Hottest Ticket in Town! Monterey Car Week 2021

After an extra years wait, this year’s Monterey Car Week and Concours D’Elegance –  a ten-day collector car gathering, celebrating the finest in automotive design and engineering, was a huge success. As is always the case, this is the biggest event on any car enthusiasts calendar. Stunning car designs and events, unsurpassed locations and scenery, incredible food and drink make this an event unlike any other.

This year was extra special since Pebble Beach Automotive Week celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, considered to be the world’s premier event of the automobile!

We felt so fortunate to be back on the beautiful Monterey Peninsula where more than 35 different events were scheduled between August 6th – 15th. We had a packed schedule and sharing highlights from car shows, auctions, parades & more.

TIP! Rent a classic car from Monterey Touring Vehicles – check out their collection of vintage & classic cars.

Many of these events raise funds for local organizations noted below.

Car Parades

There are several driving focused events throughout the week. The key is to plan-ahead and know the best vantage points from which to view them. Here are a couple not to miss!

After a 1,500 miles journey along the Pacific Northwest coast, cars from Kirkland, Washington arrive at Casa Palmero in Pebble Beach.

This annual tradition selects the top applicants to the Motoring Classic to participate in this unique road trip. Some even go on to compete in the Concours itself.

Track the route of cars along the scenic route of 17-Mile Drive within Pebble Beach, or find a spot along Highway 1 on the way to Big Sur. After arriving in Big Sur and completing the Tour, the cars make their way back to Pebble Beach. Find a good place to sit and watch this incredible parade of 150 Concours entrants! The other option is to arrive early on the starting line at Portola Road in Pebble Beach to watch the cars muster before heading out. Without being on the 18th fairway on Sunday, this is the best opportunity to get a close-up view of many of the cars that will be in the running for Best in Show. The Tour d’Elegance is more than just a parade of beautiful cars. Completing the Tour is worth three additional points that can be used in the event of a tie when cars are judged later in the week.

Car Shows

Carmel-by-the-Sea’s Ocean Avenue closes off 18 blocks to showcase 175 collector cars – a mix of American and foreign cars, luxury cars, muscle cars, hot rods, classics, and sporting cars! Concours on the Avenue is free to the public and is one of our favorite events to attend.

This event supports The Carmel Foundation in their work to provide a wide variety of services to Monterey Peninsula seniors.

The Little Car Show takes place in Downtown Pacific Grove showcasing100 vehicles 25 years and older – micro, mini and arcane vehicles with no greater than 1,601cc displacement engines or electric powered vehicles.

The show is followed by a tour/parade around the city’s scenic waterfront and beaches beginning at Lover’s Point and following Ocean View Boulevard to Asilomar.

This event benefits the P.G. Public Library, P.G. Youth Center and the Veterans’ Transition Center.

This show is downright funny! Hoopties, Rust Buckets, Misfits, Mistakes and the worst of the automotive world will be on display and as always celebrity judges accept bribes for the Thrift Shop sourced trophies. The best part is that the show is free for participants and spectators.

Unveilings! Aston Martin

Monterey Car Week is well known as a venue at which car manufacturers introduce new models. This year Aston Martin unveiled their latest addition to the Valkyrie bloodline. The Valkyrie Spider blends Formula One racing aerodynamics with Aston Martin super car aesthetics and technology to deliver a vehicle that epitomizes the Formula One experience on the road. The ultra-lightweight Valkyrie Spider is powered by Aston Martin’s proven V-12 hybrid engine which will enable track speeds not normally seen in a road going car. Production is limited to 85 units worldwide with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2022.

Auctions

Mecum Auction

Each year, this event is held at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa at Del Monte Golf Course. Over 600 consignments were offered ranging from pre-war classics, muscle cars, high end exotics to modern supercars. There were also approximately 100 vintage and antique motorcycles offered.

Concorso Italiano

Concorso Italiano is the world’s largest luxury and exotic Italian Car Show – a multi-faceted luxury lifestyle event celebrating all things Italian – fashion, food, wine, art, and more. Far more than a gathering of 800 Italian pedigree cars at Bayonet Black Horse Golf Course. This is a celebration of Italian style including fashion, food, music and art.

President Tom McDowell shared, “Concorso Italiano, famous for the diverse and significant collection of exhibited Italian cars, is centered on as many as 1,000 Italian & exotic automobiles, Italian motorcycles.  Those that attend also enjoy the Concorso Italiano Fashion Show, musical performances, and on-stage interviews with legendary automotive collectors and industry designers.”

This event supports Wings of Humanity a non-profit organization that provides on-demand children’s air ambulance flights with a sole purpose to serve uninsured and disadvantaged children and to “Save Children’s Lives One Flight at a Time”. Another great cause supported by Concorso Italiano is Habitat for Humanity.

Bonhams Quail Lodge

Held in conjunction with The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, is the 24th Annual Bonhams Motorcar Auction on the western grounds of Quail Lodge & Golf Club where car enthusiasts bask in the sunshine in Carmel Valley.

The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering

An affair not to be missed! Dress up and toast to the exquisite motorcars on display at Quail Lodge.

Peninsula Hotels presents spectacular culinary pavilions and shares, “For eighteen years, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering has provided an unparalleled and exclusive experience for motorsports enthusiasts and collectors from around the world to enjoy rare collections of fine automobiles and motorcycles in a garden-party setting on the rolling greens of Quail Lodge & Golf Club.”

Grande Finale! Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance

Monterey Car Week concludes with Concours d’Elegance on the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach golf course and the judging of Best in Show. The Pebble Beach Concours is one of the great car events. If you don’t have a ticket, you can join the Dawn Patrol and view the finest automobiles in the world as they enter onto the manicured 18th fairway. Whether we have a ticket to Concours or not, this is another of our favorite Car Week events that shouldn’t be missed.

Photo Credit: Mark McAndrews

Cars, fashion and fun! It’s a one-of-a-kind opportunity to see these classics and meet their owners, learn about the history of the cars too.

Acknowledgments

Global Adventuress thanks those mentioned above for hosting us during the Monterey Car Week.