Monterey Car Week is underway and packed with action for a variety of car enthusiasts, whether you’re into prewar American luxury, European classics, vintage racing machines, modern hypercars, or automotive memorabilia. In addition to rallies, drive experiences, and car shows, there will be plenty of vehicle auctions. On Friday, August 15, 2025, Bonhams will be selling an impressive set of American and European cars from yesteryear and today to the highest bidders at The Quail Auction.
Cars from two of the “Three Ps” will be there: a 1934 Packard Twelve 1107 Coupe and a 1932 Pierce-Arrow Eight Model 54 Convertible Sedan (sorry, Peerless aficionados). According to Bonhams, this black and yellow four-door drop-top is an older restoration and a CCCA (Classic Car Club of America) Full Classic powered by a 366ci L-head straight-eight. Recently, it received more than $45,000 in mechanical, electrical, and other updates as well as a new set of rim-to-road whitewalls.
No assortment of classic American cars would be complete without a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray split-window coupe. This one comes from the collection of Bernard Fornas, the former CEO of Cartier. It underwent a well-documented frame-off restoration that focused on “the chassis, driveline and … the fiberglass bodywork” in particular. The black leather interior features air conditioning, power brakes, and power steering. Under the hood is a 327 V8 that’s connected to an Edelbrock four-barrel carburetor and a four-speed manual gearbox.
The 1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III LWB Saloon that will cross the block at The Quail Auction is truly fit for royalty, having been delivered new to Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran. Finished in Masons Black over a Beige Connolly Vaumol leather interior, this Silver Cloud III comes with “factory build records, select receipts, and information related to its time on official duty in Iran.”
Perhaps one of the most distinctive Lamborghinis that isn’t a wedge-shaped supercar will also be available to the highest bidder. This 1973 Lamborghini Espada is a four-seater from the third and final series of the model line, which ended in 1978 with a total production run of only 1,227 cars. Originally finished in Bleu Spettrale, it was refinished in its current color of Verde Metallizzato under previous ownership. Only three owners have put a combined total of fewer than 10,000 miles on this 370-horsepower V12-powered Lamborghini GT car.
Mercedes-Benz only produced only 1,400 300 SL “Gullwing” coupes between 1954 and 1957. Bonhams will have one of the iconic automobiles at The Quail Auction, but not just any Gullwing—this one was displayed by Mercedes at the 1956 Geneva Auto Show. In many ways, it has come a long way since then. At one point, its color scheme was changed from the original Elfenbein over a green gaberdine plaid interior to red (possibly); currently, it’s finished in the attractive combination of silver with a red leather interior. One thing that wasn’t changed was the factory-installed 3.0-liter I6 with direct fuel injection. After being shown in Geneva, this Gullwing was bought by its first owner. Over a decade later, it was purchased by a woman in Texas and subsequently moved to Mexico, where it has remained since the early 1970s. During its time south of the border, this 300 SL was overhauled by a Pebble Beach award-winning specialist.
Other notable items on Bonhams’ docket for The Quail Auction include a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28, a 1-of-40 Bugatti Divo, a 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz, and an assortment of car-themed collectibles, such as Rolls-Royce golf clubs and a coffee table made of out of the V12 from a Lamborghini Murcielago.
We have a team out covering some of the events taking place during Monterey Car Week, so stay tuned to The ClassicCars.com Journal for our written and video coverage of the festivities.