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This year, much like so many before it, is shaping up to be an exceptionally strong one for auctions at Monterey Car Week. There are hundreds of cars that deserve a mention, spread across sales hosted by RM Sotheby’s, Bonhams, Mecum, Broad Arrow and others, so trimming the selection down to just 16 examples almost feels unfair ... but we have done it anyway.

From iconic Corvettes to old and new hypercars, along with a variety of important and delightfully unusual prototypes in between, watching these cars arrive at the block and then head off to new owners should make for a fascinating and varied spectacle. So, before the bidding paddles start flying, here are some of the standout lots.

1996 McLaren F1 GTR

It is the Pop Art F1, once again. This McLaren F1 GTR, one of only nine converted to road specification, is heading to auction through RM Sotheby’s and is expected to fetch more than $35 million. Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason owned this particular F1 for 25 years before it was sold to a private buyer in 2024, and now it is being offered again. It may well be the most recognisable McLaren F1 in existence, so keep an eye out for it when it rolls onto the block this Saturday.

1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport

Corvette royalty is coming to Monterey in the shape of the very first Grand Sport coupe ever built. You could say this is the year of the Grand Sport, with the C8’s Grand Sport variants on the way. Now the story comes full circle with this factory-built competition Corvette. This particular Grand Sport carries a long and distinguished racing history, and was driven by names including A.J. Foyt, Jim Hall and others. The present owner has fully restored it, and RM Sotheby’s expects it to sell in the $11–$13 million range.

2014 McLaren P1 GT by Lanzante

When it comes to modern McLarens, it does not get much cooler than this. The P1 GT by Lanzante is extremely rare, with only four examples having received the Lanzante conversion. It pays tribute to the F1 GT Longtail, and although it is technically a road-going build and is being sold in California, RM notes that the vehicle does not comply with California emissions regulations. Its estimated sale price is $3.0–$3.5 million.

1979 Ferrari 512 BB/LM

Among Ferrari’s factory sports car racing programmes, the 512 BB/LM was far from the marque’s most successful effort, but there is no arguing with how cool it is. This car is number seven of the 25 built for competition use. The LM version of the 512 received a broad set of upgrades, including substantially more power, much lower weight and a major body kit. This specific example has undergone restoration work by Ferrari Classiche, and is expected to sell somewhere between $2.0 million and $3.5 million.

1960 Chevrolet Corvette LM

Yes, another historically important Corvette is heading to RM’s auction this year. This car competed in the 1960 24 Hours of Le Mans and was driven by Briggs Cunningham and Bill Kimberly, and it is being offered for sale by the Cunningham family. A full restoration was completed in 2023 by Kevin Mackay, and it is expected to bring $2.0–$2.5 million.

2026 Ferrari Luce 'Tailor Made'

It may not be taking home any prize for being the prettiest Ferrari at the auction, but it would be impossible not to mention that the first Luce is heading to RM this week. This example is finished in ‘Tailor Made’ specification with a Madreperla exterior and Perla Le Mans interior. A standard Luce starts at around $640,000, but RM believes this car will sell for more than $1.1 million. It will be interesting to see whether it gets there.

1991 Jaguar XJR-15

Quite literally a race car for the road, this Jaguar XJR-15 is one of 27 built in road-going specification. Sharing its engine and suspension with the XJR-9 race car, this carbon-tubbed Jaguar ranks among the wildest and rarest supercars of the 1990s. Unfortunately for its previous owner, the example being offered here was barely used, showing just 191 miles on the odometer. It was never titled or registered, and RM expects it to sell for $1.0–$1.4 million.

2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG P900 Prototype

Several little-known yet spectacular prototype vehicles are crossing the block in Monterey this year, and this CLK DTM may be the coolest among the Mercedes offerings. This car served as the development vehicle for AMG’s famous 6.2-litre V-8, and it is believed to be one of only two remaining. Mercedes-AMG itself owned the vehicle for a considerable period, and the odometer shows just 140 miles. RM estimates its value at $800,000–$1.0 million.

1987 Nissan Skyline 'Type HR31' GTS-R NISMO Group A

Moving on to the Bonhams catalogue, we come to a Skyline that raced in the 1988-89 Japanese Touring Car Championship. The Calsonic blue livery is surely burned into enthusiasts’ memories by now, and this Nissan was the first to wear it. As the Skyline that came immediately before the R32, this GTS-R and its RB20DET-R engine are sometimes overlooked, but this example is set to get its moment in the spotlight. Bonhams estimates a sale price in the $200,000–$275,000 range.

1956 Lotus Eleven Le Mans

There are not many “affordable” cars that appear at auction during Monterey Car Week, but this Lotus Eleven is one way to take home something with genuine visual drama for a predicted $120,000–$160,000. This Le Mans-spec Lotus Eleven is one of 270 produced in total, and it was originally delivered to an owner in the U.S., where it has remained ever since. The Coventry Climax four-cylinder engine produces only 140 horsepower, but with a weight of about 1000 pounds, this little Lotus would make for a thrilling track car.

1987 Porsche 928 Clubsport Prototype ex-Jochen Mass

There had to be at least one Porsche on this list, did there not? Plenty of special race cars and road cars from Stuttgart are going under the hammer this week, but this 928 Clubsport Prototype deserves a closer look. Its first owner was Formula One driver Jochen Mass, and it is the only one of four prototypes delivered to someone outside Porsche. The 928 may be an unloved Porsche in many circles, but this Clubsport is still expected to achieve $250,000-$350,000.

1970 Citroën M35

Here is one you could probably bring home from Monterey for the price of a new Honda CR-V. This is yet another road-legal prototype and one of only 267 M35s ever made. Citroën worked with NSU to fit a single-rotor engine into the M35, and it also featured the company’s remarkable hydropneumatic suspension. The unusual bodywork was designed by French coachbuilder Heuliez, and while most of the 267 examples were eventually scrapped, this M35 survives. Broad Arrow estimates it will change hands for just $30,000–$40,000.

1966 Ferrari Dino 206 S Berlinetta

All right then, back to the expensive machinery. This Dino is one of the coolest examples in existence, having raced in endurance events around the world under the campaign of the North American Racing Team (N.A.R.T.). It is also one of three bodied as Berlinettas and raced from 1966-1969. Its current owner has had it for more than four decades, and Gooding places the estimated hammer price at $3.5–$5.0 million.

1970 Pontiac Firebird One

Here is another tremendous prototype. This Firebird One was created as a GM show car inspired by sketches from Hot Wheels and Dodge Deora designer Harry Bentley Bradley. It was hand-built from a standard 1970 Firebird, making it a fully running and driving prototype vehicle. Experimental aerodynamics dominate the design, with skirted rear wheels, a lowered body and a dramatic bonnet featuring six individual scoops. Gooding estimates this Firebird will sell for $200,000–$250,000.

1993 Vector Avtech WX-3R Roadster Prototype

The final prototype we are highlighting is this outrageous Vector. It is the only open-top Vector ever built and was first shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 1993. Vector founder Jerry Wiegert owned this significant piece of Vector history until 2019, when it was sold to a private collector. It still retains its original 6.0-litre twin-turbo V-8 engine, and that striking purple paint you see is called “Amethyst.” The estimated selling price is $400,000–$600,000.

1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe

We have saved one of the very best for last: a genuine Shelby Cobra Daytona is heading to auction. This car is one of six, and it competed in Shelby’s 1965 FIA GT Championship season. Carroll Shelby himself owned this example from 1975 to 1998, making it the only one of the six that he personally possessed. It is exactly the kind of historic machine one expects to see auctioned during Monterey Car Week, and Gooding predicts the hammer will fall somewhere above $25 million.