Monterey Car Week 2024 Preview
It’s time for Monterey Car Week 2024 to get started and we’re on hand to cover things as they unfold over the next several days. We’ve already looked at a variety of cars set to cross the auction block at different sales this week, but we put together our list of the Top Ten cars we’re watching closely over the course of this week.
There are a stunning number of 300 SLs set to be offered at the auctions taking place during Monterey Car Week. Some of them have estimates that seem a bit questionable, but this 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster being offered by Broad Arrow Auctions at their Monterey Jet Center sale looks to be one of the better examples for the enthusiast who wants to do more than just park their cars.
This is an early production roadster and is finished in an excellent Anthracite Grey Metallic with a Red leather interior and has been upgraded with Rudge wheels. Over the current owner’s 34 year history with the car it’s been turned into the ideal 300 SL Roadster for touring and rally driving. In fact it’s participated in the California Mille, Copperstate 1000, and Colorado Grand and offers its next owner a turnkey opportunity to enjoy classic tours such as those.
Lots of documentation of the work done on this car are included with details as small as the cost of the Rudge-style wheels and accompanying brake drums, axles, and more. The bumpers have been removed, making for a much sleeker look and also offering the benefit of weight savings.
It’s currently equipped with a five-speed transmission from a 300 SE sedan, although the numbers-matching four-speed is included in the sale.
This is the ideal 300 SL for someone who wants to drive it as it was meant to be driven.
Estimate: $1,200,000 – $1,300,000
Bonhams is set to offer this 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Touring at their auction at The Quail on Friday, August 16. The Carrera RS is the result of Porsche homologating a car for use in GT racing and we should all be thankful they saw fit to compete with this model as it’s a blast to drive.
This particular example was produced in early January of 1973, part of the first series built. It started life in Paris and left the factory with the standard Touring equipment, providing a car that was no doubt thrilling to cruise around the roads of France.
It benefits from a recent engine-out service by GasWerks Garage and the car is essentially perfect as it sits now. It will get the next owner into a variety of Porsche events and includes a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity that was issued in 2017 as well as its FIA Historic Technical Passport that is valid until December of 2027.
The Porsche market can be tricky to predict as many Porsche collectors focus on the experience the car provides rather than pure originality so we have seen some interesting sales occur over the years. That being said, if a bidder is able to leave Bonhams owning this car within their pre-auction estimate, that should be a no brainer.
Estimate: $575,000 – $675,000
Gooding & Company will offer this 1934 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing-Top Convertible Coupe at their Pebble Beach auction and it feels right to see a Duesenberg hitting the auction block at such a prestigious event.
Duesenbergs were the absolute standard of their day. Seriously, if you have the chance just open and close the door and you’ll know what we mean.
The disappearing top is arguably one of the most beautiful designs to ever ride on a Duesenberg chassis and this is one of only three that were equipped with dual rear spare tires.
It features a well-documented history and a stunning restoration. This car is the next owner’s ticket to tours, concours, you name it all around the world.
Estimate: $3,500,000 – $4,250,000
The Porsche 959 Komfort, introduced in 1986, is one of the most iconic and technologically advanced supercars of its time. Developed as a Group B rally car, the 959 was a showcase of Porsche’s engineering prowess, featuring a twin-turbocharged flat-six engine, an innovative all-wheel-drive system, and a lightweight composite body. Only 292 production units were completed, making it a rare and sought-after model.
The Komfort version offered a slightly more luxurious experience with added features and creature comforts, distinguishing it from the Sport variant, which was more focused on performance. The 959 set new standards for speed, handling, and technology in the automotive world, influencing future generations of high-performance cars. Production ended in 1988, or so the world thought.
In 1992 a collector with strong ties to Porsche was able to convince them to produce a few more 959 Komforts, although some debate exists as to whether 6 or 8 additional cars were completed. These were significantly more expensive than the original run at more than twice the price.
This car set to be offered by Bonhams is one of those ‘Series II’ examples and is extremely collectible as a result. This is the absolute peak of Porsche’s first foray into the world of supercars that began with the Lamborghini Miura. The higher than usual estimate from Bonhams can be explained simply due to this being one of such a limited number built after the initial run was completed.
Estimate: $1,500,000 – $2,000,000
Maserati only built 45 examples of the Ghibli SS 4.9 Spyder between 1969 and 1973, making putting this one square in the middle of the production run. Out of all the SS Spyders built, around 30 were finished in US-specs and only 24 of those were equipped with a manual transmission making this a fairly rare offering.
It still has its numbers-matching engine and presents very nicely in the factory-correct Rosso Fuoco with a Nero interior. It’s also equipped with desirable Blaupunkt radio as well as wire wheels and air conditioning.
Although it’s not quite a concours-level car, it’s a great option for the collector who wants a Ghibli SS 4.9 Spyder that they can drive and enjoy. It’s being offered with no reserve so it will be going to a new home and the estimate from RM Sotheby’s seems reasonable for this car considering it’s more of a driver than a show car.
Estimate: $600,000 – $750,000
The Vector W8 Twin Turbo is remembered fondly among the upstart supercar builders of the late 1980s and early 1990s. It was created by Gerald Wiegert via Vector Aeromotive which built the W8 from 1989 until 1993.
The dream, as is often the case with a small supercar manufacturer, was to create the best performance car of its day and Vector did a very respectable job at meeting that goal. Its design was influenced by aerospace technology, both in terms of the exterior styling and aerodynamics as well as the configuration of the interior and the instruments provided to the driver.
It’s twin-turbocharged 6.0L V8 produced 625 horsepower and 649 lb-ft. It was able to propel the car to speeds greater than 200 mph with a 0-60 time of 4.2 seconds. Unfortunately, as is often the case with smaller supercar manufacturers, financial difficulties eventually forced the company to cease production with 17 production cars completed.
These cars were sold new for around $450,000, significantly more than the originally promised price of $250,000. The example being offered by RM Sotheby’s is part of the Turbollection and is the only W8 finished in purple with a black all-leather interior.
This is a very well-documented example of the W8 and benefit from work completed in 2023 by Vector’s former engineering chief, David Kostka. It also happens to be a very low mileage car, showing just 2,643 miles. That feels like enough that we can’t think of it as a trailer queen, but also not excessively driven.
There were so few of these built and so rarely are they offered for public sale that it’s difficult to assign a specific valuation to it, but the estimate from RM Sotheby’s is likely in the ballpark for what we’d expect one of these to cost in this condition.
Estimate: $800,000 – $1,000,000
Bugatti built 280 examples of the Type 37 between 1925 and 1931. This 1927 model year Bugatti is set to be offered by Mecum Auctions with an already-announced reserve of $700,000 so that’s a very clear indication of what it should take to bring this car home.
This car was restored all the way back in 1960 and still wears the same blue paint that was applied during that restoration. It benefits from new fuel lines and wiring as well as a rear driveshaft that helps deliver the 60 horsepower produced by the 1.5L inline four-cylinder engine that’s paired with a four-speed manual transmission.
Based on the latest trends in the Bugatti market the pre-auction estimate from Mecum seems reasonable. If there’s a Bugatti enthusiast in attendance then they should have no problem hitting the reserve price of $700,000.
Estimate: $800,000 – $900,000
This is one of ten factory competition lightweight GT40s as we’ve discussed in an earlier article. While Mecum has not specified an estimate for this car, it will not come cheap. We look forward to seeing how high the bids go.
Estimate: Unspecified by Mecum
This is one of several Shelby Cobras being offered for sale during Monterey Car Week, a couple of which we’ve already examined in prior articles. This one though is unique in being finished in the factory-correct Silver Mist paint, the rarest color offered on the 289 Cobra.
It happens to be the first of the 289 Cobras equipped with front fender vents, something that would become and iconic trademark of the Shelby-built cars.
This car features a stunning history file with all its records since it was new included. It was kept by its first owner for an amazing 52 years and is being offered from only its second owner. It was never raced and has been well-maintained since its first owner took delivery.
Broad Arrow Auctions is probably in the right area with their estimate on this car. If it was a “normal” Cobra, as odd as it is to write those words, their number might be a bit strong but the provenance and unmatched documentation on CSX 2159 absolutely deserves a price above that of other 289 Cobras.
Estimate: $1,350,000 – $1,650,000
The E30 M3 by BMW remains one of the most coveted sports and touring cars from the 1980s. This example that will be offered by RM Sotheby’s is one of the rare Cecotto Editions, named for the motorcycle and automotive racing star who helped establish BMW’s reputation as a force to reconned with in the world of GT racing.
It features a thoroughly documented history and benefits from a mechanical and cosmetic recommissioning completed in 2023. It shows just 34,621 kilometers since it was new and presents very nicely in the factory-correct Misano Red paint with a Black leather interior.
We’ve seen no signs that the E30 market is slowing down so while RM Sotheby’s may seem to be a bit strong with their estimate, the lack of a reserve on this car may well be enough of a temptation to drive the bidding around $150,000.
Estimate: $150,000 – $200,000