Auction houses obliterate Car Week records and a Hollywood icon steals the show.

Good afternoon.

It was a good weekend for Clark Gable and a great Car Week for the auction houses.

The annual assembly of classic, modern and concept vehicles wrapped up on Sunday with the 75th Concours d’Elegance. Best of Show at the signature event went to a 1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster, presented by Harry Yeaggy from Ohio, but originally owned by the Hollywood legend. Two days earlier a 1935 Duesenberg JN—also once owned by Gable—gaveled for just over $9 million at the RM Sotheby’s auction in Monterey.

Dave Faries here, noting that the auction houses report eye-popping numbers. In 2022 the companies totaled $471 million in sales, combined. But that record tumbled early and disappeared into the rearview distance. This year, the five houses racked up almost $748 million in sales. Gooding Christie’s at Pebble Beach set a company record, tallying $159 million.

While nine of the top 10 cars carried Ferrari or McLaren (with one Corvette) badges, the lot that topped the list was a 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe that banged at Gooding Christie’s for $42.9 million—a record mark for an American car at auction.

Number two on the list was auctioned for charity. A love-it-or-hate-it electric 2026 Ferrari Luce Tailor Made Sedan sold at RM Sotheby’s raised $40 million.

The figures are still being counted, but Concours d’Elegance already reports raising $4.3 million for local nonprofits this year. Since 1950, the event has now accounted for $50.1 million in donations.

Ferrari held seven of the 10 slots on the auction leaderboard. The marque was also redeemed at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, where a 1957 Ferrari 625/250 Testarossa earned Best of Show.

There will be more data to report as it comes in, such as the number of police stops and tickets as younger enthusiasts and influencers once again took their show-off attitudes to the streets (and attempted to gather in lots) with exotics. The tally from the local hospitality industry will be compiled, as well. There is no ready number to indicate the annoyance caused by boy racers or traffic.

Money is not the only object here. Car Week is about unique vehicles, such as the one owner—that being Steve Winwood—Ferrari Dino at Gooding Christie’s, Princess Diana’s personal Jaguar at Concours d’Elegance or the 1996 IndyCar driven by Alex Zanardi when he made “The Pass” in the Corkscrew, on display at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.

On Friday night, The Paddock in Seaside featured the Gyronaut X-1, which set the world record speed for a motorcycle in 1966, clocking 245.667mph at Bonneville. Concours d’Elegance featured Sunbeam, the first car to break the 200mph barrier, in 1927 on the beach at Daytona.

Car Week is diverse. Many events raise money for charity. Some are low-key, others private and exclusive. A few have little to do with cars at all. Sportscar hall of famer Scott Pruett released a new line of wines at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The Rolex event also brought together the greatest names in American motorcycle road racing, Kenny Roberts, Fast Freddie Spencer, Steady Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Kevin Schwantz and Kenny Roberts Jr.—the only American world champions.

It was a hectic, noisy, exciting, lucrative, frustrating, bucket list 10 days, as always. Now back to Peninsula normal.

P.S. The Weekly staff was out and about at events during Car Week. Check out the photos from some of the many gatherings.