Click above for a high-res gallery.

By the time Sunday rolls around during Monterey Week, we're pretty exhausted. Too many cars and so little time. Still, that doesn't stop us from getting to the 18th fairway before the sun comes up to see the cars drive onto the grass. Duesenbergs, Bentleys, Cadillacs, Ferraris, Bugattis, and more come rolling into the show, causing us to scurry back and forth to photograph as many of them as possible. There was so much to look at this year -- the Lamborghinis, Lancias, V16 Cadillacs, 250 GT California Spyders, GM's Motorama, and Leno's tank car -- before we knew it, the Best of Show had been crowned and the day was over. We can't go through all of the class winners and special awards, but if you are interested, you can view them on the Pebble Beach Concours web site. We've put together a comprehensive gallery of high resolution photos for you, many with captions in case you aren't familiar with the cars. Enjoy!

Gallery: 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

Monterey 2008: Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click above for high-res gallery of Bugatti Grand Sport in Monterey

Just a day after the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport was unveiled on the Pebble Beach lawn, the Gooding & Company auctioned off the rights to chassis #1 and the opportunity to work with the Bugatti factory to build the car to their exact specifications. With the Grand Sport prototype up on the auction block, bidding started at $1.7 million and finally rested with a final offer of $2.9 million. The auction premium of 10 percent then brought the total to $3.19 million. In case you were wondering what it's like to witness the sale of a multi-million dollar car, you can watch a video of the auction after the jump as well as read more about the Gooding & Company auction highlights in the press release.

Gallery: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Live Debut

Gallery: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

Continue reading Monterey 2008: First Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport auctioned for $3.19 million

Monterey 2008: First Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport auctioned for $3.19 million originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: VW CC Gold Coast

Continue reading Pebble Beach 2008: VW shows off CC Gold Coast in Monterey

Pebble Beach 2008: VW shows off CC Gold Coast in Monterey originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click above for high-res gallery of group of Veyrons

Starting with McCall's Motorworks Revival at the Monterey Jet Center on Wednesday night and ending with the announcement of the winner of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, we are pretty much on automotive overload after our weekend trip to Monterey. There are so many amazing automobiles in the same location at the same time that it would be nearly impossible to show you all the incredible cars we come across. Ferraris and Lamborghinis become regular cars in the Monterey Bay, seen at every stop light and Starbucks drive through. We were even starting to get used to seeing Bugatti Veyrons around town. There was one at the Jet Center party, two at Concorso Italiano including the Pur Sang, an Fbg Veyron by Hermes was at the Quail Lodge, and we witnessed the unveiling of the new Grand Sport version on Saturday night. All of that was topped on Sunday when Bugatti parked four Veyrons in front of the Pebble Beach Lodge. What's amazing is that we hadn't seen two of these four yet, bringing our total count for the weekend to seven. While it was hard to get them all in one photo because of the crowds, we managed to snap a few images of them all together that can be seen in the gallery below.

Gallery: Quad Bugattis

Monterey 2008: Four Bugatti Veyrons in one photo originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click above for high-res gallery of the featured Lamborghinis at Pebble

While Pebble Beach is perhaps best known as a place to honor classic American and European cars, sports cars have always held a special place in the hearts of the Concours committee and judges. With 45 years under its belt, Lamborghini is certainly deserving of a special place on both counts. As a featured marque here at Pebble, Lamborghini was extremely well represented with a selection of exquisite rare examples. Nine vehicles were on display being judged by 40-year test pilot Valentino Balboni among others.

The lineup of seldom-seen Lambos included the earliest known Lamborghini 350GT, the earliest known Miura, the earliest Miura SV, the Miura Roadster fresh from a yearlong restoration that swapped its army green paint for the correct blue metalflake, a 350GTS, 350GTZ by Zagato, an early LP400 Countach, and three one-off concepts - the 1990 P140, 1996 Raptor, and the Gallardo Concept S. A truly spectacular selection of models representing the fabled Italian marque. Check out the gallery below and follow the jump for the full press release.

Gallery: Lamborghini at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours

Continue reading Monterey 2008: Lamborghini featured at Pebble Beach

Monterey 2008: Lamborghini featured at Pebble Beach originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click above for high-res gallery of this year's Pebble Beach Best of Show

The confetti has fallen, the champagne corks have flown, and the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Best of Show award has gone to the gorgeous 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta owned by John and Mary Shirley of Medina Washington. While every car here is truly extraordinary, the Best of Show car is always a stunner. This year was no exception. One of possibly five 8C 2900s bodied by Touring, this 8C has the supercharged straight 8 that was good for an amazing 180 hp. Some 30 8Cs were produced by Farina and Touring from 1937-1939, and few are the same or as nice as this particular example. Besides the trinkets and trophy, the Best of Show car also gets a boost in MSRP typically, being able to justifiably call itself the best collector car around. While we might fill in a few more galleries and posts to round out our coverage of Monterey 2008, we wanted to get this news to you asap. So click on the pics and enjoy.

Gallery: 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Best of Show

Monterey 2008: Pebble Beach Best of Show goes to the 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Aug 2008 20:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click above for a high resolution image

The RM sports and classic car auction is one of our favorite events during the Monterey weekend. The laid back atmosphere and incredible selection of cars makes the event a perennial occurrence on our schedule. This year's event was particularly impressive, especially the selection of classic Ferraris. No less than eight surpassed the million dollar mark (seven actually sold), capped by the $4.51 million dollar sale of a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB. Others breaking $1 million were a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 ($1,925,000), 1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Coupe Aerodinamica, and a 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder ($1,485,000). A beautiful 1956 Ferrari 250 GT TDF Berlinetta had a top bid of $3.9 million but didn't meet the reserve. Follow the jump for a press release from RM and enjoy the gallery below.

Gallery: Million Dollar Ferraris at the 2008 RM Monterey Auction

Continue reading Monterey 2008: Million dollar Ferraris at the RM Auction

Monterey 2008: Million dollar Ferraris at the RM Auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Aug 2008 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click image above for huge high-res gallery of the AB team's pics from the track

The 35th Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races presented by Toyota at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is a long title for a spectacular event. Saturday was actually day two of the Historics, which will conclude on Sunday. While the races are exciting and the action very real, the results are slightly less important here than just witnessing the spectacle. The sounds alone are worth a trip to Laguna Seca in August. Saturday's action featured the Toyota Race of Legends, with several other classes having their day in the sun as well.

We had photographers all around the track capturing glimpses of the action, so make sure to click through the gallery to see what you are missing. After witnessing Mario Andretti throw the checkered flag for the Legends and then completing what seemed like dozens of "demo" laps in his old Lotus F1 car, we thought we knew what makes this event so special. And then we saw Patrick Dempsey getting some demo laps in an old Chrysler, and we had to rethink our theory. Okay, Dempsey is probably a bit more maligned here than he deserves, but he does seem to be featured here a lot lately. Personally we were happy to see the Keno twins of Antiques Roadshow fame just as much.

Look through the gallery and you will see some of these encounters and dozenz of pics of the great cars you practically trip over in the open paddock. It's just sick how many of the greatest cars from throughout automotive history are here and being driven as they should be. Saturday's classes included the finals for Pre-1940 Sports and Touring Cars, 1925-1950 Racing Cars and Indy Roadsters, 1950-1960 Sports Racing Cars, 1966-1972 Historic Trans-Am Cars, 1966-1974 Historic Can-Am Cars and 1964-1975 FIA Sports Racing Cars. We also got to see some of the cars that will be running Sunday as their owners tweaked them for the final day of competition. If you make it out to the track on Sunday you'll likely catch the featured Alfa Romeos as well as 1955-1966 Production Sports Cars, 1967-1978 Historic F-1 Cars, and 1972-1983 Historic IMSA Cars. If you can't find something you like in those groups, you're not trying.

Press release after the jump with results and quotes from Saturday.

Gallery: 2008 Monterey Historics

Continue reading Monterey 2008: Saturday's Monterey Historic Automobile Races

Monterey 2008: Saturday's Monterey Historic Automobile Races originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click image above for high-res gallery from Laguna Seca

This year's edition of The Toyota Race of Legends looked to be another exciting race, giving fans a chance to see former racing greats mix it up in identically prepared Scion tCs. Basically they are the same cars that are used in Long Beach for the Pro/Celebrity Race. The lineup of drivers included last year's winner, Derek Bell, along with other former F1 and sports car racers like Eddie Cheever, Danny Sullivan, Johnny Herbert, Alan Jones, John Watson, Jean-Pierre Jarier, Patrick Tambay, and Alain de Cadenet, as well as current Toyota F1 hot shoe, Timo Glock.

As a bit of a twist in the proceedings, local tuner and sometime racer Bruce Canepa had won a spot on the grid during a charity auction. Bruce quickly promised to beat the pants off the pros, citing his experience at Laguna Seca (his shop is just down the road), his prior racing experience (he has teamed with Bobby Rahal and Rick Mears at the Daytona 24 Hours and was on the Porsche AG 935 factory team), and his recent Scion tC track training.

Alain de Cadenet, for one, wasn't about to take that challenge lying down. He told us as much on Wednesday night at the Jet Center. A little friendly rivalry could only add to the fun. The stakes were raised when the officials held the draw for starting positions. Wouldn't you know it, Canepa landed the pole. Well, the gauntlet was thrown down and when the flag was waived, it was time to put up or shut up. Follow the jump for a brief rundown of the results.

Gallery: Monterey 2008: Toyota Race of Legends

Continue reading Monterey 2008: The Toyota Race of Legends

Monterey 2008: The Toyota Race of Legends originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 17 Aug 2008 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click above for a high resolution image

One of our favorite events during the Monterey weekend is the incredible gathering of cars at the Quail Lodge in Carmel. It's by far the most exclusive event, with only a few thousand tickets available, but the benefit is that the limited number of spectators makes viewing the cars much easier and creates a more relaxed atmosphere. The selection of cars is just as exclusive, which makes walking through the assembly of cars an incredible experience. One of our favorite groups was the 12 Hours of Sebring race cars, which included anything from a 1-of-5 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport to a 2003 Ferrari 575 GTC. We also enjoyed the Porsche 959 group that had around a dozen examples on display including one of the three factory cars that raced in the Paris-Dakar rally in 1985. Another favorite was the collection of Lamborghinis shown as a tribute to Valentino Balboni, the factory test driver since the company's inception. We loved the stunning Miuras as well as the rare LM002 SUV. And the list goes on...there were groups for The Great Ferraris, Supercars, Gurney Eagle Race Cars, and more. Check out the huge gallery of high resolution images below to pick out your favorites.

Gallery: Monterey 2008: The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering

Monterey 2008: The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Aug 2008 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Monterey 2008: Concorso Italiano

Monterey 2008: Concorso Italiano takes flight originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Aug 2008 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Update: Additional live shots of the Hyperion added from the Concept Lawn at Pebble

Click above for high-res gallery of the Pininfarina Hyperion

The one-off Pininfarina Hyperion made its debut tonight at the Gooding & Company auction tent, and we were on hand to see the cover come off this highly anticipated coach-built convertible. Their was a somewhat somber mood among the Pininfarina team, who dedicated the car to the car to the late Andrea Pininfarina, but their spirits were lifted as the Hyperion received an excellent reaction from the crowd as it was unveiled. The car looks truly stunning in person, and we prefer the styling of the Hyperion over the standard Drophead Coupe. The hood is incredibly long, due in part to the extra 400mm created by moving the windscreen back, and we especially loved the unique headlights. We will have additional photos for you on Sunday when the car is displayed during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Until then, enjoy the gallery below of the unveiling.

Gallery: Pininfarina Hyperion Live Unveiling

Gallery: Pininfarina Hyperion live shots

Photos Copyright (C)2008 Drew Phillips / Frank Filipponio / Weblogs, Inc.

Monterey 2008: Pininfarina Hyperion unveiled originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Aug 2008 00:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Monterey 2008: Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon - Live Reveal

Gallery: 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon

Continue reading Monterey 2008: 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon revealed LIVE

Monterey 2008: 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon revealed LIVE originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click above for a high resolution image of the SL65 AMG Black Series

We haven't seen any photos of the Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series except for the press photos and a few wallpapers we scrounged up. As far was we know, no one has actually seen the car in person outside of Mercedes-Benz, let alone photographed it. So imagine our surprise when we spotted one headed our direction while trying to crash the Ferrari-owners-invited-only North American debut of the Ferrari California in Monterey. We instantly forgot about trying to catch a glimpse of the Ferrari and turned our lenses towards the Black Series. Fortunately, Mercedes-Benz had no problem with us taking photographs of the car, and we were able to get plenty of detailed pictures. Enjoy the high resolution gallery below and we'll be back later with more from Monterey!

Gallery: 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series Live Shots

Monterey 2008: SL65 AMG Black Series in the flesh! originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click image above to see our huge gallery of pics from the '08 Pebble Tour

Because so many collector car fans refer to the seven days in August as Pebble Week, it should come as no surprise that the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is still the cornerstone of automotive nirvana here on the Monterey peninsula. The ultra-exclusive Concours staged on the Pebble Beach Golf Links, providing classic car buffs the ultimate venue to see automotive history staked out on the greens. While dozens of supporting events have surfaced to fill the entire week with automotive happenings, Pebble itself has diversified to include a free event for spectators: the Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance.

The Tour is open to all Concours entries and those that participate earn tie-breaker points in the Concours judging on Sunday. All but the oldest cars drive 50 miles up and down the hills along 17-Mile Drive and PCH from Pebble Beach to Big Sur, before heading back to the Polo Grounds at Pebble. Most of the participants also make a lunch stop in Carmel which clogs the streets for most of the day. Nobody can blame fans for trying to get a glimpse of these great cars for free rather than shelling out the big bucks for the Concours tickets. While the Sunday show offers truly spectacular vistas, getting a chance to see, hear and smell these museum pieces in action is really special too.

Just like last year, heavy fog along the route did it's best to obscure our view, but our long lenses and thermal underwear prevailed against the moist air. We've assembled a huge gallery comprised of Ferrari California Spiders, early Lamborghinis, the F1 Safety Car, vintage Lancias, Alfas, early Benzes, Delahayes, Talbots, Jags, BMWs, and many, many more. With the Tour, it's official: the festivities have begun.

Gallery: 2008 Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance

Monterey 2008: Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click above for high-res gallery of the Motorworks Revival party

For more than a decade, Gordon McCall's Motorworks Revival party has kicked off the Pebble Beach weekend in style. The event brings together the who's who of the automotive world, and guests are wined and dined alongside some of the world's most impressive machinery. The display of automobiles was particularly exceptional this year with an incredible collection of supercars and priceless classic. Jim Glickenhaus was kind enough to bring out his one-off Pininfarina P4/5 that was displayed alongside a Ferrari Formula 1 car, and we were treated to a pair of Bugatti Veyrons as well as two Koenigsegg CCXs, not to mention a 1-of-20 Lamborghini Reventon. We were also able to make an interesting comparison of the brand new Corvette ZR1 and a Pratt and Miller C6RS that sat back to back. We made sure to take plenty of photographs, and you can browse through them in the high-resolution gallery below.

Gallery: 2008 Gordon McCall's Motorworks Revival

Monterey 2008: Gordon McCall's Motorworks Revival originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Click above for a high resolution image

Every year in August the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance gives car enthusiasts a chance to see exceptional automobiles together at the same place at the same time. With Lamborghini as a featured marque this year, it was inevitable that some of the best of the breed will be on the 18th fairway in just a few days. The earliest known 350GT (Lamborghini's first model), the earliest known Miura, and several one-off examples will be on display. As a bonus, Valentino Balboni, Lamborghini's legendary test driver, will be serving as a class judge. More information can be found in the press release after the jump, and look for our coverage of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance as we report live from Monterey next week.

Continue reading Rare Lamborghinis to be featured at Pebble Beach

Rare Lamborghinis to be featured at Pebble Beach originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.