Monterey Car Week 2026 delivered some of the year’s most significant collector car auction results, bringing rare competition cars, historic Ferraris, and celebrated supercars to California’s Monterey Peninsula from August 9 through August 16. Major auction houses, including Gooding Christie’s, RM Sotheby’s, Mecum, Broad Arrow, and Bonhams, presented an exceptional selection of classic and exotic automobiles. The week’s auctions generated more than $700 million in reported sales, with multiple vehicles reaching eight-figure prices and setting new auction records.
American racing history took the top position as a 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe sold for $42.9 million, becoming the most expensive American car ever sold at auction. A one-of-a-kind Ferrari Luce charity sale followed at $40 million, while a McLaren F1 GTR established a new benchmark for the British marque. Two extraordinary 1963 racing cars, a Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport and a Ferrari 250 P, completed the top five. Together, these Monterey Car Week auction results highlighted collectors’ interest in documented competition history, rarity, and historically important automotive engineering.
1. 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe – $42,905,000
The highest-selling car of Monterey Car Week 2026 was a 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, chassis CSX2300, which brought $42,905,000 at Gooding Christie’s Pebble Beach Auctions. One of only six original Daytona Coupes constructed to challenge Ferrari’s 250 GTO, the car made its competition debut at the 1964 Tour de France Automobile with Bob Bondurant and Jochen Neerpasch. It subsequently participated in Shelby American’s successful 1965 FIA GT Championship campaign and continued racing in Japan through 1968. Its ownership history is equally notable: Carroll Shelby personally owned CSX2300 from 1975 until 1998, making it the only Daytona Coupe owned by its creator.
Designed to improve the aerodynamic performance of Shelby’s Cobra race cars, the Daytona Coupe became one of America’s most important international sports-racing machines. Its combination of competition history, extremely limited production, and direct connection to Carroll Shelby gives CSX2300 a particularly distinguished place in automotive history. The Monterey sale established a new auction record for an American automobile, surpassing the previous $22 million benchmark achieved by the 1935 Duesenberg SSJ in 2018. It also became the most expensive vehicle ever sold by Gooding Christie’s.
2. 2026 Ferrari Luce ‘Tailor Made’ – $40,000,000
One of the most unusual results of Monterey Car Week came from RM Sotheby’s, where a specially commissioned 2026 Ferrari Luce ‘Tailor Made’ sold for $40 million in a charity auction benefiting The Ferrari Foundation. Identified as Chassis 0, the first production chassis of the Ferrari Luce program, this particular car features an exclusive Madreperla Semi-Gloss exterior finish developed to produce iridescent reflections that shift between green and violet. Its custom interior combines Perla Le Mans metallic leather with Grigio Corvara secondary elements, while specially designed wheels, brake calipers, and white-background Ferrari badges complete the specification. The buyer’s premium was waived, and final delivery was scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.
Unlike the historic race cars dominating the other positions, the Ferrari Luce represented a new chapter in Ferrari’s design and personalization program. Its Chassis 0 designation, bespoke configuration, and charitable purpose distinguished the transaction from a conventional collector car auction sale. RM Sotheby’s identified the result as a record for the most expensive new car sold at auction. However, its charitable nature is an important distinction when comparing the price with conventional market-driven sales of established collectible automobiles.
3. 1996 McLaren F1 GTR – $34,655,000
RM Sotheby’s achieved one of its most important Monterey auction results with the sale of a 1996 McLaren F1 GTR, chassis 10R, for $34,655,000. Known as the “Pop Art F1,” this example features a distinctive factory-applied scarlet and yellow livery inspired by 1990s pop art. It was one of only two McLaren F1 GTR Short-Tail prototypes and the first of nine examples built to 1996 specifications. Initially retained by McLaren, the car was acquired in 1999 by Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, who kept it for approximately 25 years. Chassis 10R participated in testing at the 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans and was subsequently converted by McLaren for road use.
The McLaren F1 remains an important milestone in 1990s supercar engineering, combining a lightweight carbon-fiber structure, BMW-developed V-12 engine, and driver-focused design. The GTR competition version further strengthened its legacy following McLaren’s overall victory at the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans. Chassis 10R stood apart through its prototype status, original factory livery, and long-term ownership by a prominent collector. Its Monterey sale established new auction records for both a McLaren F1 and a British automobile, demonstrating the significance of exceptional examples of the marque’s original supercar.
4. 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport – $18,705,000
A rare 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport brought $18,705,000 at RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction, establishing a new record for the Corvette nameplate. Identified as chassis 003, this competition car was one of just five original Grand Sports constructed and the first of three coupes. Developed as a purpose-built racing prototype, it featured numerous engineering changes that distinguished it from the production Corvette Sting Ray. Its racing history included three SCCA class victories in 1963, second in class at the 1964 12 Hours of Sebring, and third in class at the 1965 event. Notable drivers included A.J. Foyt, Jim Hall, Dick Thompson, and John Cannon. The car also underwent a comprehensive restoration that returned it to its authentic 1964 Sebring racing appearance.
The Corvette Grand Sport represents one of Chevrolet’s most ambitious early efforts to compete against established international sports car manufacturers. Conceived during an era when American performance engineering was gaining international recognition, the lightweight Grand Sport demonstrated how far Chevrolet engineers could push the Corvette platform for competition. With only five original examples built, surviving Grand Sports occupy a particularly important position in Corvette history. Chassis 003’s documented motorsport record, careful restoration, and historical significance helped make it one of the standout American collector cars of Monterey Car Week 2026.
5. 1963 Ferrari 250 P – $18,705,000
Completing the five highest-priced Monterey Car Week sales was a 1963 Ferrari 250 P, chassis 0810, which achieved $18,705,000 at Gooding Christie’s Pebble Beach Auctions. Featuring coachwork by Fantuzzi, the car represents Ferrari’s early generation of mid-engine V-12 sports-racing prototypes. It debuted at Monza and competed for Scuderia Ferrari during the 1963 season, securing second overall at the 12 Hours of Sebring and third overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It later competed in North America through Luigi Chinetti’s North American Racing Team and Scuderia Bear. Its documented mechanical specification includes a Tipo 128 LM 63 engine and Tipo 564/D transaxle, while its ownership history includes several prominent Ferrari collectors.
The Ferrari 250 P occupies an important position in the manufacturer’s racing development because it marked Ferrari’s transition toward mid-engine V-12 prototype competition. This configuration would become central to Ferrari’s sports-racing success throughout the 1960s. Chassis 0810 offers a direct connection to that period through its factory racing career, significant endurance-racing results, and documented ownership history. Its appearance at Monterey provided collectors with an opportunity to acquire a historically important Ferrari competition car from a transformative period in the company’s motorsport program.
Monterey Car Week 2026 FAQs
What was the most expensive car sold at Monterey Car Week 2026?
The most expensive car sold during Monterey Car Week 2026 was a 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, chassis CSX2300, which achieved $42,905,000 at Gooding Christie’s Pebble Beach Auctions. The result established a new auction record for an American automobile and became the highest-priced sale in Gooding Christie’s history.
When and where were the Monterey Car Week 2026 auctions held?
Monterey Car Week 2026 took place from August 9 through August 16 on California’s Monterey Peninsula. Major collector car auctions were conducted at venues throughout Monterey and Pebble Beach. RM Sotheby’s held its Monterey auction from August 13 through August 15 at the Portola Hotel and Monterey Conference Center, while Gooding Christie’s conducted its Pebble Beach Auctions on August 14 and 15 at the Parc du Concours.
Which auction houses sold the five most expensive cars at Monterey Car Week 2026?
Two auction houses accounted for all five highest-priced vehicles. Gooding Christie’s sold the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe and Ferrari 250 P, while RM Sotheby’s handled the Ferrari Luce, McLaren F1 GTR, and Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport. The results reflected the importance of both auction houses in presenting historically significant competition cars and rare exotic automobiles.
What was the most expensive Ferrari sold at Monterey Car Week 2026?
The highest-priced Ferrari transaction was the 2026 Ferrari Luce ‘Tailor Made,’ which achieved $40 million at RM Sotheby’s in a charity auction benefiting The Ferrari Foundation. The uniquely configured vehicle carried the designation Chassis 0 and featured an exclusive exterior and interior specification. Because it was a charitable sale, the result should be distinguished from conventional secondary-market Ferrari auction results.
What is a buyer’s premium at a collector car auction?
A buyer’s premium is an additional fee charged by the auction house to the winning bidder, usually calculated as a percentage of the final hammer price. Published collector car auction results commonly include this fee, meaning the reported sale price may be higher than the winning bid itself. Premium rates and payment conditions vary by auction house and lot. One notable exception at Monterey Car Week 2026 was the Ferrari Luce charity auction, where RM Sotheby’s waived the buyer’s premium.
