Morning Fix – Cruising Canepa Cars and Coffee 2018

Canepa Cars and Coffee presented by Hagerty Auto Insurance is simply the best C&C you will find north of Southern California, maybe nationwide. The quality and variety of cars here is unmatched.

I mean, we all love a good little Cars and Coffee get together. Some caffeine, a handful of cars, and enjoying the morning with friends old and new… what more could you want?

The thing is, Canepa Cars and Coffee is anything but little. Nestled in the mountains in Scotts Valley, California near Santa Cruz, enthusiasts from all over Northern California make it a priority to attend at least one of three annual events here.

When the massive Irvine Cars and Coffee get togethers were finally shut down in Southern California we worried that this might become the norm. Many venues are increasingly unsure about hosting large automotive events, Blackhawk the latest to throw in the towel. There are loads of logistics involved, and too many meets with rowdy participants have left a bad taste in the mouth of organizers and communities.

But Canepa has turned this all around. This event is huge, and each gathering seems to outdo the last. While you have the occasional outlier, generally the quality and mix of cars that show up here are unmatched, as is the venue. Inside and out, Canepa truly has it all.

If you’re somehow still on the fence, the fact that you’ll find rare classic exotics parked up behind the kindly supplied caffeine and donuts, rest assured it’s definitely worth getting up early for.

There really is something for everyone at a meet like this, from Vanagons to Blastolene art cars. Yes, the same Blastolene as the “Tank Car” that Jay Leno owns, and the same as was the cover art for Barret Jackson a few years back. There’s a lot to take in on a car like this, and we’ll be bringing you a full feature on it soon.

And then, of course, there’s the inside of Canepa itself. With the shop space open, it’s an automotive enthusiasts dream. Canepa is known for restoring incredible cars and many of the cars they work on actually get raced, hard.

Deep in the paint booth we found a 1984 Ferrari BB512i with a gorgeous red interior. Only 2,323 of these flat twelve powered Berlinetta Boxers were built in total, and only 1,007 in this body style.

Around Canepa, rare numbers in the thousands aren’t all that impressive, though. We spotted at least five Porsche 959s as we strolled around the workshop which is nearly two percent of all the production 959s ever made.

Then, upstairs, it gets even better in their museum. You’ll see wild cars like the Tyrell six-wheeler, the Eagle MkIII Toyota, famous Porsche racecars and so much more. It really is a place you need to check out in person.

There’s one final event later in the year on Saturday, October 13th and if you’re in the area it’s a must-go. If you plan on showing your car you’ll want to arrive around 7:30AM, but otherwise you’re good to stroll on in at any time in the morning.

Although, if you’re like us and you want to get in on the donuts, we recommend you get there at 8AM sharp. The lot fills up quick, and there’s no question as to why. Canepa Cars and Coffee is the king of the movement.

Canepa Cars and Coffee Photo Extra!