The preliminaries of Car Week are done. Over the final four days, Aug. 15-18, events come fast and not at all furious.
While the habit persists in some corners to refer to the 10-day automotive feast as “Classic Car Week,” the event has for years now drawn the finest modern and concept cars. Both major and bespoke manufacturers are eager to unveil their sleekest, most innovative machines. So among the Lancias, Auburns, Delahayes and Duesenbergs that abound during the final four days, a number of exotic vehicles will make their global debuts.
Some of these will be on show at luxury events like The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering. And Concours d’Elegance has increasingly added concepts and supercars. But many will be revealed at invitation-only gatherings where the car is feted with caviar and fine wines.
Perhaps the least fascinating on this year’s list is a new BMW M5 Touring, essentially a station wagon, although hardly comparable to the lumbering wagons of yore. Some of the most alluring (and out of reach) additions will be the 355 by Evoluto, the Nilu27, the Maserati MC20, Aston Martin’s ominous-sounding Valhalla and the reimagined Lamborghini Huracán.
Still, there are classic elements to these reveals. For instance, the Honda HP-X concept introduced at the Turin Motor Show in 1984 is scheduled for display, and it remains futuristic, even at 40. And Mecum Auction plans to divulge a car set for auction later at Kissimmee, one said to be an even bigger story than Steve McQueen’s Bullitt Mustang.
For all of this, Car Week in Monterey County is considered the proper stage. [DF]
AUCTIONS
Thursday, Aug. 15-Friday, Aug. 16
Bonhams
9am-6pm (viewing) Aug. 15; 8:30-11am (viewing), 11am (auction) Aug. 16. The Quail, 27050 Rancho San Carlos Road, Carmel
Thursday, Aug. 15-Saturday, Aug. 17
Gooding & Company
9am-6pm (viewing) Aug. 15; 9am-9pm (viewing), 4pm (auction) Aug. 16; 9am-5pm (viewing), 11am (auction) Aug. 17. Stevenson and Portola, Pebble Beach
Thursday, Aug. 15
Broad Arrow Auction
10am-3pm (viewing), 3pm (auction) Aug. 15. Monterey Jet Center, 300 Sky Park Drive, Monterey
Thursday, Aug. 15-Saturday, Aug. 17
Mecum Auction
8am (gates), 10am (auction) Aug. 15-17. Hyatt Regency, Monterey
RM Sotheby’s
10am-7pm (viewing) Aug. 15; 10am-4pm (viewing), 5:30pm (auction) Aug. 16-17. Monterey Conference Center, Portola Plaza, Monterey
CAR SHOWS
Thursday, Aug. 15
Ferrari Owners Club Concours
A lineup of Ferraris and motorcycles.
9am-4:30pm Ocean and Dolores, Carmel. Free
Legends of the Autobahn
A showcase of German marques.
9am-3pm Bayonet & Black Horse, 1 McClure Way, Seaside. Free
Prancing Ponies Women’s Car Show
Classics to hypercars owned by women, plus a fashion show.
10am-4pm Ocean Avenue, Carmel. Free
Friday, Aug. 16
Werks Reunion
A celebration of Porsche. Fee for parking, cash only.
7am-3pm Monterey Pines Golf Course, 1250 Garden Road, Monterey. Free
Saturday, Aug. 17
Concours d’Lemons
Laugh along with the worst hulks.
8am-1:30pm Seaside City Hall Lawn, 440 Harcourt Ave., Seaside. Free
Concorso Italiano
Around 1,000 Italian cars and more.
10am-3pm Bayonet & Black Horse, 1 McClure Way, Seaside
Exotics on Broadway
A gathering of hot supercars.
1-6pm Broadway Avenue, Seaside. Free
Ferrari Event
Ferraris and fine wine.
4-7pm 3663 The Barnyard, Carmel
Sunday, Aug. 18
Concours d’Elegance
Simply the finest assembly of important, unique and rare cars in the world.
10am-5pm Pebble Beach Golf Links, 1700 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach
LIFESTYLE EVENTS
Friday, Aug. 16
The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering
A cocktail party with cars.
9am-4pm The Quail, 8000 Valley Greens Drive, Carmel
OTHER EVENTS
Saturday, Aug. 17
Monterey Motorsports Festival
Games, performances, music and such.
2-10pm Monterey County Fair & Event Center, 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey
TOURS
Thursday, Aug. 15
Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance
Concours cars roll off at 9am along 17-Mile Drive and Highway 1.
7am-noon, Portola Road, Pebble Beach. Free
Friday, Aug. 16
Pacific Grove Rotary Concours Auto Rally
Part concours, as cars are on display before they roll at 5pm.
Noon-5pm Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove. Free
VINTAGE MOTORSPORTS
Thursday, Aug. 15-Saturday, Aug. 17
Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
The event that launched vintage auto racing, with cars from every era and much more.
8am Aug. 15-17. WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, 1021 Highway 68, Salinas
Events free to spectators are noted.