www.montereycountynow.com AUGUST 14-20, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 23 “What if this was the car they really wanted to build in 1961?” Will Posey is posing a question that can’t really be answered, yet has broad implications when it comes to collector vehicles. The car is a 1961 Chevrolet Impala Bubble Top, heavily modified and dubbed “Dirty Martini.” Posey designed and built the car at his shop, Big Oak Garage in Hokes Bluff, Alabama for owner Dan Duffy. While it has the bearing of a ’61, very little hasn’t been transformed. The chassis is from Roadster Shop, the 650-horsepower W-code V8 is specific to the car, by Lamar Walden Automotive. Posey extended the hood, changed the quarter panels, dropped the top by more than four inches and more. “You’re basically rebuilding the entire structure of the car,” he explains. “We got some hate for messing with the roof.” But Dirty Martini is an award-winner. It is also an indication of change. While some collectors cross boundaries, there are divisions. Those who collect classics, for example, tend to prize originality. They scorn even modest improvements for performance and safety. Others prefer hot rods or customs. And many insist that investment grade vehicles should be kept off the road as much as possible, as wear and mileage will affect the value. “Who wrote that rule?” says Swiss auto enthusiast Fritz Burkard, who is showing a 1936 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante at Concours d’Elegance. He actually drove the vintage machine from Newport, Rhode Island to the show field at Pebble Beach. A year ago, Burkard’s 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports took Best of Show at Concours, the first preservation class car to claim top honors. Preservation class refers to cars that are virtually unaltered since new. “I drove it every day of the week— Highway 1, 17-Mile Drive, to Carmel for coffee,” he says with a chuckle. “On Sunday I won Best of Show.” Burkard is not one to abuse a classic. He began pursuing cars almost 40 years ago, and his Pearl Collection includes around 90 of the more sought-after machines. But he insists that even those purchased as an investment should be enjoyed, not just parked. “Those people miss 70 to 80 percent of the fun,” Burkard says. On the road to Car Week, he received “a lot of thumbs up, a lot of conversations at the gas station. That’s why you do this, to meet interesting people.” Posey believes that younger generations of car enthusiasts are more accepting of modification and are the reason the old lines are beginning to vanish. According to the consulting firm McKinsey & Company, more recent vintages have been keeping collector car values steady. In 2012, the average age of cars on the auction floor was 54 years. By 2024, that figure had dropped to 38 years, as models built between 1980 and 2010 gained in popularity. As interests changed, Monterey’s Car Week—once referred to as Classic Car Week—began to evolve. A show of exotic sports cars became a regular feature, first on Cannery Row and now along Broadway in Seaside. More boutique manufacturers began to unveil new models at Car Week events. Two years ago, the staid Concours d’Elegance featured hot rods on the field. Last year, the McLaren F1 was on display. “We have expanded the show field to include all types of cars,” explains Gabriel Garza, director of operations for the Pebble Beach destination event. Data collected by Hagerty from the Monterey Car Week auctions in 2024 confirm the trend. Pre-1981 cars at the $1 million or more estimate had a sellMaking Change Two customs and a classic coming to Car Week are examples of the shifting nature of collecting. By Dave Faries “We crossed the country numerous times with the car,” says Dan Duffy, owner of the custom 1961 Chevrolet Impala known as Dirty Martini. “We made a ton of friends.” The 650-horsepower custom engine that powers Dirty Martini required modifications to the hood. Fritz Burkard pauses while on his cross-country trip. He advocates for collector cars to be driven regularly. ANTONIO MELEGARI, AUDRAIN AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM & COLLECTIONS COURTESY OF MECUM AUCTIONS, INC. COURTESY OF MECUM AUCTIONS, INC. change continued on page 26
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