RM Sotheby's The Monterey Auction
United States • 15th Aug 2026
Upcoming Auction Preview & Market Outlook
Image Source: RM Sotheby's
£134,555,000
TOTAL AVG OF ESTIMATES
86
TOTAL LOTS
AVG EST PER CAR
£1,564,593
TOP ESTIMATE
£11,145,000
AVG YEAR
1958
What to expect from the RM Sotheby's The Monterey Auction auction?
RM Sotheby's is preparing for its The Monterey Auction auction on 15th Aug 2026.
With 86 lots currently consigned, the auction carries a combined mid estimate of £134,555,000. The high-end catalogue will appeal to a certain demographic but will be a good indicator of the health at the top end of the market in the United States.
Which car is the headlining the auction?
Topping the bill pre-sale is the 1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato. Carrying an estimate of £8,916,000 - £11,145,000, it represents the highest-valued lot in the current catalogue.
This lot makes up 7.5% of the total value of the RM Sotheby's catalogue.
Any potential bargains?
We've compared the estimate of every car in this auction against the recent prices we've seen for the respective model. The top 3 cars that appear most reasonably estimated vs their market history are:
• 2020 McLaren Speedtail - Est. £1,448,850 - £1,746,050
• 1938 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante by Gangloff - Est. £1,114,500 - £1,337,400
• 1939 Bugatti Type 57C Cabriolet in the style of Corsica - Est. £482,950 - £557,250
Now, we haven't inspected these cars in person so make sure you go check them out and understand what you're buying and the extent of work needed.
The most affordable entry in the whole The Monterey Auction auction is the 1989 Rolls-Royce Corniche II, with an estimate of £37,150 - £52,010.
Any strong estimates?
Again, we've compared the estimate of every car to recent prices for said model. The 3 cars below all have the strongest estimate vs usual prices for that model:
• 1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS Teardrop Coupe by Figoni et Falaschi - Est: £5,201,000 - £5,944,000
• 1937 Delage D8-120 S Aerodynamic Coupe by Pourtout (Potential World Record) - Est: £3,715,000 - £4,458,000
• 1931 Duesenberg Model J Tourster by Derham - Est: £1,671,750 - £2,414,750
This is not to say these cars are overpriced, but rather vs prior sales for the model they're above what we typically see.
Check out the full catalogue below.
Well bought? Lots that sold under their estimates by the largest percentage
Not every superstar found a new home. The highest-valued car that failed to meet its reserve was the [UnsoldYearMakeModel], which reached a high bid of [TopUnsoldHighBid] against an estimate of [UnsoldEstimateRange].
Since the bid reached [XX%] of the low estimate, it indicates a gap between [Sellers/Consignors] expectations and the current bidder reality. This lot is now a prime candidate for a post-auction "Off-Market" deal.
Estimates vs Model Averages
See how auction estimates compared to historic prices.
The Top 10
See the top 10 most expensive cars for sale in the auction
Why this article was created
At The Classic Valuer, we maintain one of the world’s largest independent databases of collector car transactions, tracking over $20bn in sales across 40+ global houses.
This summary provides an immediate analysis of 86 listings, comparing auction estimates against our own independent valuation models.
Looking for deeper model-specific insights? If you are researching a specific car from this event, such as a Aston Martin, click below to access our full Model Price Guides. There, you can analyse decade-long price trends, see every historical sale, and use our valuation tools to calculate the true market value of your next acquisition.
How this article was created
This article was created by looking back analysing the catalogue of the RM Sotheby's The Monterey Auction against our historical database dating back to 1985. We've scanned over 40 auction houses and results from over £20 billion of sold cars around the world to provide context for this The Monterey Auction preview.
The Classic Valuer uses proprietary data and analytics to generate these insights at scale. For further information regarding specific lots like the 1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato, please visit the price guides linked below.
About The Author
Giles Gunning
Giles is CEO of The Classic Valuer - one of the world's largest databases of sold collector cars in the world going back over 30 years covering over 13,000 models. Giles and The Classic Valuer are regularly referenced in key motor publications including Classic & Sports Car.
Giles grew up around the iconic historic motorsport venue at Goodwood and enjoys his 1972 Alfa Romeo 1600 GT Junior or 1960 MG A Roadster around the Sussex roads. His primary car goal is to purchase back a selection of his grandfather's car's including his 1931 Riley Brooklands.