Ferrari, McLaren & a $20M Race Car: The Cars to Watch at Monterey 2026

Monterey Car Week 2026 is almost here, and this year's auction catalogue reads like the complete history of the automobile — pre-war elegance to modern hypercars. JP Rathgen picks out the cars to watch across Gooding Christie's, RM Sotheby's, and Broad Arrow, and breaks down why each one matters.

JP Rathgen picks out the cars to watch across Gooding Christie's, RM Sotheby's, and Broad Arrow — and breaks down why each one matters, from the numbers to the history behind them. Highlights include the 1963 Ferrari 250 P — the first-ever Ferrari "P" car and arguably the most historically important race Ferrari of the entire week (estimate: $15–20M); a McLaren F1 GTR with genuine Le Mans pedigree and Nick Mason provenance (valued in excess of $35M); RM Sotheby's "Big Five" — a complete set of Ferrari's flagship supercars, from the 288 GTO to the LaFerrari; and a 1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS Teardrop Coupe by Figoni et Falaschi, one of French coachbuilding's finest achievements. None of this is a recommendation. Every one of these cars lives on its own condition, spec, and history, and estimates are a starting point, not a verdict.