Motoring
Monterey Car Week
Monterey, United States
Monterey · August · Subject to availability
Mid August — dates to be confirmed
A week on the Monterey Peninsula in which the collector car world conducts its most significant business of the year.
Car Week is not a single event but a dozen of them staged across the peninsula over eight days: historic racing at Laguna Seca, the Quail gathering, tours along the coast, and the principal collector car auctions of the year, which between them transact an extraordinary volume. For collectors, the auctions are the centre of gravity and the viewing days beforehand are when the work is done. The manufacturers use the week to present their most significant limited series, often to invited clients only. The peninsula is small, the roads are narrow and every hotel from Carmel to Pebble Beach is committed a year ahead, which makes this among the most logistically demanding weeks on the calendar to arrange properly.
- Month
- August
- Recommended stay
- 5 nights
- Nearest airports
- MRY · SJC
- Typical clientele
- Collectors and their advisers, auction specialists and marque experts, manufacturer client teams presenting limited series, and families for whom the week is an annual fixture.
Why it matters
The Monterey auctions set reference prices for the collector market for the following year, and the manufacturers' private presentations are where the most significant limited series are offered to established clients. For anyone building or refining a significant collection, the week is where the market's principals, specialists and inventory are all in one place.
How access is arranged
Attendance at the concours, the private gatherings and the manufacturers' presentations is determined by the organisers and the marques. Scott & Vale makes introductions where such relationships exist, upon request and subject to availability, and coordinates accommodation, movement, transport of vehicles and dining across the week.
Scott & Vale coordinates travel, accommodation, ground and air movement, security, dining and itinerary design around this occasion, and makes introductions to authorised hospitality providers where such programmes exist. The firm does not sell, allocate, resell or guarantee admission.
Hospitality and travel
Where to stay
- Private residence rental, Pebble Beach
- The Lodge at Pebble Beach
- Post Ranch Inn
- L'Auberge Carmel
- Bernardus Lodge & Spa
Properties are listed as editorial guidance. Scott & Vale holds no inventory and no claimed relationship with any property named here.
Arrival by air
- MRY — Monterey Regional On the peninsula; parking is fully committed across the week and must be secured months ahead.
- SJC — San José Mineta Seventy-five minutes north, with reliable capacity when Monterey is full.
Helicopter. Rotations from San José and San Francisco are the standard answer to Monterey's parking constraints, and remove a peninsula road network that is entirely saturated by mid-week.
Dining
- Private chef at the residence
- Aubergine
- Sierra Mar
- Chez Noir
- The Bench
Reservations are requested on a member's behalf, subject to availability.
Suggested itinerary
- 01 Day One Arrival and settling into the residence, with auction catalogues reviewed and viewing appointments confirmed.
- 02 Day Two Auction viewing through the day, and historic racing at Laguna Seca in the afternoon.
- 03 Day Three The Quail gathering, which is invitation-controlled, or a coastal tour along Highway One.
- 04 Day Four The principal evening auction, with bidding arrangements and specialist advice settled beforehand.
- 05 Day Five The Sunday concours on the eighteenth fairway, then departure the following morning.
Scott & Vale support
- Private Jet
- Helicopter
- Private Villas
- Luxury Hotels
- Luxury Chauffeur
- Private Chef
- Personal Concierge
- Travel Planning
Enquiry
Plan this properly, and plan it early.
An enquiry reaches the team directly with the context of this entry attached. A member of the team will respond within the hour, wherever you are.
Frequently asked
Which parts of the week matter most?
The auction viewing days and the evening sales for collectors; the concours and the Quail for the gathering itself. Few attempt all of it.
How far ahead should accommodation be arranged?
A year. Peninsula houses and the principal hotels are committed for the following August almost as soon as the current week ends.
Can vehicles be shipped in for the week?
Routinely, though enclosed transport and storage on the peninsula must be booked several months ahead alongside the accommodation.
What does Scott & Vale arrange?
The residence, staffing, travel, air and ground movement, vehicle transport, dining and the week's schedule, with introductions where such relationships exist.
Related events
Direct: info@scottnvale.com
Event names, marks and logos referenced on this page are the property of their respective owners. Scott & Vale is not an official partner, supplier or licensee of any event, organiser or rights holder named here, and no affiliation is implied. Scott & Vale does not sell, allocate, resell or guarantee admission to any event. Travel, accommodation, ground and air movement, security, dining and itinerary design are arranged around these events, and introductions are made to authorised hospitality providers where such programmes exist.
Photography: Henrique Pinto from Recife, Brazil — CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
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