CELEBRATING AUTOMOTIVE EXCELLENCE
For 10 days each August, connoisseurs and enthusiasts from around the world converge on the Monterey Peninsula to celebrate the ultimate in automotive design, engineering and camaraderie among fellow aficionados. The crown jewel in a whirlwind of events is The Quail, A Motorsports
Gathering. Since its inception, it has combined a lush setting in a golf course nestled against the Santa Lucia mountain range with exceptional cuisine and the finest examples of vintage sporting automobiles.
For 10 days each August, connoisseurs and enthusiasts from around the world converge on the Monterey Peninsula to celebrate the ultimate in automotive design, engineering and camaraderie among fellow aficionados. The crown jewel in a whirlwind of events is The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering. Since its inception, it has combined a lush setting in a golf course nestled against the Santa Lucia mountain range with exceptional cuisine and the finest examples of vintage sporting automobiles.
Now in its 18th year, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering has become a world-renowned motorsports event and a prominent component of Monterey Car Week. “We are always delighted to feature some of the world's rarest and most exquisite collections of vintage automobiles and motorcycles; as well as delicious culinary delights and luxury lifestyle elements in an intimate gathering of old and new friends,” notes The Honourable Sir Michael Kadoorie, Chairman of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited. “We were sad to have to had to cancel last year's event due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, but I am sure you will understand that the health and safety of our guests has always been our top priority. We were so pleased to be able to welcome everyone back this year, and I believe we can all appreciate the meaning of close friendships and family ties more than ever.”
Among the guests attending this year's event were Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button, MBE; television host Ant Anstead; automobile designer and television personality Chip Foose; and Academy Award winning actress Renee Zellweger.
This year, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering highlighted the 50th Anniversary of the Alfa Romeo Montreal, Automotive Couture, French Cars featuring the 50th Anniversary of the Citroën SM, and Cars of Curiosity. The event also presented its traditional classes of Pre-War Sports and Racing, Post-War Sports, The Great Ferraris, Custom Coachwork and many others.
1970 marked the year that the first production Alfa Romeo Montreal was shared with the public, debuting at the Geneva Auto Show. Featuring its distinctive design by Marcello Gandini at Bertone, the Montreal would carry a sticker price higher than that of a Jaguar E Type and a Porsche 911. With less than 4,000 cars produced between 1970 and 1977, highlighting the 50th Anniversary of this great Grand Touring car was a true honour for The Quail.
In January of 1968, Citroën purchased a controlling interest in the Italian car manufacturer Maserati. One of the first tasks was to create a V6 engine for its new Grand Touring car being designed, the SM. Debuting at the Geneva Auto Show in 1970, and this year celebrating its 50th Anniversary, the “other worldly” design and performance of the Citroën SM secured its place in automotive history, including being named by Motor Trend Magazine in 1972 as its ‘Car of the Year'. Along with the celebration of the Citroën SM's 50th year, The Quail also celebrated stylish examples of other great French marques and models.
An interesting category at this year's event was ‘Cars of Curiosity'. Great automobile design is truly subjective, and its success can depend on everything from the designer's tastes and
ingenuity, the perception of the market, to the financial backing of the automakers. Often, auto designers take a path that is more whimsical, than say a commercial success, to make a point in their design direction. The cars on display in this class represented fun examples of cars, just a little off-beat and creative in their design. The winner of this category was the 1957 FIAT 600/Eden Roc owned by Anne Brockinton Lee (The Robert M. Lee Automobile Collection).
The Pininfarina bodied FIAT ‘Eden Roc debuted at the Paris Motor Show in 1956. Commissioned by FIAT industrial tycoon Gianni Agnelli on the FIAT 600 Multipla chassis, only two of these special cars were built. The Eden Roc was an early eye-catching example of the popular mini beach and estate cars of the latter 1950s and early 1960s. The second Eden Roc, now Anne Lee's, was completed shortly after the Paris show for another car manufacturing tycoon, Henry Ford II.
This year's The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering had the honour of hosting vehicle debuts and premieres from seven different automotive manufacturers.
Highlights included the U.S. premieres of the RUF SCR and the Lotus Emira, a new mid-engine premium sports car that embodies the ongoing transformation of the iconic British car manufacturer. Meanwhile, Rimac Automobili displayed the Nevera, which is slated to become the world's fastest hypercar, and SpeedKore showed the Hellraiser Charger in its public debut; the vehicle having been custom built for comedian Kevin Hart.
Pagani Automobili celebrated the 10th anniversary of the launch of the Huayra. As the setting for the stand, there was a selection of very special versions of this coveted car, including one of the latest Roadster BC models. To complete this exceptional exhibit, on display for the first time in the U.S., there were also some of the key components of the Huayra R, the track-only version of the Huayra.
Bentley Motors had several cars shown for the first time publicly, including the Flying Spur Hybrid, GT Speed and special Mulliner introductions, including the coach-built Bacalar and continuation Blower Car Zeros amongst others not yet released.
Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus brought a new model of the Glickenhaus 003S and The Baja pre-runner/mule of the Glickenhaus Boot, before the boutique manufacturer headed off to race The Top Class of The 24 Hours of Le Mans the following weekend.
Guests were also invited to the highly anticipated annual Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction, offering an impressive array of motorcars, including a spectacular 1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Sport Cabriolet Décapotable with Coachwork by Figoni et Falaschi, an automobile with an incredible history and provenance.
Bonhams was also honoured to have the opportunity to bring the exceptional collection of the late Judge Joseph E. DiLoreto to this year's Quail Lodge Auction. The DiLoreto Collection is filled with a number of historically important racers, including a championship- winning Lola T290, a Dolphin America and a Shelby Can-Am racer, two spectacular Jaguar sports cars, a custom built Ford Ranchero, and more.
"What makes The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering a truly remarkable event, aside from the extravagant setting and fine culinary offerings, is its unbeatable selection of vehicles from a variety of genres, manufacturers and time periods,” said Kai Lermen, General Manager of Quail Lodge & Golf Club. “Pre- and post-war sports and racing machines meet the newest innovations from leading manufacturers at our event. It's a wonderland for the automotive enthusiast.”
Yet another highlight of this year's event was the appearance of Formula One World Champion Jenson Button MBE as a Fireside Chat guest.
The Fireside Chat discussions are a hallmark of The Quail, offering attendees an up-close and relaxed conversation between some of the leading figures in the automotive community. Button won the 2009 Formula One World Championship when he drove for the Brawn GP team. Philip Kadoorie, Non-Executive Director of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited interviewed Button about his passion for motorsports and experience as a Formula One Champion.
The 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster was awarded the 2021 Rolex Best of Show and admitted into the Rolex Circle of Champions, alongside the event's individual class winners. In recognition of the owners' precision and dedication to preserve these automotive artworks and share them with the world, Rolex presented an Oyster Perpetual Datejust 41 to the headline car. This year's proud recipients, owner K. Heinz Keller and preserver Alfredo Garcia, said: ”It's amazing to win today at one of the best places in the world. We've been through extensive preservation on this car and brought it back to life. It takes hours, days, weeks and months to bring a vehicle to The Quail, and we literally did the last finishing touches on it yesterday. Throughout this process, we're trying our best to teach younger generations to continue to look after these cars – I promote that every day of my life.”