Every year, the Monterey Peninsula transforms into an automotive utopia, welcoming the world's most passionate car enthusiasts. They arrive, en masse, in this bucolic coastal enclave to celebrate automotive excellence, past, present and future at Monterey Car Week, which culminates on the 18th fairway of the historic Pebble Beach Golf Links at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
Let’s explore this prestigious celebration's history and look at this year's festivities, including a schedule of events, past winners for the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, and what to look for during Monterey Car Week 2023.
What is Monterey Car Week?
For ten days in August—from Friday, August 11 to Sunday, August 20—the automotive world descends upon Monterey to celebrate cars. The annual event includes races, auto shows, auctions, forums and presentations, club gatherings, and car and concept reveals from numerous luxury manufacturers.
The schedule culminates in the auto world's most prestigious car show, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where more than 200 of the rarest, most highly treasured collector cars hold court on the Pebble Beach Golf Links 18th fairway. They are then judged and rewarded based on style, history, technical excellence, and authenticity.
The schedule culminates in the auto world's most prestigious car show, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where more than 200 of the rarest, most highly treasured collector cars hold court on the Pebble Beach Golf Links 18th fairway. They are then judged and rewarded based on style, history, technical excellence, and authenticity.
History
Intertwined for as long as anyone can remember, Monterey Car Week and its momentous pinnacle Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance date back to the Pebble Beach Road Races held between 1950 and 1956. In those early years, the race traversed a track carved through the Del Monte Forest and was the main attraction. The Pebble Beach Concours was nothing more than an add-on event in the run-up to the races.
However, after the tight, tree-lined track proved too dangerous, any future races were abandoned. The following year, the completion of the Laguna Seca Raceway made permanent the area's growing appreciation for motorsports and, more importantly, motorcars.
However, after the tight, tree-lined track proved too dangerous, any future races were abandoned. The following year, the completion of the Laguna Seca Raceway made permanent the area's growing appreciation for motorsports and, more importantly, motorcars.
The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
While the road races ended, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance endured, growing in stature and popularity in the ensuing decades. Car Week grew to welcome prominent car collectors, clubs and enthusiasts from across the globe making the pilgrimage to Monterey to show off their classic vehicles, acquire new additions for their collections, or appreciate what others brought to the peninsula.
Today, Car Week features more than 50 official events leading up to the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on the final Sunday. Renowned for its exceptional display of meticulously restored vintage automobiles, the cars span every era of automotive history. In any given year, you'll spot everything from the earliest motor-driven carriages to painstakingly restored classic luxury cars to the rarest of supercars.
Today, Car Week features more than 50 official events leading up to the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on the final Sunday. Renowned for its exceptional display of meticulously restored vintage automobiles, the cars span every era of automotive history. In any given year, you'll spot everything from the earliest motor-driven carriages to painstakingly restored classic luxury cars to the rarest of supercars.
A competition of elegance
More than a car show, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is genuine competition. Each year, a panel of judges, including automotive experts and industry veterans, meticulously evaluate each vehicle for its authenticity, history or historical significance, design and craftsmanship, and technical merit.
Judges hand out more than 22 awards and trophies each year. In addition to the Best of Show top prize, other special awards include those for style and engineering, best Ferrari in the show, the most significant Lincoln, most elegant open, closed, convertible, and sports cars, the most significant cars of British and French origin, and those for classic hot rods and race cars, among others.
Notable prior Best of Show winners include clothing designer Ralph Lauren in 1990 (1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic) and 1993 (1930 Mercedes-Benz 710SSK Count Trossi Sports Roadster) and former F1 champion Phil Hill in 1955 (1931 Pierce-Arrow LeBaron Town Car Cabriolet) and 1977 (1927 Packard 343 Eight Murphy Convertible Sedan). Carmakers Bugatti and Mercedes-Benz have won the most Best of Show awards, each with nine.
The unparalleled success of both Monterey Car Week and the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance over the past 72 years transformed the latter into the world's preeminent classic car competition and the former into the peninsula's most celebrated annual event.
Judges hand out more than 22 awards and trophies each year. In addition to the Best of Show top prize, other special awards include those for style and engineering, best Ferrari in the show, the most significant Lincoln, most elegant open, closed, convertible, and sports cars, the most significant cars of British and French origin, and those for classic hot rods and race cars, among others.
Notable prior Best of Show winners include clothing designer Ralph Lauren in 1990 (1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic) and 1993 (1930 Mercedes-Benz 710SSK Count Trossi Sports Roadster) and former F1 champion Phil Hill in 1955 (1931 Pierce-Arrow LeBaron Town Car Cabriolet) and 1977 (1927 Packard 343 Eight Murphy Convertible Sedan). Carmakers Bugatti and Mercedes-Benz have won the most Best of Show awards, each with nine.
The unparalleled success of both Monterey Car Week and the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance over the past 72 years transformed the latter into the world's preeminent classic car competition and the former into the peninsula's most celebrated annual event.
Schedule and notable events during Monterey Car Week 2023
In addition to the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, there's much more to do and see across Monterey Car Week's 10-day celebration, with many of the associated events free of charge. Below is a list of the current schedule of events, including several notable highlights.
Friday, August 11, 2023
- Monterey Car Week Kickoff
Saturday, August 12 and Sunday, August 13, 2023
Monterey Pre-Reunion: Classic race cars warm up their engines at Laguna Seca Raceway in anticipation of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
Monday, August 14, 2023
- Automobilia Monterey Expo
- Porsche Monterey Classic
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
- Acura in the Park
- Automobilia Monterey Expo
- Classic Motorsports Magazine Monterey Kickoff
- Porsche Pit Cru Wine Party
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
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Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion: The first of four days of family-friendly racing at Laguna Seca Raceway between historic, period-correct cars across 14 classifications.
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Pebble Beach Motoring Classic: The culmination of a ten-day, 1,500-mile journey of classic automobiles begins on August 7, 2023, in Kirkland, Washington and ends at Casa Palmero in Pebble Beach.
Additional events
- Automobilia Monterey Expo
- Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction
- Concours for a Cause
- Little Car Show
- Motorlux
Thursday, August 17, 2023
- Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance Presented by Rolex: Watch as more than 150 entrants from the Concours d'Elegance display their technical prowess and driveability along Highway One and 17-Mile Drive and gain an upper hand and a coveted green ribbon for Sunday's Best of Show competition.
Additional events
- Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction
- Ferrari Owners Club Concours Carmel
- Legends of the Autobahn
- Monterey Jet Center Auction
- Mecum Monterey 2023 Auction
- Pebble Beach Classic Car Forum
- Pebble Beach RetroAuto
- Prancing Ponies Women's Car Show
- RM Sotheby's Monterey
- Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
Friday, August 18, 2023
- Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction
- Monterey Jet Center Auction
- Mecum Monterey 2023 Auction
- Gooding & Company's Pebble Beach Auctions
- Pebble Beach Classic Car Forum
- Pebble Beach RetroAuto
- Pacific Grove Rotary Concours Auto Rally
- The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering
- Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
- RM Sotheby's Monterey
- Werks Reunion
Saturday, August 19, 2023
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Concorso Italiano: An annual tradition during Monterey Car Week, the Concorso Italiano celebrates the history and excellence of Italian automobiles, including Alfa Romeos, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Maseratis, among many others.
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Concours d'LeMons: One of Monterey Car Week's unsung highlights is celebrating all things not elegant in the world of autos. Attendees enjoy a bit of levity, plenty of automotive hijinks and a raucous good time.
Additional events
- Annual Ferrari Owners Club Gathering
- Exotics on Broadway
- Gooding & Company's Pebble Beach Auctions
- Mecum Monterey 2023 Auction
- Monterey Motorsports Festival
- Pebble Beach Classic Car Forum
- Pebble Beach RetroAuto
- Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion
- RM Sotheby's Monterey Auction
Sunday, August 20, 2023
- Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance: The main event, and the globe's most prestigious concours, more than 200 classic cars line Pebble Beach Golf Links' 18th fairway to compete for Best of Show, the most coveted prize in the classic and collector car world.
Additional events
- Corkscrew Hillclimb
- Pebble Beach RetroAuto
The true prize of Monterey Car Week
The real impact of Monterey Car Week and the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance extends across the Monterey community. While the events are a massive boost to the local economy and an outstanding opportunity for automotive aficionados, collectors, fans, hobbyists and even curious on-lookers to celebrate the world of classic and high-end automobiles, the most significant beneficiaries are local charities. Many events held throughout Car Week benefit local causes, with the Concours d'Elegance raising more than $35 million for charity since 1950.
Monterey Car Week and the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance are a testament to the enduring allure of classic automobiles. It's also further proof of the extraordinary ability of the Monterey Peninsula to support and promote such world-class events.
If you're ready to explore homes for sale in Monterey, CA, contact Tim Allen today and allow his years of experience and expertise to be your guide to the Monterey Peninsula luxury real estate market.
Monterey Car Week and the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance are a testament to the enduring allure of classic automobiles. It's also further proof of the extraordinary ability of the Monterey Peninsula to support and promote such world-class events.
If you're ready to explore homes for sale in Monterey, CA, contact Tim Allen today and allow his years of experience and expertise to be your guide to the Monterey Peninsula luxury real estate market.
