by Mike Gulett –
There is a place where the world’s rarest and most beautiful cars converge by the ocean, out in the wild—being driven, shown, maybe sold and certainly celebrated by car enthusiasts from around the world. This is Monterey Car Week.
Held every August in California’s beautiful Monterey County, this longer than a week series of events is the crown jewel of the collector car world. It’s not one show—it’s dozens of exhibitions, auctions, rallies, and parties, all culminating in the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on Sunday.
You might wake up to the sound of Ferraris roaring down 17-Mile Drive or Highway 1, spend the afternoon at the races at Laguna Seca or visit Concorso Italiano on Saturday admiring dozens of Lamborghinis, Alfa Romeos, Ferraris plus many other marques and finish the evening at one of the many auctions where you can see one of the best car shows in the cars up for auction and buy one if you like.
It’s a place where automotive history and high fashion meet: celebrities mingle with the rest of us, and everyone is there for the cars (and also the people). The atmosphere is equal parts glamorous, passionate, and surprisingly approachable. Whether you’re there to bid on a rare find or just to admire special cars, there’s something for every car lover. And there are new events like The Paddock held on Friday afternoon.
Expect traffic jams of supercars, surprise sightings of concept vehicles, and conversations about carburetors, provenance, and horsepower. Comfortable shoes and a camera are essential. Enthusiasm is required. And even if you don’t know the difference between a Talbot-Lago and a Tucker, you’ll leave Monterey with a deeper appreciation for the art, culture, and people behind the automobile.
Monterey Car Week is not just an event—it’s an experience with people and cars from all over the world.
It is helpful to have a plan because you will not be able to go to all the events. Plan for traffic jams because they will slow you down but hey, there will be some cool cars in that traffic with you so enjoy it.
Visit the See Monterey link for the detailed schedule of events to help you with your plan.
Monterey Car Week Map – 2025 – visit this interactive map.
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 Lungo Touring Spider – photo by Mike Gulett (Pebble Beach 2013)
Research and some text by ChatGPT 40.
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