This year’s Quail concours was defined by the raft of manufacturers revealing their latest wares, telling of the event’s strong reputation – and perhaps the well-to-do, champagne-fuelled crowd. Bugatti led the way, president Stephan Winkelmann peeling the covers off the new Centodieci, a modern-day homage to Romano Artioli’s EB110.
RM’s Monterey headliner failed to disappoint when it crossed the block yesterday evening. The grey McLaren F1 built to LM specification – i.e. it has the high-downforce aerodynamic body kit and an unrestricted 680bhp V12 – was arguably the most hotly anticipated car of the entire week. And someone was willing to pay 19.8m US dollars (including premium) to drive the three-seater supercar home.
Never before have so many people taken part in the traditional Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance, which is staged for the multi-million-dollar classics poised to line the fairways of Pebble Beach in Sunday’s prestigious beauty pageant.
The 28th McCall’s Motorworks Revival took place yesterday evening and attracted the usual assembly of exotic automobiles, executive jets, World War 2 warbirds and stalwarts of the collector car world. Very much a party at which to be seen, the evening also served as a pop-up shop for a raft of luxury and automotive brands peddling their valuable wares.
I’ve been to California for Monterey Car Week a number of times, but this was my first time at Concours on the Avenue. It turned out to be exactly as I’d envisaged: a relaxed and friendly concours in the centre of picturesque Carmel-by-the-Sea that sowed the seeds of excitement for the rest of the week.