Monterey’s Smallest Car Show
When: Wednesday, August 17th, 2016
Where: Lighthouse Avenue between Fountain and 16th Street, Pacific Grove, California
Admission: Free to spectators
Contact: [email protected]
Information: marinamotorsports.org
Image Source: Austin Healey Sprite (oppositelock.com)
Wheels in Motion for Community Benefit
Midway through Monterey Car Week there’s a large event for everything small. For the past six years, The Little Car Show has been the nexus of microcars, minis, and subcompacts on the Monterey peninsula. Expect over 100 cars lined up along Lighthouse Avenue, each occupying a mere fraction of a standard parking spot. Awards are given out by popular vote, with only the best, weirdest, and smallest taking home trophies.
Image Source: Messerschmidtt KR 200 (rmsothebys.com)
The Little Car Show accepts tiny vehicles, from any marque, made before 1991 that have engines under 1,600cc. Minute electric vehicles are also welcome, reflecting the gas-saving raison d’être of many of these little cars. While not microcars in the purest sense, the 1,600cc limit makes room for sporty roadsters from the likes of Alfa Romeo, Triumph, and Austin Healey. A Porsche 356 and an all-electric Ferrari 328 are just a couple of this year’s quirky highlights.
Image Source: BMW Isetta (rmsothebys.com)
Most of these cars were developed as low-cost options for public transport, but their cute and often cheeky designs have endeared them to the automotive community. With exemplars like the BMW Isetta and Messerschmitt KR200 steadily appreciating, the microcar genre has become one of the most collectible – and certainly easiest to store. Marina Motorsports, the show’s organizer, is a non-profit that organizes automotive events that benefit a slew of charities around the Monterey peninsula.
For detailed event listings of all the events in Monterey, including The Little Car Show, take a look at our Monterey Itinerary.