2017 Monterey Car Week: A Petrolhead’s Nirvana

As far as automotive events go, there are few that can hold a candle to Monterey Car Week.

For the sheer insanity of seeing a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta SWB sitting across the road from a 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder, or hearing that a 1995 example of the legendary McLaren F1 sold at auction for an eye-watering $19,586,859 AUD… the entire week is a petrolhead’s wet dream.

Culminating in the penultimate event, the 2017 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the week is littered with shows and displays like the Quail Motorsports Gathering, McCall’s Jet Center party and Exotics on Cannery Row.

Nearly 70 years old, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, literally translated to a “competition of elegance” (which it most certainly is), nets a crowd of around 15,000 people every year who come to ogle the prewar and postwar classics which are judged primarily on their condition and authenticity. Not to mention the display of the latest concept cars from manufacturers around the world, which aren’t part of the competition but are equally as alluring.

It’s as if Forza Horizon was a real thing, having supercars congregate from Europe, hypercars from Japan, multi-million-dollar classics from North America and even some heritage plated classics from Geelong, Australia.

It’s small wonder people travel from so far and wide to attend the best the United States (perhaps even the world) has to offer in the way of car shows. More, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is held on the revered turf widely regarded as the most stunning golf course in the world.

However, there’s more to Monterey Car Week than the county’s events schedule might suggest. You could arguably have just as fun a time roaming the streets of Carmel-by-the-Sea, no doubt being more than satisfied with spotting the most exclusive sports and supercars on Earth.

So without further ado, here’s a 200-strong gallery of images from this year’s Monterey Car Week.

A car any Gran Turismo enthusiast will know all about, the 1995 RUF CTR2 replaced Porsches in the game.

Niki Lauda’s 1975 Ferrari 312T powered by a naturally aspirated 3-litre flat-12 engine, back when Formula 1 was cool.

Pagani founder Horacio Pagani’s own personal Zonda HP Barchetta, one of three, was rumoured to cost $19,000,000.

Ultra limited, ultra expensive, ultra cool, the Singer 911.

Christian von Koenigsegg himself delivered this example of the Koenigsegg Regera to its Californian customer during the week

The concept lawn at Pebble Beach Lodge was packed with new design and technology.

Impromptu photo shoots an often occurrence throughout the week, bring your camera.

The Alcantara-covered interior of the Koenigsegg Agera RS1. Not a piece of plastic in sight.

Unsprung mass? What’s that?

White on white 1985 Lamborghini Countach QV5000.

One man, Michael Fux, owns all cars pictured in this shot. He also took delivery of his fuchsia-coloured Rolls-Royce Phantom and McLaren 720S during the week.