Zach Hammer, courtesy of Hagerty
The din of the pop-up dance club competes with that of the occasional aircraft at takeoff. In between songs, the voice of auctioneer Lydia Frenet can be heard over the loudspeakers announcing the current bid for rolling masterworks crossing the auction block in one of the surrounding hangars. All the while, cognoscenti of the automobile sate themselves with select wines and amuse-bouche, the latter from no less than five Michelin-starred culinary destinations. Welcome to Motorlux. Welcome to the start of Monterey Car Week.
Since 1991, enthusiasts of dream machines with either wings, wheels, or rotors have converged days prior to the famed Pebble Beach Concours’ d’Elegance to commence Northern California’s automotive fete. Launched by Gordon and Molly McCall, and hosted by the couple for three decades, McCall’s Motorworks Revival was acquired in 2021 by Hagerty, the Michigan-based classic-car insurer and motoring-lifestyle steward, which rebranded the event as Motorlux the following year.
For the latest edition, held August 14 at the Monterey Jet Center, 225 cars and 14 aviation entries were on display, but attendees could do more than look longingly at some of the rarified examples. Hagerty’s own Broad Arrow Auctions was on hand for the initial installment of a two-day sale featuring an assemblage of rarified vehicles that fueled serious competition among collectors.
Asked for his take on the evening, Hagerty told Robb Report: “The energy at this year’s Motorlux was truly unmatched. With over 4,100 guests, including a remarkable turnout from the next generation of car collectors and drivers, the excitement was palpable.” Here are seven entries that made our night one to remember.
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1997 Porsche 911 GT1 Rennversion
Image Credit: Zach Hammer, courtesy of Hagerty The most highly anticipated lot at the Broad Arrow Auction was also one of the first cars that guests encountered upon entering the exhibition, a 1997 Porsche GT1 Rennversion. As the name suggests, the model variant was created to compete in the Le Mans GT1 class, and chassis No. 993-GT1-108 is one of only nine examples built for the public.
The car’s motorsport debut was at the 1997 FIA GT Championship under the banner of the Rook Racing Team. Later that year, it qualified in 11th place at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Rook teammates Stéphane Ortelli, Allan McNish, and Karl Wendlinger, but failed to finish the actual race. Greater success was found with Rohr Racing, as it was piloted to four wins and helped contribute to the team claiming the crown for the 1997 IMSA GTS-1 class. At Motorlux, its livery was as eye-catching as its estimated value of between $8.5 million and $10 million.
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Lamborghini Essenza SCV12
Image Credit: Zach Hammer, courtesy of Hagerty Some Raging Bulls are far angrier than others. When the team at Sant’Agata Bolognese announced its Lamborghini Essenza SCV12 in 2020, it was clear at first glance that this model was not going to be on road rallies or driven to the local Cars & Coffee. The marque’s motorsport division, Lamborghini Squadra Corse, bred it purely for the track and limited it to 40 examples.
One of only eight that were delivered to North America, the 830 hp beast at the Monterey Jet Center commanded attention with its fiery-red hue and overtly aggressive styling that appears simultaneously more curvaceous and angular—depending on where your eyes are drawn—than that of its siblings. And then there’s the gargantuan rear wing that resembles an otherworldly appendage. Such aero considerations give the Essenza, powered by a naturally aspirated V-12, the ability to generate 2,645 pounds of downforce at 155 mph. Owners can better explore such performance potential with customized driving sessions through the automaker and turnkey support—something to keep in mind, especially since this example is back on the market.
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1968 Chevrolet Yenko Super Camaro SS
Image Credit: Hagerty Good ideas are often just a tweak away from being great. Such was the case with the original Camaro, which Chevrolet came up with to help rein in Ford Mustang sales. But Chevy dealer and racer Don Yenko believed that the new muscle car could use even more brawn, giving it a 427-ci, 450 hp V-8, at least in the Yenko Super Camaro Super Sport (SS) crossing the auction block through Broad Arrow.
This stateside stalwart was one of approximately 64 examples from 1968 to get the Yenko transformation, and one of just two dressed in this distinctive Grotto Blue. It’s the car’s showroom condition, though, that has earned concours acclaim and explains its high-end estimate of $500,000.
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Duncan Aviation’s Citation 560XLS
Image Credit: Zach Hammer, courtesy of Hagerty The nine-passenger Citation 560XLS has a range of 2,138 miles, a max speed of 498 mph, and a max altitude of 45,000 feet. But those performance specs are not what make Duncan Aviation’s example exceptional, it’s the presentation. The jet service provider and operator decided to use this particular aircraft as a canvas for artist Nancy Friedemann Sánchez.
The captivating motif of roses and ravens is set against a background of robins-egg blue and defines the entire plane’s exterior. The design took a full year, and the execution required 23 colors. Spray applications ultimately replaced brushstrokes when it came to actually transferring the artist’s vision onto the aircraft, and the fanciful theme continues with flowers and ravens embroidered on the red-leather passenger seats to further elevate the cabin experience.
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P-51D Mustang “Plum Crazy”
Image Credit: Zach Hammer, courtesy of Hagerty Another of the exhibition’s aircraft with a showstopping aesthetic was a P-51D Mustang that could never fly under the radar, at least when it comes to being noticed. That’s because the World War II–era fighter, owned by Vicky Benzing Aerosports, is such a vibrant purple that the plane’s “Plum Crazy” moniker seems an understatement.
According to Benzing’s website, this 1944 example did not see action overseas, but did battle for decades in the Reno Air Races until the final edition of the annual competition last year. The site goes on to explain that the unusual color scheme was not originally planned, mentioning that the owner during much of the 1960s, Al Paulson, “painted the Mustang in purple colors after he was accidentally shipped 1,500 gallons of custom purple paint by mistake.”
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McMurtry Spéirling
Image Credit: Zach Hammer, courtesy of Hagerty An automotive David against a field of Goliaths, the McMurtry Spéirling once again proves that surprising might can be found in diminutive packages. The 1,000 hp, all-electric single-seater— powered by a 60 kWh battery—crushes zero to 60 mph in 1.55 seconds and generates 4,400 pounds of downforce by way of fans.
On August 11, the innovative rear-wheel-drive rocket set a hill-climb record at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, launching up its iconic Corkscrew section of track in 28.6 seconds, which is six seconds faster than the previous record set by a 1976 Lotus Type 77 Formula 1 race car. In 2022, the Spéirling had also set the record at the Goodwood Festival of Speed’s renowned climb, used as a benchmark by the industry, though it has subsequently been beaten.
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Meyers Manx Tarmac Touring Edition, powered by Radial Motion
Image Credit: Zach Hammer, courtesy of Hagerty In 1964, when Bruce F. Meyers came up with the original dune buggy based on a truncated VW Beetle, who could have guessed that the radical yet rudimentary vehicle would have such an enduring cultural impact. Recently resurrected by Phillip Sarofim and designer Freeman Thomas, Meyers Manx has gone the electric route, save for the latest release.
Limited to only six examples, the Meyers Manx Tarmac Touring Edition, powered by Radial Motion, returns to internal combustion with a 2.0-liter, three-cylinder radial engine similar to those used in segments of aviation. Mated to a four-speed gearbox, the power plant is claimed to deliver twice the output of the VW engine of old, at least according to the official announcement. Fittingly displayed next to the Motorlux dance floor, this Meyers Manx features a 1970s body style complemented by a glittery gunmetal paint scheme that is, well, pretty groovy.
Authors
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Viju Mathew
