Ferrari 250 Europa GT, Sold for $2,095,000
- 1969 Lamborghini Miura P400 S, Sold for $1,957,500
- 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe, Sold for $1,737,500
- 1995 Porsche 911 ‘Type 993’ GT2, Sold for $1,545,000
- 1931 Stutz DV-32 Convertible Victoria, Sold for $1,435,000
- 1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Piccadilly Roadster, Sold for $1,325,000
- 1951 Ferrari 212 Inter Alloy Coupe, Sold for $1,215,000
- 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster, Sold for $1,039,000
- 1965 Lamborghini 350 GT Coupe, Sold for $742,000
- 1938 Talbot-Lago T150C ‘Lago Spéciale’ Cabriolet, Sold for $665,000
Broad Arrow Auctions
Broad Arrow Auctions brought in nearly $55.3 million in sales. The top ten sellers were:
- 1957 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta Scaglietti “Tour de France”, Sold for $5,500,000
- 1995 Ferrari F50, Sold for $5,175,000
- 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari, Sold for $3,910,000
- 1971 Mercedes-Benz 600 LWB Landaulet, Sold for $2,590,000
- 1964 Aston Martin DB5, Sold for $2,425,000
- 1990 Ferrari F40, Sold for $1,985,000
- 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder, Sold for $1,930,000
- 2005 Porsche Carrera GT, Sold for $1,765,000
- 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Gullwing”, Sold for $1,627,500
- 2012 Lexus LFA, Sold for $1,600,000
Mecum
Mecum brought in $50.8 million during Monterey Car Week. Their top ten sales were:
- 1958 Ferrari 250 GT ‘Tour De France’, Sold for $2,860,000
- 1936 Duesenberg Model J Rollston Convertible Berline, Sold for $2,695,000
- 2014 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse, Sold for $2,640,000
- 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari Prototype PS1, Sold for $2,500,000
- 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster, Sold for $1,705,000
- 2012 Ferrari LaFerrari Prototype MP1, Sold for $1,595,000
- 1959 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster, Sold for $1,485,000
- 1931 Marmon Sixteen Convertible Coupe, Sold for $1,182,500
- 1971 Plymouth Cuda Convertible, Sold for $1,100,000
- 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7, Sold for $1,072,500
Special recognition to organizations whose photos have been used in this article. Appropriate designations have been added to each image.
