Classic Car Sales Reach Record High at Monterey Car Week
Classic car auctions at Monterey Car Week have achieved a new record, with collectors spending more than $469 million during this year’s series of prestigious auctions in California.
More than 790 vehicles changed hands throughout the event, with over 110 cars selling for more than $1 million each. The total comfortably surpassed the previous record of $394 million, set in 2015, highlighting the continued strength of the global collector car market.
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Multi-Million-Dollar Sales Dominate the Event
One of the standout sales was a 1995 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider, associated with legendary racing driver and designer Carroll Shelby, which sold for $22 million.
Despite wider concerns about inflation and economic uncertainty, demand among high-net-worth collectors remained exceptionally strong throughout the event.
Other notable sales included:
- A 1937 Bugatti Type 57 for $10.3 million.
- The Sally Special Porsche 911 GTS, which achieved $3.6 million.
The results demonstrate that rare and historically significant vehicles continue to attract enthusiastic bidding from collectors around the world.
Strong Demand Across Every Segment
Industry analysts noted that a new generation of collectors is entering the market, with many purchasing the performance cars they admired growing up. At the same time, traditional favourites such as 1960s sports cars and pre-war classics continue to command impressive prices.
Auction houses also reported strong competition for many lots, with multiple bidders actively pursuing the same vehicles throughout the week.
The overall sell-through rate reached 79%, only slightly below the previous year’s figure, further underlining the health of the collector car market.
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A Major Event for Collectors
Monterey Car Week continues to attract enthusiasts from across the globe, with organisers expecting more than 85,000 visitors throughout the event.
The auctions featured an incredible variety of vehicles, including:
- Pre-war classics
- 1960s American muscle cars
- 1990s Ferrari models
- Modern supercars
- Rare collector editions
Auctioneers also observed a growing number of wealthy buyers registering to bid on the day, often purchasing high-value vehicles before immediately arranging payment and driving their new acquisitions during Monterey Car Week itself.
The continued strength of demand suggests that exceptional collector cars remain highly desirable despite wider economic uncertainty.
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Collector Cars Continue to Impress
This year’s record-breaking results reinforce Monterey Car Week’s position as one of the world’s premier classic and collector car events.
While values may fluctuate from year to year, demand for exceptional, rare and historically significant vehicles continues to remain remarkably resilient.
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