Pick of the Monterey Car week sales

Monterey Car Week could fairly be described as a classic car auctioneer’s dream – a full nine days in which thousands of enthusiasts converge from around the world to have their passion fuelled by the sights and sounds of some of the finest, rarest, most celebrated and sought-after automobiles that ever wore rubber.

In that situation, who wouldn’t be tempted to buy? That’s what the five auction houses holding sales in and around Monterey are counting on, anyway.

This is what’s happening where – and our pick of the best and most interesting lots on offer.

Broad Arrow

Monterey Jet Center, 300 Skypark Drive. August 17/18.
Broadarrowauctions.com

Still-young auction house Broad Arrow makes its second appearance at Monterey Car Week with this sale in the cavernous halls of the Jet centre.

Interesting examples of Ferrari’s ‘Dino’ stand out, with a 1970 246GT in white being tipped to realise up to $650,000 and a 206GT variant from 1968 carrying an estimate of $730,000 – 950,000 on account of it being the earlier, rarer, more desirable model of which just 150 were produced. This one’s wacky but ‘period correct’ metallic violet paintwork (which is not necessarily original to this particular car) also adds a premium.

Mecum

Hyatt Regency Hotel, Del Monte golf course, Monterey. August 17–19.
Mecum.com

As ever with a Mecum auction, they aren’t mucking about – more than 600 cars will cross the block in this bonanza sale, meaning there should be something for everybody.

Especially wealthy ‘everybodies’ are likely to be drawn to the star lot, which takes the form of a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C with rare alloy bodywork. Just 80 such cars were built, and this one was originally owned by Pirelli, which used it for tyre testing – hence the presence of unique flared rear wheel arches which were added to accommodate wider ‘boots’ than the car was usually fitted with.

A host of other Prancing Horse cars range from a 1990 F40 with just 3415 miles on the clock to a 1951 212 Inter that is said to have been the sister car to another example originally owned by King Farouk of Egypt.

There’s fun to be had for far less money, however, with offerings like a 1968 Ford Bronco Roadster and a 1932 Ford hot rod – powered by a modern-day Corvette LS6 engine. Newest car is a 2020 McLaren Speedtail… With fewer than 300 miles on the clock. Why?

RM Sotheby’s

Monterey Conference Centre 1 Portolo Plaza, Monterey. August 17-19
RMsothebys.com

Although this sale is packed and is likely to broach the record-breaking $239m total of last year, all eyes will undoubtedly be focused on the so-called ‘Lost and Found Collection’, which really is remarkable. It comprises 20 Ferraris that last saw the light of day in 2004 when Hurricane Charley demolished the old barn storing them. They were subsequently moved to an Indiana warehouse where they have remained since, known only, so the story goes, to ‘a select group of collectors’.

Stars include a 1956 250 GT Coupé with SuperAmerica coachwork that was delivered new to King Mohamed V of Morocco ($2.3m); a 1965 275 GTB/6C with alloy bodywork ($2.5m) and comes with Targa Florio race history, and a 512 BB Competizione that was campaigned at Le Mans ($1.8 – 2.8m).

Lion-hearted types looking for a project might be drawn to the crushed remains of a 1954 500 Mondial Spider that, despite being in a ravaged state, carries a pre-sale estimate of $1.2 – 1.6m. It’s rare and has a remarkable Mille Miglia and Targa Florio race history.

Bonhams

Quail Lodge Carmel. August 18
Bonhams.com

This sale has been one of the highlights of ‘The Quail, a Motor Sports Gathering’ since the event’s inception 20 years ago. A carefully curated, one-day affair which will comprise around 50 vehicle lots and a selection of automobilia. Blockbuster lots include a 1966 Porsche 906 Carrera Six with an interesting race history, and the wonderful 1957 Bristol-engined AC Ace that the great Ken Rudd took to a second-in-class at Le Mans in 1957.

Equally covetable is the sole-surviving Alvis from the works team at Le Mans in 1928.

Fans of ‘brass-era’ cars should appreciate a 1909 Lorraine-Dietrich grand prix machine packing a mighty 16.4-litre engine. Other rarities range from a RuF-tuned 1989 Porsche 911 Turbo S, to a Mercedes-Benz 300SL 6.3 with a one-off body by Pininfarina.

Gooding & Company

Pebble Beach Golf Club, Parc du concours. August 18/19.
Goodingco.com

Back for the 19th year as the official Pebble Beach auctioneer, Gooding and Co remains the only house allowed to stage its sale within the hallowed grounds of the golf club and in sight of the concours lawn. This sale will demonstrate that ultra-rare cars can be rather like buses: you might wait ages for one, only for three to come along.

The star of the sale is a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB – the third example of the model to cross the block during Car Week. Although not an alloy-bodied version like the others, this one is reckoned to be one of the best in existence and wears its original and rare colour combination of Verde Medio and a Beige Scuro interior. With several platinum concours awards and just two California-based owners in the past 50 years, it’s estimated at $2.8m – $3.5m. A fourth 275 GTB is a four-cam in Giallo Fly that could fetch $3.75m.

One of only 123 convertible Aston Martin DB5s built should also cause a stir. The 1965 car – made even rarer by being one of just 39 factory left-hand-drive examples – remained in the hands of only its third owner from 1979 until 2018, during which it collected numerous prestigious awards. Restored in its original factory black with a tan interior, it’s now tipped to sell for up to $3m. Look out, too, for a 1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 ($2 – 2.4m) and 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster ($1.4 – 1.7m).