MyTop30
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

Catalog Edition of 3 October 2026

Classic Car Concours & Auctions

An edited MyTop30 catalog of classic cars, published as a dated edition.

  • 20Entries
  • 3 Oct 2026Updated
  • Private collectorsWritten for

No. 1 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

Photograph: Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance by Jay Cross, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized

Editor’s summary

Inaugural Classic Cars baseline for UHNW collectors: 20 picks across concours, historic events, auction houses, restorers and one hybrid show. The list was not padded to 30. Pebble Beach is #1, as the concours whose Best of Show still defines the hobby (1935 Duesenberg SSJ in 2026). RM Sotheby's is #2 after leading Monterey 2026 by sales value, ahead of Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este (#3), Gooding Christie's (#4, which sold the record $42.9M Shelby Daytona Coupe) and the Goodwood Revival (#5). The ranking favours provenance, judging rigour and real collector participation over attendance alone. The restorer subcategory is deliberately thin (RM Auto Restoration and Paul Russell and Company), because few workshops have two independent, dated, verifiable professional sources online. Market context: Hagerty's year-end data shows the high end being pulled by modern hypercars, with the average age of seven-figure cars falling by almost 12 years over five years. Several 2026 headline lots (Enzo, F50, Carrera GT) fit that pattern, while older Ferraris and pre-war cars struggled in Paris.

Photograph: Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance by Jay Cross, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized

Rank 01

ConcoursBest in class

Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

Still the collector-car world's top prize: a Best of Show here defines the pre-war coachbuilt canon and moves restorer reputations.

Full assessment
Scores, specifications & sources

9.6Overall score
out of 10

  • Prestige10.0
  • Expertise9.5
  • Provenance9.6
  • Community9.4
  • Experience9.2

Key specifications

Location
Pebble Beach Golf Links, Monterey Peninsula, California
Edition
75th (16 August 2026)
Field size
218 cars (2026)
Latest Best of Show
1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster (Harry Yeaggy)
Previous Best of Show
1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C 'Tulipwood' Torpedo (2025)
Notable caveats
Entry is by invitation and class selection; Monterey Car Week crowds and lodging costs are significant

Sources

  1. MotorTrend · 1935 Duesenberg SSJ Wins Best of Show at the 2026 Pebble Beach Concours d'EleganceEx-Clark Gable SSJ, one of two Special Speedsters, wins the 2026 Best of Show; restored to its original black over saddle leather.
  2. Car and Driver · 1935 Duesenberg SSJ Special Speedster Wins 2026 Pebble Beach Best of ShowDescribes Pebble as 'arguably the most prestigious classic car show in the world'; 75th Diamond Jubilee edition.
  3. Motor Sport · 'King' of Hollywood's Duesenberg wins Best of Show at Pebble BeachWinner chosen from a field of 218 entrants; owner's second Best of Show (first in 2007).
  4. Autoweek · Clark Gable's Duesenberg Wins Pebble Beach ConcoursRestoration by Classic Restoration Services matched a two-inch section of original paint; chair Sandra Button's final year.
  5. MotorTrend · 1924 Hispano-Suiza Tulipwood Torpedo Wins Best of Show at 2025 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance2025 winner restored by RM Auto Restoration over more than 12,000 hours.
Photograph: RM Auctions Paris sale by Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized

Rank 02

Auction houseBest in subcategory

RM Sotheby's

The deepest-liquidity saleroom for blue-chip collector cars, with the week-defining totals at both Monterey and Paris in 2026.

Full assessment
Scores, specifications & sources

9.4Overall score
out of 10

  • Prestige9.6
  • Expertise9.3
  • Provenance9.2
  • Community8.8
  • Experience9.0

Key specifications

Headquarters
Blenheim, Ontario, Canada
Signature sale
Monterey (August); Paris (Rétromobile week)
Monterey 2026 total
$376.1M, 171/194 sold, 88% (Hagerty)
Paris 2026 total
€68.8M, 78% sell-through (Hagerty)
Record lot
1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 R Stromlinienwagen, €51.155M (Feb 2025, Reuters)
Notable caveats
Monterey headline includes a $40M charity lot; about 30% of Paris 2026 lots sold below estimate (Magneto)

Sources

  1. Hagerty Media · 2026 Monterey Car Week Auctions Shatter Record with $756M in SalesRM Sotheby's $376.1M, 171 of 194 sold (88%), average $2,199,360; Ferrari Luce $40M charity lot flagged.
  2. Magneto · 2026 Paris auctions: Records fall, but older Ferraris and pre-war cars struggleRM top-grossing Paris sale (about €68.7M, 78% sold); top lot of the week the €14.07M 250 GT SWB California Spider; about 30% sold below estimate.
  3. Reuters · Mercedes 'streamliner' fetches record 51 million euros at auctionRM Sotheby's sold the ex-IMS W196 R Stromlinienwagen for €51.155M, a record for a Grand Prix car.
  4. Hagerty Media · Rétromobile 2026 Auction Recap: Big Cars, Mixed ResultsRM Paris €68,785,950, 61 of 78 sold, highest of the 2026 Paris sales.
Photograph: Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este by Buch-t, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE, via Wikimedia Commons, resized

Rank 03

ConcoursNotable challenger

Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este

Europe's most exclusive concours lawn: small and jury-led; in 2026 it crowned the 1937 BMW 328 'Bügelfalte'.

Full assessment
Scores, specifications & sources

9.3Overall score
out of 10

  • Prestige9.6
  • Expertise9.2
  • Provenance9.4
  • Community8.6
  • Experience9.4

Key specifications

Location
Villa d'Este / Villa Erba, Cernobbio, Lake Como
Organiser
BMW Group Classic
2026 dates
15–17 May 2026
Latest Best of Show (jury)
1937 BMW 328 'Bügelfalte' (Stefano Martinoli)
Coppa d'Oro (public vote)
1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster (Eric Blumencranz)
Notable caveats
Organised by a manufacturer; 2026 jury winner was a BMW

Sources

  1. Magneto · BMW 328 takes home Best of Show at Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este 2026Full 2026 results: BMW 328 Bügelfalte Best of Show; 300 SL Coppa d'Oro; 250 GTO 3589GT most sensitive restoration.
  2. Il Sole 24 Ore · Mercedes wins the Coppa d'Oro at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'EsteSays Villa d'Este is 'considered the most important of its kind in the world'; original-condition 300 SL wins the public prize.
  3. Tatler · Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza: a turbocharged garden party on the shores of Lake ComoSociety-press coverage of the 2026 edition.
Photograph: Gooding & Company Pebble Beach auction by Prova MO, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized

Rank 04

Auction houseNotable challenger

Gooding Christie's

The boutique, highest-sell-through house at the top end, now backed by Christie's and holding the auction record for an American car.

Full assessment
Scores, specifications & sources

9.1Overall score
out of 10

  • Prestige9.3
  • Expertise9.2
  • Provenance9.1
  • Community8.6
  • Experience9.2

Key specifications

Ownership
Christie's (acquisition reported September 2024)
Signature sale
Pebble Beach Auctions (Monterey Car Week)
Record lot
1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe CSX2300, $42,905,000 (Aug 2026)
Monterey 2026 total
$158.8M, 94% sold (Hagerty)
Paris 2026
Official Rétromobile auction, €50.36M, 77% sold (Hagerty)
Notable caveats
Several star pre-war and 1950s Ferraris failed to sell in Paris 2026

Sources

  1. Road & Track · This Shelby Daytona Coupe Just Became the Most Expensive American Car Ever Sold at AuctionCSX2300 sold for $42,905,000 at Gooding Christie's, a record for an American car at auction.
  2. Hagerty Media · 2026 Monterey Car Week Auctions Shatter Record with $756M in SalesGooding Christie's $158.8M, 157 of 167 sold (94%).
  3. Magneto · Amelia auctions 2026: Sales bonanza as records fall and sell-through rates soarGooding Christie's Amelia sale 94% sold for $71,797,800, its best since its first Amelia sale in 2010.
  4. Bloomberg Law · Christie's Reenters Classic Car Market With Gooding AcquisitionChristie's agrees to acquire Gooding & Company, re-entering collector cars.
Photograph: Goodwood Revival by David Merrett, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized

Rank 05

Historic eventBest in subcategory

Goodwood Revival

The crown jewel of historic racing: genuinely competitive star-studded racing, a circuit frozen in time and total period immersion.

Full assessment
Scores, specifications & sources

9.0Overall score
out of 10

  • Prestige9.3
  • Expertise8.8
  • Provenance9.0
  • Community9.4
  • Experience9.6

Key specifications

Location
Goodwood Motor Circuit, West Sussex
2026 dates
18–20 September 2026
Attendance
More than 150,000 (Octane, 2026)
Signature race
RAC TT Celebration
2026 theme
La Dolce Vita (Maserati centenary)
Next edition
17–19 September 2027

Sources

  1. Octane · Four anniversaries and star-studded RAC TT grid headline 2026 Goodwood RevivalMore than 150,000 attendees; Lotterer/Halusa win the RAC TT; GT40 Mk II reunion.
  2. DailySportsCar · The Goodwood Revival Is All About MomentsCalls Revival the 'crown jewel in the historic motorsport calendar'; racing is genuinely competitive.
  3. Motor Sport · 2026 Goodwood Revival: La Dolce Vita, a little Italy heads to SussexPreview of the Italian-themed 2026 programme.

Rank 06

RestorerBest in subcategory

RM Auto Restoration

The record-holding Pebble Beach restorer, with nine Best of Show winners including the 2025 'Tulipwood' Hispano-Suiza.

Full assessment
Scores, specifications & sources

8.9Overall score
out of 10

  • Prestige9.2
  • Expertise9.6
  • Provenance9.4
  • Community8.0
  • Experience8.3

Key specifications

Location
Blenheim, Ontario, Canada
Specialism
Pre-war coachbuilt and concours restorations
Pebble Beach Best of Show wins
Nine, a record (MotorTrend 2025)
Recent landmark
1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C 'Tulipwood' Torpedo, 2025 Best of Show, 12,000+ hours
Notable caveats
Same group as RM Sotheby's auctions; long lead times

Sources

  1. MotorTrend · 1924 Hispano-Suiza Tulipwood Torpedo Wins Best of Show at 2025 Pebble Beach Concours d'EleganceRM restoration; nine Pebble Best of Show wins, a record; 12,000+ hours.
  2. Magneto · Restoration story behind Pebble Beach-winning Mercedes 540KMercedes Classic documented the 540K during RM's restoration; original leather kept; up to 15 staff on the car.
  3. Monterey Herald · Concours d'Elegance's Best of Show: Made for a king, fit for a crown2023 Best of Show 540K Special Roadster restored by RM Auto Restoration.

Rank 07

RestorerNotable challenger

Paul Russell and Company

'Mr. Best of Show': four Pebble Beach and four Villa d'Este Best of Show wins, with a preservation-first philosophy.

Full assessment
Scores, specifications & sources

8.8Overall score
out of 10

  • Prestige9.0
  • Expertise9.5
  • Provenance9.5
  • Community8.0
  • Experience8.2

Key specifications

Location
Essex, Massachusetts, USA
Founded
June 1978 (as Gullwing Service Company)
Best of Show record
50+ overall, incl. 4 Pebble Beach and 4 Villa d'Este (Hagerty 2026)
Signature work
Mercedes-Benz 300SL; Bugatti 57SC Atlantic and 'Count Trossi' SSK for Ralph Lauren
Notable caveats
Selective about clients and approach; second independent source dates from 2012

Sources

  1. Hagerty Media · "Mr. Best of Show" Paul Russell Reflects on Five Decades as a Master Restorer50+ Best of Show awards incl. Pebble x4 and Villa d'Este x4; founded 1978; Ralph Lauren Atlantic and Trossi SSK.
  2. Autoweek · 1928 Mercedes 680S wins Best of Show at Pebble Beach Concours d'EleganceSaoutchik-bodied 680S Torpedo, restored by Paul Russell and Co., wins Pebble Beach Best of Show 2012; restored to exact as-built specification.
Photograph: Concours of Elegance Hampton Court by Mwsmith20, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized

Rank 08

ConcoursNotable challenger

Concours of Elegance, Hampton Court Palace

Britain's premier concours: a tightly curated 80-car field at a royal palace, with a race-history SSK as 2026 Best in Show.

Full assessment
Scores, specifications & sources

8.6Overall score
out of 10

  • Prestige9.0
  • Expertise8.6
  • Provenance8.9
  • Community8.2
  • Experience9.2

Key specifications

Location
Hampton Court Palace, London
2026 dates
4–6 September 2026
Main field
80 cars
Latest Best in Show
1928 Mercedes-Benz 710 SSK Rennwagen (chassis 36246)
Next edition
3–5 September 2027

Sources

  1. Octane · Mercedes-Benz SSK wins 2026 Concours of Elegance710 SSK Rennwagen Best in Show from 80 cars; full award list.
  2. Autoweek · Concours of Elegance Hampton Court Palace, London: Splendid'Truly one of the world's great concours'; SSK restored by Reifen-Wagner in 1995–96.
Photograph: Le Mans Classic by Y.Leclercq, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized

Rank 09

Historic eventNotable challenger

Le Mans Classic

The largest historic race meeting, run on the full Sarthe circuit; the 2026 switch to alternating formats came with a smaller crowd.

Full assessment
Scores, specifications & sources

8.5Overall score
out of 10

  • Prestige8.8
  • Expertise8.4
  • Provenance8.8
  • Community9.4
  • Experience8.8

Key specifications

Location
Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans
Format
Annual from 2026, alternating Legend and Heritage
2025 attendance
238,000, a record (Octane)
2026 attendance
Almost 160,000, Legend edition (Octane)
Next edition
Le Mans Classic Heritage, 1–4 July 2027
Notable caveats
Heavy traffic; the split format changes which eras run each year

Sources

  1. Octane · 2025 Le Mans Classic thrills record crowdsRecord 238,000 spectators; 800+ cars; 220 clubs with 9,200 cars; event moving to annual.
  2. Motor Sport · 'A GT40 is pretty much a bullet with a V8': Alex Brundle straps in at the Le Mans ClassicFirst-hand account of racing a Ford GT40 at the 2025 Le Mans Classic.
  3. Octane · Spectacular new chapter begins at Le Mans Classic Legend 2026Inaugural Legend edition: almost 160,000 attendees, 350 race cars, 104 clubs; Heritage edition 1–4 July 2027.
Photograph: Grand Prix de Monaco Historique by In Vitrio, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized

Rank 10

Historic eventNotable challenger

Grand Prix de Monaco Historique

The most glamorous historic single-seater race anywhere, held on the real Monaco streets, but only every other year.

Full assessment
Scores, specifications & sources

8.5Overall score
out of 10

  • Prestige9.2
  • Expertise8.4
  • Provenance9.0
  • Community7.8
  • Experience9.0

Key specifications

Location
Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo
Edition
15th (24–26 April 2026)
Entry list
205 cars, eight races (Octane)
2026 first
1981–85 turbo-era F1 cars admitted
Cadence
Biennial; next edition 2028
Notable caveats
Every two years only; limited spectator space

Sources

  1. Octane · All the action from the 2026 Grand Prix de Monaco Historique205 entries; eight races; first 1980s turbo grid; Cavallino Classic Monaco launched; next edition 2028.
  2. Motor Sport · How to watch the 2026 Historic Monaco GP: schedule and streaming detailsPre-event schedule and coverage guide for the 2026 edition.
  3. Magneto · Monaco Historique returns with expanded grid and Ferrari focusSister title of Octane (Hothouse Media); supporting only. Covers the expanded grid and Ferrari focus.
Photograph: 1000 Miglia by Wolfgang Moroder, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized

Rank 11

Historic eventNotable challenger

1000 Miglia

The defining classic road event: a Mille Miglia start in an eligible car remains a collector status marker, and the centenary edition comes in 2027.

Full assessment
Scores, specifications & sources

8.4Overall score
out of 10

  • Prestige9.0
  • Expertise7.8
  • Provenance9.0
  • Community9.0
  • Experience9.2

Key specifications

Start/finish
Brescia, Italy
2026 dates
9–13 June 2026
Route
About 2,000 km over five legs; 144 time trials (Magneto)
2026 winners
Juan and Margarita Tonconogy, 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS
Next edition
Centenary edition, listed for 22–29 May 2027
Notable caveats
Regularity format, not outright racing; entry is selective and costly

Sources

  1. Magneto · Tonconogys sweep to Mille Miglia 2026 victory in Alfa Romeo 6CTonconogy siblings win; Vesco's six-year run ended; about 2,000 km and 144 time trials; 2027 centenary.
  2. Motor1 Italia · La vincitrice della 1000 Miglia 2026Final top-10 classification and 2017–2026 winners' list.
Photograph: Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion by Simon Davison, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized

Rank 12

Historic eventNotable challenger

Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion

America's premier historic race meeting: more than 400 cars driven in anger through the Corkscrew during Car Week.

Full assessment
Scores, specifications & sources

8.4Overall score
out of 10

  • Prestige8.6
  • Expertise8.4
  • Provenance8.6
  • Community9.0
  • Experience8.6

Key specifications

Location
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, California
Edition
52nd (12–15 August 2026)
Field
400+ historic cars, 13 race groups (The Gentleman Racer)
Award
IHMA Motorsport Event of the Year 2025 (Octane)
2026 theme
Icons of Japanese Motorsport

Sources

  1. The Gentleman Racer · Japan Takes The Corkscrew At The 2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion52nd running; 400+ cars; 13 groups; open paddock; Bonhams' first auction at the circuit.
  2. Octane · 2025 International Historic Motoring Awards winners announcedRolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion named Motorsport Event of the Year (2025 IHMA).
  3. Autoweek · Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion to Celebrate Japan's Racing LegacyPreview of the 2026 Japanese motorsport feature.
Photograph: Chantilly Arts & Elegance by Y.Leclercq, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized

Rank 13

ConcoursNotable challenger

Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille

France's grand château concours, with separate pre-war and post-war Best of Show awards and a French art-de-vivre programme.

Full assessment
Scores, specifications & sources

8.3Overall score
out of 10

  • Prestige8.6
  • Expertise8.4
  • Provenance8.6
  • Community8.2
  • Experience8.8

Key specifications

Location
Domaine de Chantilly, Oise, France
Edition
8th (13 September 2026)
Field
About 100 cars in 14 classes; about 900 club cars (Magneto)
Attendance
Nearly 30,000 (Magneto)
Latest Best of Show
1933 Delage D8 SS (pre-war); 1956 Ferrari 410 Superamerica (post-war)

Sources

  1. Magneto · Delage and Ferrari claim Best of Show honours at 2026 Chantilly concoursNearly 30,000 attendees; about 100 cars in 14 classes; Delage D8 SS and Ferrari 410 Superamerica win Best of Show.
  2. Plethore · Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille 2026 : le palmarès et les temps fortsConfirms the three Best of Show winners; jury criteria are rarity, history, condition and maintenance.
  3. Octane · Ferrari 410 Superamerica wins Best of Show at Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille 2026Sister title of Magneto; supporting only. Reports the post-war Best of Show.
Photograph: Amelia Concours d'Elegance by zombieite, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized

Rank 14

ConcoursNotable challenger

The Amelia Concours d'Elegance

America's number-two concours is back on form under Hagerty, with big collectors returning and two Best of Show awards.

Full assessment
Scores, specifications & sources

8.2Overall score
out of 10

  • Prestige8.6
  • Expertise8.4
  • Provenance8.4
  • Community8.6
  • Experience8.4

Key specifications

Location
The Ritz-Carlton / Golf Club of Amelia Island, Florida
Owner
Hagerty (since 2021)
Edition
31st (March 2026)
Field
About 275–280 cars
Latest Best of Show
1931 Duesenberg Model J 'Tapertail' Speedster; 1969 McLaren M8B (Concours de Sport)
Notable caveats
The owner also runs the official auction (Broad Arrow)

Sources

  1. Octane · Collectors return as the 2026 Amelia Island Concours finds its grooveBig collectors back; M100 judging; 280 cars; Duesenberg and McLaren take Best of Show.
  2. Robb Report · The Best Cars at the 2026 Amelia ConcoursIndependent coverage of the 2026 Amelia's standout cars.
  3. THE SHOP · The Amelia Concours Reveals 2026 Best of Show Winners275 entrants; Duesenberg Tapertail and McLaren M8B win.
  4. Hagerty Media · 1931 Duesenberg Model J "Taper Tail" Speedster Wins Best of Show at The Amelia Concours d'Elegance 2026The owner's own media; supporting only, not independent.

Rank 15

Auction houseNotable challenger

Broad Arrow Auctions

The fastest-rising house: a record Amelia sale, a new slot at The Quail, and a catalogue heavy on modern hypercars.

Full assessment
Scores, specifications & sources

8.1Overall score
out of 10

  • Prestige8.4
  • Expertise8.4
  • Provenance8.0
  • Community8.4
  • Experience8.4

Key specifications

Ownership
Hagerty
Signature sale
The Amelia Auction (March); The Quail Auction (August, from 2026)
Amelia 2026
$111M, 92% sold (Magneto)
Monterey 2026
$97.4M, 85% sold (Old Cars Weekly)
Notable caveats
Affiliated with The Amelia and Hagerty market data; catalogue heavy on modern cars

Sources

  1. Magneto · Amelia auctions 2026: Sales bonanza as records fall and sell-through rates soarBroad Arrow $111M, 92% sold, its most successful auction; Carrera GT and Miura SV world records.
  2. Driving.ca · $9.19-million Porsche Carrera GT doubles prior auction recordCarrera GT more than doubled the previous auction record; at least a dozen classics and supercars sold for record prices at Broad Arrow's Amelia sale (prices in CAD).
  3. Old Cars Weekly · Ferrari Enzo tops Broad Arrow's $97.4 million debut of The Quail Auction$97.4M, 159 of 186 lots sold (85%); Enzo at $10.675M. Draws on the house's release.
  4. Classic Car Auctions (classic-car-auctions.info) · 2026 Monterey Car Week Auctions Overview & Top 30 SalesSupporting only: its Broad Arrow figure is credited to Hagerty. Lists $97.4M, 85% sold, fourth-largest house total of Monterey week.
  5. Octane · 1957 Ferrari 625/250 Testarossa wins Best of Show at The Quail 2026Sister title of Magneto; supporting. 2026 was Broad Arrow's first year as The Quail's official auction partner.
Photograph: The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering by DuneSeaTrader, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized

Rank 16

ConcoursNotable challenger

The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering

Car Week's most exclusive garden party: a strong vintage field alongside the year's hypercar debuts.

Full assessment
Scores, specifications & sources

8.0Overall score
out of 10

  • Prestige8.4
  • Expertise7.8
  • Provenance8.0
  • Community8.0
  • Experience8.8

Key specifications

Location
Quail Golf Club, Carmel Valley, California
Edition
23rd (14 August 2026)
Field
More than 200 cars (Octane)
Latest Best of Show
1957 Ferrari 625/250 Testarossa (Bruce Meyer)
Notable caveats
Strong focus on modern cars and launches; limited, expensive tickets

Sources

  1. Octane · 1957 Ferrari 625/250 Testarossa wins Best of Show at The Quail 2026Best of Show from 200+ cars; 23rd running; 20+ debuts.
  2. Robb Report · The 10 Best Cars at This Year's Quail, a Motorsports Gathering'Not to be missed'; list skewed to new model premieres; Ferrari Testarossa took Best of Show.
  3. Il Sole 24 Ore · The Quail 2026, Monterey Car Week's secret gathering, crowns FerrariIndependent Italian business-press coverage of the 2026 Ferrari win.
Photograph: Rétromobile Paris by Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized

Rank 17

HybridBest in subcategory

Rétromobile

The world's great indoor classic show: concours-grade displays, a dealer hall and Paris auction week under one roof.

Full assessment
Scores, specifications & sources

7.9Overall score
out of 10

  • Prestige8.4
  • Expertise8.0
  • Provenance7.8
  • Community9.0
  • Experience8.0

Key specifications

Location
Paris Expo Porte de Versailles
Edition
50th (February 2026)
Attendance
181,500 (Octane)
Official auction
Gooding Christie's (2026)
Format
Show, dealer hall and auction week

Sources

  1. Octane · Rétromobile celebrates 50th anniversary with best ever Paris show181,500 visitors; 'most complete and confidently curated indoor classic car event in the world'.
  2. Hagerty Media · Rétromobile 2026 Auction Recap: Big Cars, Mixed ResultsFive sales held around the show; dealer stands 'absolutely buzzing'; mixed auction results.
Photograph: Goodwood Festival of Speed by Nigel Brown, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized

Rank 18

Historic eventNotable challenger

Goodwood Festival of Speed

The biggest motoring garden party in the world: historic racers on the hill, plus a Cartier concours, though the modern-car presence dilutes it.

Full assessment
Scores, specifications & sources

7.8Overall score
out of 10

  • Prestige8.6
  • Expertise7.4
  • Provenance7.6
  • Community9.2
  • Experience8.6

Key specifications

Location
Goodwood House, West Sussex
2026 dates
9–12 July 2026
Attendance
200,000+ (Octane)
Concours
Cartier Style et Luxe; 2026 Best of Show 1955 Lancia Aurelia Spider America
Next edition
15–18 July 2027
Notable caveats
Large modern-car content; heavy crowds

Sources

  1. Octane · Racing rivalries and Singer star in 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed200,000+ attendees; GT40 Mk II trio; Cartier Best of Show Lancia Aurelia Spider America.
  2. Car and Driver · A Day at the Star-Studded 2026 Goodwood FOSIndependent first-hand account of the 2026 event.
  3. Magneto · Historic rivalries take centre stage at Goodwood's 2026 Festival of SpeedSister title of Octane; supporting only. Estimates about 250,000 attendees.
Photograph: Bonhams Paris sale by Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized

Rank 19

Auction houseNotable challenger

Bonhams|Cars

The broadest European sale calendar and deep Goodwood ties, but 2026 results trailed the top US houses.

Full assessment
Scores, specifications & sources

7.6Overall score
out of 10

  • Prestige8.0
  • Expertise8.0
  • Provenance7.8
  • Community7.4
  • Experience7.4

Key specifications

Parent
Bonhams auction house, London
Signature sales
Goodwood Revival, Paris (Rétromobile week), Monterey
Monterey 2026
$11.9M, 43 of 56 sold (Hagerty)
Paris 2026
About €9M, 85% sold (Magneto)
Notable caveats
2026 totals far below RM Sotheby's and Gooding Christie's

Sources

  1. Hagerty Media · 2026 Monterey Car Week Auctions Shatter Record with $756M in SalesBonhams $11.9M, 43 of 56 lots sold at its first Laguna Seca sale.
  2. Magneto · 2026 Paris auctions: Records fall, but older Ferraris and pre-war cars struggleBonhams Paris about €9M; 85% sold (77% cars only); many lots below estimate.
  3. The Gentleman Racer · Japan Takes The Corkscrew At The 2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports ReunionBonhams held its first auction at the circuit after nearly three decades at Quail Lodge.
  4. Octane · Four anniversaries and star-studded RAC TT grid headline 2026 Goodwood RevivalSister title of Magneto; supporting. Single merged Bonhams Revival sale; DB4 Vantage Convertible unsold; top lot £345,000.
Photograph: Mecum Auctions Kissimmee by artistmac, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized

Rank 20

Auction houseNotable challenger

Mecum Auctions

The volume giant: unmatched scale and some trophy results, but the circus-like atmosphere and mixed curation keep it outside the elite.

Full assessment
Scores, specifications & sources

7.4Overall score
out of 10

  • Prestige7.6
  • Expertise7.0
  • Provenance7.0
  • Community8.6
  • Experience7.0

Key specifications

Format
High-volume, multi-day sales
Signature sale
Kissimmee, Florida (January)
Kissimmee 2026
$441M, about 4,500 vehicles (Hagerty)
Monterey 2026
$111.4M, 62% sold (classic-car-auctions.info)
Notable caveats
Volume format; quality varies across lots

Sources

  1. Hagerty Media · Uber-Rare Ferraris to a Blown Rolls: That's Mecum Kissimmee$441M; about 4,500 vehicles; $259M single-day record; 250 GTO $38.5M with replaced engine; 'sideshow feel'.
  2. Magneto · Kissimmee 2026 sales bonanza: Early highlights from Mecum classic and collector car auctionsEarly-sale highlights from Kissimmee 2026.
  3. Hagerty Media · 2026 Monterey Car Week Auctions Shatter Record with $756M in SalesMecum sold a Ferrari F50 for $14,575,000 and an Enzo for $12.1M at Monterey.
  4. Classic Car Auctions (classic-car-auctions.info) · 2026 Monterey Car Week Auctions Overview & Top 30 SalesMecum Monterey $111.4M, 62% sold (328/526); figure credited 'as reported by Hagerty'.

Watchlist

On the radar

  • Jonathan Wood (restorer)

    10 March 2027 standing update, if a second independent professional title documents the workshop beyond the award

    Octane's report of the 2025 International Historic Motoring Awards names Jonathan Wood's Hispano-Suiza H6C 'Boulogne' Restoration of the Year: 'an 18,000-hour masterpiece', originally owned by Bentley Boy Glen Kidston. That is a strong single signal, but no second independent dated online source was verified this period, so it does not yet qualify as a pick. It would also strengthen the thin restorer subcategory.

  • Audrain Newport Concours & Motor Week

    10 March 2027 standing update, after independent coverage of the 2026 edition is reviewed

    Named Motoring Event of the Year at the 2025 International Historic Motoring Awards, with Octane writing that 'this was the year the Rhode Island festival truly came of age'. It needs a second independent professional source and evidence of a consistent top-tier Best of Show field before it can challenge the established US concours.

  • Artcurial Motorcars

    10 March 2027 standing update, after the February 2027 Paris sales

    Paris's leading domestic house delivered the shock result of the 2026 Paris auction week: a no-reserve 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing at €4,407,800. However, Magneto reports only 42 of 74 lots sold (56.8%) for €15M in its first year as non-partner to Rétromobile. It needs a stronger sell-through to enter the auction-house top five.