Monterey Car Week is one of the rare automotive events where restoration purity, modern coachbuilding, and bold reinterpretation can all exist within the same few days. That makes it especially useful for spotting cultural themes, not just individual cars.
In 2023, three themes looked especially worth tracking: restomods with serious execution, renewed interest in coachbuilt individuality, and the broad appeal of modern classics that are still usable.
Key takeaways
- Restomods remain strong because they blend familiarity with usability.
- Coachbuilt and highly individualized cars continue to attract attention through craftsmanship and rarity.
- Modern classics bridge nostalgia and drivability in a way many buyers understand.
- Monterey is valuable because it connects concours culture, auctions, and manufacturer theater.
- Watching themes is often more informative than chasing one headline sale.
Restomods speak to modern tastes
Restomods keep thriving because they answer a simple enthusiast question: what if the look and emotional shape of an older car stayed intact while the usability improved dramatically? That appeal cuts across generations and price points.
Monterey is one of the places where the best-executed versions of that idea become impossible to ignore.
Coachbuilt thinking still matters
Coachbuilt and highly individualized cars stand out because they remind the audience that craftsmanship and rarity can still compete with factory scale. Whether through modern reinterpretation or historically rooted design, these cars add a strong artistic dimension to the week.
That makes them especially interesting in an era when so much automotive product feels platform-driven and standardized.
Modern classics are finding a wider audience
Cars that are old enough to feel special but new enough to drive without ceremony keep gaining relevance. They offer a path into collector culture that is emotionally rich without always demanding concours-level ownership behavior.
That is one reason modern classics continue to show up as a major Monterey theme.
Helpful references
Bottom line
Good automotive culture usually comes down to thoughtful execution. The cleanest build, the best event prep, and the most satisfying upgrades are the ones that respect how the car is actually used.
That keeps the article grounded, useful, and aligned with the kind of readers most likely to return to the site.
