The previous review described the accidental “discovery” of the excellent Friday night cruise scene on Cannery Row in Old Monterey as an event that is not formally associated with or listed in any Monterey Car Week guides. Another very pleasant surprise occurred on the following morning after coming upon an additional venue that is missing from Car Week calendars. In this case, a substantial assemblage of vehicles were displayed at the Peninsula Cars and Coffee, a bi-monthly gathering in Seaside that occurs from 8:00am – 10:00am in the expansive parking lot of a Chili’s restaurant at 1349 Canyon Del Rey Boulevard.

The show’s organizers take great pains to promote their premise that Peninsula Cars And Coffee is not a car show in the classic sense. Instead, they developed it to be an informal meeting place for people who enjoy viewing, sharing, and talking about cars. As a result, they have created an atmosphere in which cars of all types and conditions are welcomed. Their perspective on this matter is detailed in a promotional brochure as follows: “It doesn’t matter if they are original, restored, daily drivers, under restoration, or otherwise. We are interested in seeing ALL types of vehicles; hot rods, customs, classics, lowriders, bombs, sports cars, trucks, European, Brass Era, import/tuner, exotic, weird one-offs, modern classics, muscle cars, dragsters, funny cars, dune buggies, motorcycles, scooters or anything else on wheels that you are enthusiastic about.” The message is clear in that inclusivity is their prime directive.

The slide show exhibited above graphically illustrates the breadth and depth of vehicles that the show embraces. To underscore that point, a trailered top fuel dragster was available for viewing at a very touchable distance. Later that morning an eager crowd quickly massed when the dragster’s owner announced that he was going to start its engine. The opportunity to be in close proximity to such a powerful machine in operation was an unexpected bonus. The ensuing ear-splitting demonstration presented onlookers with a sensory experience that that might be almost impossible to enjoy at any other cars and coffee event.

In summary, Peninsula Cars And Coffee’s natural informality and the incredible variety of vehicles that assemble at their location every other Saturday is a terrific outlet for local car enthusiasts. In the event that they have another get-together during a future Monterey Car Week, CarShowSafari.com will be sure to include it in the annual guide to events during this period.

– Andre Swygert, 2026