In Europe, electric cars are being discussed, the Munich IAA is talked to death and the car is declared the number one enemy. At “The Quail”, the exclusive highlight of the Monterey Autoweek, however, the world is still all right. People celebrate the cars of the day before yesterday, today and tomorrow more than ever during Corona times – regardless of whether they are sinfully expensive or just crazy. Some are electric – the others are not. In short: it is nothing less than the most beautiful car show in the world.
It is surprising that the European and especially the German car manufacturers are holding back more than in recent years and are largely staying away from the most spectacular car show in the world and seem to be concentrating on the IAA. After all: Audi is here and proudly shows its new concept study Skysphere Concept and next door the no less spectacular pre-war model of the Horch 853 as an ancestor. Porsche is presenting its electric estate model of the Taycan Cross Turismo for the first time in the USA. But brands like BMW and Mercedes are in vain at the exclusive event at the Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel. In addition to Audi, Volkswagen has at least sent its corporate brands Bentley and Lamborghini with new and old models as well as the outgoing Bugatti company onto the green fairway, and Rolls-Royce is stealthily holding up the BMW flag for its well-heeled customers.
Other brands are louder and celebrate the automobile with more than 125 years of history. Small series manufacturers such as Bollinger, Singer, Bussink, Meyer Manks, Gunther Werks or luxury companies such as Hennessy, Rimac, Bugatti or Bugatti are showing their new stars to the exclusive public for the first time at The Quail. It is the mixture that makes the hot spot at the Monterey Autoweek so unique. Collector cars, one-offs, design studies and spectacular classics of this quality are nowhere else in the world to be seen next door to new vehicles at an event. Electric vehicles like the Lucid Air, Bollinger B1, Rimac Nevera or Pininfarina Battista stand peacefully next to roaring horsepower cars from yesterday and today. Where else can car fans see historical monsters like a La Bestioni, a fire engine converted into a touring car from 1920 with a displacement of 14 liters and a weight of more than three tons, next to which the Bentley Blower from the 1930s looks like a small car? A dark green Volvo P1800 is parked next to the latest generation of purple Rolls-Royce Ghost, aquamarine blue Cullinan or the historic Ford Escort rally from the early 1970s. Live and let live – and everyone has fun with the unique vehicles.
Like no other event, The Quail shows how beautiful cars can be, if only they are allowed to. Even when a horde of roaring US touring cars from the 60s and 70s thunders through the stylish event or a historic seaplane flies low, it only makes faces smile. Lamborghini, Lotus, Acura or Bugatti reveal new models and alternative bearers of hope in the relaxed atmosphere of a large family celebration. Admittedly, one is only too happy to be among oneself. With an entry price of just under $ 1,000, the event including meals is one of the most expensive of its kind – and sold out months in advance. The waiting lists are longer than ever during Corona times and at many stands you can hear that after the failure last year, the number of inquiries was greater than ever this year. For this, the number of exhibitors and visitors was reduced due to the corona and the distances increased. That doesn’t detract from the atmosphere on the lush green lawn in the Carmel Valley.
Like every year in the third week of August, you come with a colorful outfit and a hat; only to be taken to your house or hotel in a luxury limousine, helicopter or shuttle, where you can dress up for even more exclusive evening events. Because as casual as the atmosphere is – The Quail is not just a family and trendy get-together, but an auto show where vehicles worth millions are sold over the colorfully decorated table. Where else can you shake hands with one or the other board member, describe your automotive brand ailments to the CEO and get rid of your wishes for future models from the designers? The fact that classics and exclusive new vehicles stand side by side in peaceful harmony as well as combustion and electric cars only makes the whole thing more contemporary. Something like that only exists in The Quail.
I am a 24-year-old writer and journalist who has been working in the news industry for the past two years. I write primarily about market news, so if you’re looking for insights into what’s going on in the stock market or economic indicators, you’ve come to the right place. I also dabble in writing articles on lifestyle trends and pop culture news.
