Every August, the California coast transforms into an automotive epicenter for Monterey Car Week. Between the roar of vintage racers at Laguna Seca and the elegance of concours lawns, another kind of adrenaline takes center stage—the auction gavel.

For collectors, these auctions are just as thrilling as watching a prototype fly through the Corkscrew. This is where the rarest, most investment-worthy cars change hands for staggering sums. It’s where global records are made, and where automotive history is written in real time.

In 2025, the spotlight once again falls on Monterey’s “Big Three” auction houses—RM Sotheby’s, Bonhams, and Gooding & Company—each presenting a lineup that blends once-in-a-lifetime opportunities with headline-making rarities.

RM Sotheby’s – Monterey Conference Center & Portola Hotel

RM Sotheby’s is Monterey Car Week’s heavyweight contender—known for its impeccable presentation, record-setting results, and ability to assemble a catalog that makes even seasoned collectors stop in their tracks.

2025 Star Lots:

• 1993 Ferrari F40 LM by Michelotto – One of only 19 ever built to GTC racing spec, Ferrari Classiche-certified, with Le Mans history. Estimate: $8.5–9.5 million.
  
• 2025 Ferrari Daytona SP3 “Tailor Made” – Bespoke commission in Nero DS 1250 with Rosso and Argento accents, inspired by Ferrari’s sports prototype heritage.
  
• 2017 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta – One of only 210 built, finished in Nero Daytona with Rosso accents, carbon exterior, and removable hardtop. Shows under 2,300 miles, $113K in options, and covered by extended warranty through August 2027. Estimate: $6–7 million.
  

Other 2025 Highlights:
RUF CTR “Yellowbird” (ex-Alois Ruf), Ferrari 375 Plus Spyder, Porsche 911 R, 1969 Dodge Hemi Daytona, Alfa Romeo T33/2 ‘Daytona’, one-off Lotus Etna concept, and even sub-$35K curiosities like a restored Volvo PV 544 Sport and Lada Niva 1600.

Historical Note: RM’s Monterey stage famously hosted the 2018 sale of a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO for $48.4 million—still one of the highest auction prices ever achieved.

Bonhams – Quail Lodge & Golf Club

Friday, August 15, 2025 at 10:00 AM | Previews August 13–15

Bonhams returns to Carmel for its 28th Annual Quail Auction, and this year it’s going all-in with The Future Classics Collection—a jaw-dropping group of 24 hypercars and supercars, collectively worth over $30 million, all offered without reserve.

Star Lots:

• 2020 Bugatti Divo – First-ever at public auction;
• 2021 Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport – 1 of 60; $3.75M–$4.25M.
  
• 2023 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport – ~80 produced; $3.5M–$4.5M.
  
• 2017 Pagani Huayra Roadster – 2018 Geneva show car; $3.2M–$3.6M.
  
• 2022 Pagani Huayra R – 1 of 30 track-only builds; $2.8M–$3.4M.
  
• 2022 Apollo Intensa Emozione “Ocean Dragon” – Just 4 in U.S.; $2.5M–$3.5M.
  
• 2021 Koenigsegg Regera – 70 miles; $2.25M–$3M.
  

Other modern rarities include a Mansory Rolls-Royce Spectre, Mercedes-Maybach S680 Virgil Abloh Edition, Porsche 911 GT2 RS Weissach, and Ferrari 812 GTS—every one offered without reserve.

Gooding & Company – Pebble Beach Auctions (Parc du Concours)

Friday, August 15 at 4:00 PM & Saturday, August 16 at 11:00 AM | Previews August 13–16

Gooding & Company, now partnered with Christie’s, is the official auction house of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance—and this year’s headline lot is as blue-chip as it gets.

Star Lot:

• 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Competizione (Alloy-bodied) – One of only two full-competition aluminum-bodied SWB California Spiders ever built. Estimated in excess of $20 million.
  

Other Highlights:

• 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Competizione Series III
  
• 1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Series I Cabriolet
  
• 1950 Ferrari 166 MM / 195 S Berlinetta Le Mans
  
• 1952 Jaguar C-Type
  
• 1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Torpédo
  

Gooding’s Pebble Beach auctions have set records before—including the $22M Duesenberg SSJ once owned by Gary Cooper—and 2025 is shaping up to be another history-making year.

The Atmosphere of the Monterey Auction Scene

Even if you’re not bidding, the auctions are worth attending for the sheer experience. Preview days let you walk among the cars, take in the craftsmanship, and listen to specialists recount their histories.

Picture yourself standing inches away from:

• The raw carbon weave of the F40 LM.
  
• The purposeful stance of the Daytona SP3.
  
• The sculpted elegance of the alloy-bodied California Spider.
  

These aren’t static museum pieces—they’re living, breathing artifacts of automotive culture.

Monterey’s Auction Legends

• 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO – $48.4M (RM Sotheby’s, 2018) – The ultimate collector Ferrari, sold after an intense bidding war.
  
• 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 – $29.6M (Bonhams, 2013) – Fangio-driven Formula 1 car, unrestored.
  
• 1995 McLaren F1 – $20.5M (Gooding, 2021) – Immaculate example of the ’90s hypercar icon.
  

How to Attend & Bid

1. Register Early – Proof of funds is often required.
   
2. Attend the Previews – Inspect cars, speak with specialists, gauge interest.
   
3. Know the Market – Research comps to avoid overbidding.
   
4. Factor in Buyer’s Premiums – Typically 10–12% for vehicles, 25% for automobilia.
   

Pro Tip: Dress the part—Monterey auctions are as much about style as they are about sales.

2025 Market Trends to Watch

• Poster Car Boom – ’80s–2000s exotics commanding attention.
  
• Japanese Icons Rising – Toyota 2000GT and Nissan Skyline GT-Rs gaining global traction.
  
• Blue-Chip Stability – Pre-war Bugattis, classic Ferraris, early 911s remain evergreen.
  

Final Thoughts

Monterey Car Week auctions aren’t just transactions—they’re theater. The tension as bids climb, the gasp when a record shatters, and the celebrations when the hammer falls make them an unmissable part of the Car Week experience.

Whether you’re vying for the F40 LM, eyeing a Bugatti Divo, or chasing a once-in-a-lifetime Ferrari California Spider, Monterey 2025 promises a front-row seat to automotive history.

Where to eat during car week

Car Week Guide and Schedule