While Monterey Country in Northern California is crisscrossed by three major fault lines—San Andreas Fault, San Gregorio Fault and Monterey Bay Fault zone—the real rumbling here every August is in the world of cars.
Monterey Car Week is like a yearly festival for car lovers, with events that put the spotlight on classic beauties, luxury rides and the thrill of motorsports. From the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance to the gathering at The Quail, to the roar of vintage engines at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and the high-stakes auctions by RM Sotheby’s, there is something new around every corner.
Monterey Car Week showcases some of the rarest and priciest automobiles ever made. They even end up at auction, where the highest bidder spans them up. While some cars at Monterey have gone for less than INR 8.3 lakh ($10,000), the most “affordable” on this list fetched INR 28.20 crore ($3.36 million).
From barely-touched Bugatties to race-proven Ferraris and Alfa Romeos, these cars are the most expensive crown jewels of Monterey Car Week’s auction lineup.
15. 2021 Bugatti Chiron Sport Noire
Sold for: INR 28.20 crore ($3,360,000)
This Bugatti is one of just 20 Sport Noire Chirons in existence, and with only 418 miles on the odometer, it’s barely seen the road. As a slightly menacing “Sportive” edition, its exterior is wrapped in matte carbon fiber, complemented by Nocturne-painted accents on the trim, mirrors, Caractère wheels, brake calipers and a distinctive mesh horseshoe grille.
14. 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C Alloy
Sold for: INR 29.21 crore ($3,481,000)
This Ferrari 275 GTB is the second of just 10 twin-cam models built with alloy coachwork. It’s a true award-winner, with a string of accolades to its name like the FCA Platinum Award, the Coppa Bella Macchina Award and the Coppa GT Award.
13. 2023 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport
Sold for: INR 29.35 crore ($3,497,000)
This Chiron Super Sport is believed to be one of only 80 ever made. Under the hood, it packs Bugatti’s monstrous 8.0-litre quad-turbocharged W-16 engine, with 1,578 horsepower. It’s built for mind-bending speed, capable of reaching 273 mph. The car features a sleek two-tone design with Argent paint over black carbon and Havana leather interior.
12. 1934 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing-top Convertible Coupe
Sold for: INR 31.43 crore ($3,745,000)
This convertible Duesenberg has a 420 cubic-inch inline-8 engine that pumps out 265 horsepower, paired with a three-speed manual transmission. It’s one of just three Disappearing-Top models equipped with dual rear spare tires and its original engine, chassis and firewall.
11. 1934 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Lungo Spider
Sold for: INR 34.20 crore ($4,075,000)
The Alfa Romeo 2.3 is a true legend, famous for its racing pedigree and coachbuilt design. This particular model, while never fully restored, has been maintained and has collected a slew of concours awards over the years. It comes with its original logbook and an intriguing history file.
10. 1976 Porsche 935
Sold for: INR 36.04 crore ($4,295,000)
This Porsche 935 is a true pioneer, bearing chassis number 935-001 as the very first of its kind. It served as a factory prototype for testing and development before embarking on a distinguished racing career. Now, fully restored to concours standards, it stands as the only Works Martini Racing Porsche 935 in private hands.
9. 1995 Ferrari 333 SP Evoluzione
Sold for: INR 42.97 crore ($5,120,000)
This 333 Evoluzione, one of only nine ever made by Dallara, has a racing resume that speaks volumes. It’s notched several podium finishes and victories at events like Pikes Peak, Sebring and Halifax. It also took on the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1997, with a roaster of talented drivers like Montermini, Moretti, Papis, Alboreto, Theys and Vélez behind the wheel.
8. 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Tour De France Berlinetta
Sold for: INR 43.64 crore ($5,200,000)
This is the final one of just 17 three-louver Tour de Frances ever made, and it was originally delivered to American racing driver George Reed. With a rich racing heritage and a thoroughly documented history, it’s preserved just as it was when new, complete with its matching-numbers engine.
7. 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 NART Alloy
Sold for: INR 44.35 crore ($5,285,000)
This 275 GTB/4 stands out as the most successful racing model of its kind, clinching a class victory in a major international event. It took top honours in its class at the 1969 24 Hours of Daytona and still has its original matching-number engine and gearbox.
6. 1955 Ferrari 857 Sport Spider
Sold for: INR 44.90 crore ($5,350,000)
This is the final 857 Sports of just four ever made, and it has a storied racing past with multiple podiums finished in 1956, including drives by Jack McAfee and Carroll Shelby. Now fully restored, it proudly carries its original matching-numbers 276 horsepower four-cylinder engine.
5. 1955 Ferrari F50
Sold for: INR 46.20 crore ($5,505,000)
This Ferrari F50, the 47th of just 349 ever made, is one of 55 that were originally delivered to the US. With only 8,556 miles on the clock, it’s in superb condition. Last year, it earned a platinum award at the Cavallino Classic in Palm Beach, and it’s Ferrari Classiche certified with its original books still intact.
4. 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider
Sold for: INR 47.12 crore ($5,615,000)
This car has a touch of Hollywood history, having appeared in the 1967 Italian film Le Dolci Signore. It’s the 19th of just 50 long-wheelbase models ever made. With its matching-numbers engine and its original factory color scheme of Nero over Rosso, it’s a classic.
3. 1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider
Sold for: INR 108.98 crore ($12,985,000)
This one-of-a-kind car was the prototype for the 410 Sport Scuderia Ferrari Works models. Carroll Shelby took it to victory at the 1956 Palm Springs Road Races, and it still has its original numbers-matching engine.
2. 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider
Sold for: INR 117.75 crore ($14,030,000)
This Spider is one of just five long-chassis 8C 2900B Touring Spiders still around. It’s powered by a twin-supercharged inline-8 engine delivering 180 horsepower and features a 4-speed manual transmission. Remarkably, this is the first time it’s ever been up for public auction.
1. 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Califronia Spider
Sold for: INR 143.14 crore ($17,055,000)
This convertible stole the show as the most expensive lot at Monterey Car Week. It’s the very first Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider ever made and made its debut at the 1960 Geneva Motor Show. Considered the finest and most significant 250 GT SWB California Spider out there, it’s never been offered for sale before this auction. It retains its original delivery colors, and comes with a factory competition-spec engine, covered headlights and a removable hardtop.
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