During the week, visitors were thrilled by car shows, concours and new launches. Monday, August 12th saw the Classic Porsche event, followed by Classic Motorsports the next day, which saw a variety of classic sports cars and exotic automobiles line up on Lighthouse Avenue.

The actual car auctions were preceded by viewing days for the Pebble Beach and RM Sotheby’s auctions, which featured some stunning lots.

Gooding & Co’s Pebble Beach auctions saw over $100 million in sales, with highlights including a 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Lungo Spider which sold for $14 million (£10.5 million), a 1955 Ferrari 857 Sport Spider for $5.3 million (£4 million) and a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta which sold for $5.2 million.

Ferrari, meanwhile, dominated the Sotheby’s auction, with the top seven lots all being Modena cars. The top model was a stunning 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider by Scaglietti, which sold for $17 million (£12 million).

The top lot at the Mecum auction was a sensational 1969 Ford GT40 Lightweight, while the headline lot at the Broad Arrow auction was a 1997 Porsche 911 GT1 racing version valued at $7 million (£5.3 million).

As racing heated up at Laguna Seca, the crown jewel of Monterey Car Week took place on Friday: “The Quail – A Motorsports Gathering.” Set amid the verdant hills of Carmel Valley, the event showcases some of the world’s rarest cars while also introducing the latest high-end street cars.

The highlight of the Bonhams Quail auction was a 1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L ‘Lusso’ Berlinetta, designed by Pininfarina with coachwork by Scaglietti.