Monterey Car Week 2026: A Record-Breaking Week

Monterey Car Week 2026 has once again demonstrated why it remains one of the most important events on the global collector-car calendar, with the auction circuit delivering a remarkable $758.3 million in sales. That figure comfortably surpassed the previous Monterey record and represented a dramatic increase on 2025, confirming renewed confidence at the top end of the collector-car market. Across five major auction houses, 853 vehicles changed hands, with exceptional provenance, rarity and motorsport heritage driving fierce competition for the very best cars.

Image Credit: Gooding Christie's

Leading the way was Carroll Shelby’s former 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe, chassis CSX2300, which sold for an astonishing $42.905 million at Gooding Christie’s. One of just seven Daytona Coupes built, the car’s extraordinary history includes ownership by Shelby himself and a crucial role in the Cobra’s racing legacy. The result established a new record for the most valuable American car ever sold at auction, underlining the extraordinary premiums collectors are prepared to pay for genuinely irreplaceable pieces of automotive history.

Image Credit: RM Sotheby's

The Top Five Sales

1. 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe – $42,905,000 — Gooding Christie’s
2. 2026 Ferrari Luce ‘Tailor Made’ – $40,000,000 — RM Sotheby’s
3. 1996 McLaren F1 GTR – $34,655,000 — RM Sotheby’s
4. 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport – $18,705,000 — RM Sotheby’s
5. 2023 Ferrari Daytona SP3 – $17,825,000 — RM Sotheby’s

The Ferrari Luce was a charity sale, with proceeds benefiting initiatives through The Ferrari Foundation.

Image Credit: RM Sotheby's

The results also highlighted the remarkable breadth of today's collector market. Alongside legendary 1960s racing cars, modern hypercars and contemporary Ferraris achieved extraordinary figures, with Ferrari particularly dominant among the highest-value transactions. The McLaren F1 GTR, meanwhile, reinforced the enduring appeal of historically significant racing machinery, while the Corvette Grand Sport achieved a record price for the marque. Together, these results demonstrate that collectors continue to place the greatest emphasis on scarcity, provenance, competition history and cars that occupy a truly special place in automotive history.

Image Credit: RM Sotheby's

With record sales, multiple auction benchmarks broken and intense demand for exceptional automobiles, Monterey Car Week 2026 has provided a powerful snapshot of the collector-car market at its highest level. The message from California is clear: while the market may have become more selective, exceptional cars remain exceptionally valuable. For collectors, dealers and enthusiasts worldwide, the 2026 Monterey results will undoubtedly be studied closely for months to come, and may prove to be a defining moment in the continuing evolution of the global collector-car market. 

Image Credit: RM Sotheby's